Classics and the Western Canon discussion

Here is the discussion schedule for Dracula by Bram Stoker.

Nov 3-9 Dracula, Chapters 1-4
Nov 10-16 Dracula, Chapters 5-8
Nov 17-23 Dracula, Chapters 9-11
Nov 24-30 Dracula, Chapters 12-14
Dec 1-7 Dracula, Chapters 15-18
Dec 8-14 Dracula, Chapters 19-22
Dec 15-21 Dracula ,Chapters 23-25
Dec 22-28 Dracula, Chapters 26-27, and book as a whole.

Suggestions for reading Dracula

Read the book with new eyes. By that of course I mean your own eyes and not someone else's, but by setting aside everything you have learned from pop culture, the movies, and think you know.

Yes, Dracula is a horror novel, but it is also a mystery/detective story. Therefore the NO SPOILER RULE is in effect. Treating it as a detective story will counter many claims of slow or boring parts. The characters' observations are clues, especially when they begin to share and compare them. If you recognize those clues by reputation, see if the characters come by their conclusions honestly. Who do you think displays the strongest detective skills of the group of protagonists?

Yes, Dracula has structure. How does the modified epistolary format propel the story? Pay attention to how it may make the story more believable, and make the mystery a more complex puzzle to piece together. Stay alert for what can be inferred about the main characters from their journals, letters, telegrams, phonograph recordings, and diary entries.

Yes, Dracula has themes. Some things to think about: good vs. evil, old world and modern world, older generations and younger generations, science and superstition, rationality and irrationality, femininity, redemption, etc.

I've not read Dracula before so I'll be reading it with new eyes. I avoid horror movies like the plague and have never seen a Dracula movie. I'm looking forward to reading this with the group as it's way out of my comfort zone. I just hope it doesn't freak me out and give me nightmares!

Tamara wrote: "I just hope it doesn't freak me out and give me nightmares! ..."

Then I suggest you read it once through as fast as you can in order to discover how to properly protect yourself from vampires. 👻

Anthony Hope Hawkins, author of the swashbuckling classic The Prisoner of Zenda (1894), wrote to Stoker, “Your vampires robbed me of sleep for nights”
Stoker, Bram. Dracula 🧛 (Annotated) (p. 2). BARNES & NOBLE. Kindle Edition.

David wrote: "Then I suggest you read it once through as fast as you can in order to discover how to properly protect yourself from vampires.."

I'm way ahead of you, David. I intend to read it while wearing a clove of garlic around my neck.

Tamara, the secret is to remember that Dracula is just a novel and vampires are not real. Trust me, I've spent half my life in Transylvania and in almost 500 years I haven't seen any...

Vampires are not real? I find that hard to believe. Next thing you know you'll be telling me Santa Claus isn't real, either.

Tamara wrote: "Vampires are not real? I find that hard to believe. Next thing you know you'll be telling me Santa Claus isn't real, either."

You'll get my reference after reading Dracula!
Speaking of Santa, maybe he's a vampire after all? I thought my idea is original but it looks like somebody wrote a novel about it: Santa is a Vampire
Nothing new under the sun!

Anyway, I like that we'll finish Dracula around Christmas time, I look forward to reading it under the Christmas tree.

Emil wrote: "I've spent half my life in Transylvania and in almost 500 years I haven't seen any..."

Just curious, but what about the other half of your 1,000 years? It seems to me like you could be under reporting.

I haven't read this one either and am looking forward to it.

Tamara wrote: "Vampires are not real? I find that hard to believe. Next thing you know you'll be telling me Santa Claus isn't real, either."

The problem is that my imagination does not need anything real to get scared, ahah. Just like Tamara, I avoid horror movies. But then I guess that is the reason I love reading, right? My imagination makes me travel to fantastic lands, fall in love with brave characters, cry for tragic ones... even if everything is fictional!

Monica wrote: "like Tamara, I avoid horror movies. But then I guess that is the reason I love reading, right?"

Exactly. And the book is always better.

I hope everyone gave their imaginations an extra good scare by getting started on the first 4 chapters of Dracula on Halloween night.

I was thinking to skip this one as, like Tamara, I'm not a fan of horror either, being one to suspend reality under the spell of a well written book, but i just checked out the discussion for Chapters 1 -4 and felt very intrigued to join in. So I've made a start right now, doing so by audiobook.

Lisa wrote: "I was thinking to skip this one as, like Tamara, I'm not a fan of horror either, being one to suspend reality under the spell of a well written book, but i just checked out the discussion for Chapt..."

Great news! We look forward to your comments in the discussions.

Lisa wrote: "I was thinking to skip this one as, like Tamara, I'm not a fan of horror either, being one to suspend reality under the spell of a well written book, but i just checked out the discussion for Chapt..."

Glad you're joining us, Lisa. The discussion has been fascinating with lots of interesting information.

Tamara wrote: "Glad you're joining us, Lisa. The discussion has been fascinating with lots of interesting information..."

David wrote: "Great news! We look forward to your comments in the discussions ..."

Thankyou, I am playing catchup with the reading but the discussions and insights give another dimension, hopefully I will pull alongside the read by Chapter 17.