Let me be honest – I did not expect to like this book as much as I did. Even as someone who makes it a point to read a classic every once in a while, I still thought this one would be a struggle but… it wasn’t. Would you believe that this is truly a kick-butt story? I thought I knew the plot going in, but I really didn’t. When it comes to an exciting, suspenseful, heart-stopping thriller, this book has it all.
First off, the story starts where I always assumed it ended. Jonathan, a man just trying to do his job, finds himself trying to sell a bit of London real estate while in a gigantic castle in the middle of nowhere with its creepy owner. At first Jonathan thinks the man is just eccentric, who wouldn’t be, after all, living in Transylvania alone? But the longer Jonathan is there, the more he starts to see just how unnatural the Count is. By the time he realizes that Count Dracula is something truly unnatural, he also realizes he’s trapped there. I won’t reveal what happens next, but it’s some pretty harrowing stuff, I want you to find out on your own.
Next thing we know, we’re in London with a whole new set of characters. They’re new and interesting and they’re just about the best set of entirely pure people you could ever find. I’ve never read about a goody-two-shoes so darn like-able. Each person against Count Dracula is so wholesome, so always willing to do what’s write that it should be boring but instead it’s endearing, it’s exciting, and it makes you really root for them.
Because, the thing is, when I was about 100 pages in, I realized I had already read everything I ever knew about Dracula. My extremely slight understanding of what this book is just didn’t do it justice. That 1931 movie made destroyed so much of the essence, the coy plot, the sweet trouble and suspense that I never even knew the book, the true book was so good.
Sorry, I’m getting pretty excited about this. I’m astounded by how much I liked it and just how interesting it really was. It’s so cheap to get a copy of this now – I think it even came free to me on my nook – I highly recommend giving it a try.
My rating: 4/5 stars
The Roaming Reader 
Thank you… for stirring up memories of one of my forgotten favorite characters. After 40+ years, I think it is time for a re-read. I’m sure I’ll be just as pleasantly surprised. Will bring it up on my Kindle today..!! (then, perhaps try to find an original movie version.. that should be fun also)
You’re welcome! Netflix has the 1931 version on instant play right now. Although I tried to watch it as a follow up to the book and just couldn’t get through it. The book is so much better!
I read this last year and really enjoyed it. I was also surprised to learn I hardly knew the story at all!
Great post. I read Dracula a few years ago because I felt it was one of those ‘must-read-before-you-die’ type books, and it’s now my absolute favourite novel. A lot of people don’t realise how masterful it is until they actually give it a try.
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