Published: 1897
Nearly everyone has heard of this story; perhaps you have even seen the movie. Vampires are popular right now, and I wanted to read a more traditional vampire story. I decided that Stoker's Dracula would be the best choice.
This is an epistolary novel: the story is told through a series of letters and journal entries. Everything is written in the past tense first person from the perspective of several of the main characters. Some readers may be bothered by this style, but I enjoy it immensely. Past tense first person is the perspective used in many older science fiction novels, and it makes the story feel like something that really happened. In Dracula, you get the feeling that you are sorting through all these old documents, piecing together this strange sequence of events.
Rest assured, there are no sparkling vampires in this tale. Count Dracula himself is a terrible and crafty monster, and the protagonists are often ill prepared to deal with the supernatural threat. Certainly a horror story, yet lacking in grotesque details, anyone should be able to make it through this book without feeling queasy. However, because we have become so desensitized to horror and the mysteries of vampires, some readers may find it difficult to appreciate the style of 19th century horror and mystery.
Not everyone is going to enjoy the epistolary style and 19th century setting of this book. However, I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in vampire tales and older horror stories. Even if you are only interested in the 19th century setting, Dracula offers a different type of story besides romance. It is part mystery, part horror, and even a little romance thrown in for good measure.
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