Classics for Beginners discussion

Discuss...

I love this book!! The ultimate vampire novel. I will be following/participating in the discussion b/c I've read it in the last year. It is wonderful.

I ordered the book off amazon a few days ago, will start reading soon.

Well.....I am not sure....Loved the beginning of the book as Dracula was part of the story....now I am reading letters between Lucy and Mina....not too sure where it is going to lead....but I am sure that it all ties in somewhere!!!!

Arrived today so will start reading shortly...

It is definetly a very good book...not sure about the Bat thing though....still trying to understand that

It is definetly a very good book...not sure about the Bat thing though....still trying to understand that

Ok...So I thought that since the title of this book was Dracula the love story would be about him....but as I am reading this...I believe the love story is actually about Lucy and Arthur...Mina and Johnathan. I am at the part where they believe that Lucy is dead and they are in the process of her funeral.
If I am not understanding this properly then please feel free to correct me!!! Thank u and happy reading

@ Teri-lynn; no you are absolutely correct, that also what I got so far on the love angle. If you are there( the funeral of lucy)then you are really close to finishing it, well more then half way. I really don't think it about romance and love that much, actually. Now thinking about it when I fist heard about Dracula I did think it would be about him falling in love but upon reading, it is completely different altogether.I really just love the mood of this book, it is very whimsical and dark.

@Martha, me too I have also started to read this last summer but I just recently finish it this summer in June. So I would just join in the discussion too, so can't wait to hear your view too, lol.

Thanks, Goosegirl. I love the gothic feel of this book & the way the story is told. I felt I really got to know the characters well through their writings.

Hi Martha, I totally agreed with you about the gothic feel, again my favourite thing about the book is the mood and the feel of it. It very atmopheric and full of tension, it is like a documentary to me. A kinder thriller, and fantical mix together.

Hey Martha and Goosegirl Thank you very much for weighing in and making me feel better....I am now to the part where Arthur drives the stake into Lucy. Did anyone else feel absolutely gut wrenched with emotion as it was Arthur that did that to her...My eyes were just flooded with tears.

Yes, lots of emotion in that segment.

Who the hell is Renfield?? Is he a good guy or a bad guy....just finished the part where the 4 (Van Helsing, Quincy, Arthur and the Dr.) go and see him before going out to hunt for Dracula and he told them that he wanted to be released....then he tells the Dr. that he had been warned before he left....
I just don't know what to make of that Character.....
He eats fly's and birds, so I assumed that he was a vampire, but he gave a compelling speech that I just don't know....sigh I guess I will just keep on reading!!!!!!

I am part way through chapter 2 and was first suprised at the layout of the book (i.e. journal and letters). I have just met Dracula and find the suspense thrilling.

And the rest is the same....that surprised me also...Nicolle since you have just started....DO NOT read any of my other comments I don't want to spoil anything for you

Yes, it is very suspenseful right from the beginning. I loved it!!

I absolutely loved this book. I managed to read it in just a few short days...It's probably the quickest I've managed to read a classic book besides Pride and Prejudice. I just couldn't put the book down which surprised me since I really already new the story but had never actually read the book before.

I really love the beginning the best, it is really thrilling and dreamy. I also really love the discription of places in this book.

I too cannot seem to put the book down. I thoroughly agree with you Goosegirl it is enticing, and magical.

Don't worry Teri-Lynn I have avoided reading comments of others.

I'm so glad you're all enjoying it. It is the ultimate vampire story! I cannot believe I waited so long to read it.

I agree with all of you....it is fantastic....I am almost finished and its so good!!!!!!!!!!

Me too, it is way better than any other vampire book! I will probably finish in the next couple of days as it is glued to me.
The only thing which has bothered me so far is in Mimi's journal where she talks to that 100year old guy, I find it hard to understand his dialogue.

That was hard to decipher. I had the same problem in Lorna Doone, but have gotten to where I can understand those characters who speak in the difficult dialect. Thank goodness it's not all of them.

try reading it with an accent...I found that that made it easier....

OK, so I am at chapter 10, and I still think this is one of the best books ever written...
Poor Lucy! But Van Helsing has arrived and from other films and things I take it he is a vampire slayer?!? Don't tell me, I am just speculating at this point!!

What version is everyone reading? I am reading this one...

I haven't been commenting, as I've been trying to read without knowing what will happen! I'm around page 100, so Lucy is about to go be with Jonathan, and the eerie ship scene with the captain tied to the wheel just happened.

I am really enjoying this book! I love the different voices/perspectives that the author gives us. I am enjoying it so much more than I thought I would. Good choice!

I am a bit ahead of you Jillelise. That scene with the tied up captain was indeed eerie! I was reading with wide eyes for a few chapters there.

As soon as I send off this message I will start with the book. I have an illustrated edition, as I did with The Picture of Dorian Gray, which will hopefully help me with the setting, history, and characters.
A very short story :)

Do I have the right book? It was over after 67 pages. I am not into vampires but everyone has heard about Dracula. Interesting story, but how did Jonathan escape the castle?

Over after 69 pages? It seems to me that you only read Jonathan's journal, which is a small fraction of the book! My copy is 420 pages with no pictures. It has 27 chapters.

Verena wrote: "Do I have the right book? It was over after 67 pages. I am not into vampires but everyone has heard about Dracula. Interesting story, but how did Jonathan escape the castle?"

I don't think you have the right book. The correct edition would have anywhere from 350 to 450 pages without illustrations. I'm currently on page 145 of my edition which has 423 pages. Have you met Mina, Lucy, and Doctor van Helsing yet?

LOL. Yes, it is in a journal form. I read it last night in bed and the illustration actually scared me. My husband worked late, so I had to get my cat to keep me safe, lol. Back to the library ......different book .... no illustrations this time.

Verena wrote: "LOL. Yes, it is in a journal form. I read it last night in bed and the illustration actually scared me. My husband worked late, so I had to get my cat to keep me safe, lol. Back to the library ......."

Hope you find the right one this time.

Ok where is everyone in the book??? I am almost finished and its getting really suspenseful I don't know what is going to happen....

I had to skip some post since I just began reading the book. I read most everything off of a kindle so it is hard to say how far along I am. So far really good. Makes it hard to go back to the other classic I am reading.

I am about half way through. Van Helsing has just told Seward that it is Lucy who is biting those children.

Ohhh....Nicolle get a box of kleenex's I cried soooo hard in that section.....Ya Sorry Daniel I guess I should have mentioned on some of the posts to not read them if you weren't as far as me in the book....

Nicolle.. We are at the same place! This week has been crazy, but im hoping to finish this weekend!

jillelise wrote: "Nicolle.. We are at the same place! This week has been crazy, but im hoping to finish this weekend!"

Me too!

Renfield has just begged to be let free and has been denied. I am very curious as to what is going to happen to him!!

Finished it....I was very disappointed in the ending....I was expecting a lot more out of the book then I got.....

This was a very good book. The first time I tried, I gave up, but I tried again two years ago, and I loved it. I still hold Dracula up as the standard for the vampire novel.

I thought that there was going to be more to the book then there was....I guess my expectations were too high. Half way through I lost interest....

I respect that, Teri-lynn. Dracula is a scary book, but there are some parts that are somewhat tedious, I can admit.

I agree, Lady Danielle, it is the ultimate vampire book. That said, Van Helsing was WAY too long-winded on many occasions throughout the book. I felt it was one drawback. And the ending was somewhat anti-climatic. That happens in so many books with a great beginning and middle. Don't know why ... maybe I just expect too much.

I still gave it 5 stars b/c overall, I just loved the scary, eerie, gothic parts of the story.

I agree with Martha. The middle and ending dragged whenever Van Helsing began talking. His monologues were distracting, and, after a while, irritating. I have 20 more pages to finish the book and I will be glad when I am done. I wish the whole book was as exciting as the first part when Jonathan was in Dracula's castle.

Yes, that first part was the best bit.

I agree about the ending being anti-climactic. I have to admit I loved Van Helsing, but he was long-winded. :)