Glad you liked it well enough. When my book group read it, we did not get that deeply into it, but were more interested in how Stoker and his Dracula have been represented in every vampire book and movie made. The garlic, crucifix, Holy Communion, etc as well as other tropes have been used by everyone who has tackled vampires. I, too, thought it was wordy and realized Mina was the brains of the whole operation. Thanks for your excellent review!!
Thanks, Kate! Yes it is really surprising to me after reading this book how iconic vampires and Dracula became. Would not have guessed that based on the book alone. Maybe it has more to do with Bela Lugosi’s portrayal?
So I love Dracula, like want a garlic tattoo love Dracula.
And what makes it work for me and how I got convinced to read it was, it is a detective novel where the whodunnit happens to be a vampire in a world where NO one knows what a vampire is. Plus I think it's funny? And creepy.
I also love that there's a cowboy in it and that Van Hellsing loves Mina so much.
This is a weird pull but it really reminds me of the Sittaford Mystery, by Agatha Christie where also the entire thing is solved by one woman who everyone underestimates and also loves her completely hapless fiancee.
Also I'll just plug Carmilla, the new edition with the intro by Carmen Maria Machado is very good.
A garlic tattoo! That's amazing. You make a great point. None of the characters have ever heard of vampires, and don't have the cultural baggage that we readers do about them and Dracula in particular. I almost wish we could go back in time to experience this as readers then did. I'd love to know what they found thrilling about it, and feel that with them. And thanks for the recommendation! I'll check Carmilla out!
This sounds like a riot to read. I would never have picked it up but I'm considering it now if only to read that note ending with "your,friend, Dracula."
I can’t stop laughing about ‘Your friend, Dracula,’ Elizabeth! So campy and hilarious. Donna and I used it tonight as our bar trivia name after seeing your post. We came in third to last. Dracula’s revenge!?
Loved it! I though I wrote humorous reviews but after reading this, I am not worthy etc, O Wise One. A great conceit, to let gifs do the talking so to speak. I've just subscribed, and look forward to reading more.
Glad you liked it well enough. When my book group read it, we did not get that deeply into it, but were more interested in how Stoker and his Dracula have been represented in every vampire book and movie made. The garlic, crucifix, Holy Communion, etc as well as other tropes have been used by everyone who has tackled vampires. I, too, thought it was wordy and realized Mina was the brains of the whole operation. Thanks for your excellent review!!
Thanks, Kate! Yes it is really surprising to me after reading this book how iconic vampires and Dracula became. Would not have guessed that based on the book alone. Maybe it has more to do with Bela Lugosi’s portrayal?
So I love Dracula, like want a garlic tattoo love Dracula.
And what makes it work for me and how I got convinced to read it was, it is a detective novel where the whodunnit happens to be a vampire in a world where NO one knows what a vampire is. Plus I think it's funny? And creepy.
I also love that there's a cowboy in it and that Van Hellsing loves Mina so much.
This is a weird pull but it really reminds me of the Sittaford Mystery, by Agatha Christie where also the entire thing is solved by one woman who everyone underestimates and also loves her completely hapless fiancee.
Also I'll just plug Carmilla, the new edition with the intro by Carmen Maria Machado is very good.
A garlic tattoo! That's amazing. You make a great point. None of the characters have ever heard of vampires, and don't have the cultural baggage that we readers do about them and Dracula in particular. I almost wish we could go back in time to experience this as readers then did. I'd love to know what they found thrilling about it, and feel that with them. And thanks for the recommendation! I'll check Carmilla out!
Update: coming in October: https://substack.com/@booksongif/note/c-40237110?r=hasq&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action
This sounds like a riot to read. I would never have picked it up but I'm considering it now if only to read that note ending with "your,friend, Dracula."
I can’t stop laughing about ‘Your friend, Dracula,’ Elizabeth! So campy and hilarious. Donna and I used it tonight as our bar trivia name after seeing your post. We came in third to last. Dracula’s revenge!?
This is my favorite review.
Thanks, Ashley! I was really hoping folks would enjoy this one.
This is my favorite review.
This really makes me want to do a re-read of Bram Stoker's Dracula for Halloween - great review!
Thanks, Janet! I’d love to hear what you think after a reread.
love this review so much! silly men
Thanks, Cassie!!
Loved it! I though I wrote humorous reviews but after reading this, I am not worthy etc, O Wise One. A great conceit, to let gifs do the talking so to speak. I've just subscribed, and look forward to reading more.
Thanks, Terry! I appreciate the kind word and your subscription! I hope you continue to enjoy the newsletter.