Dracula (Bram Stoker)

the "Daddy" of Vampire fiction this book stands up well to it's 111 years in print.

Stylistically the Diary form gives you the feeling of researching historical events, and draws you in to the narrative

Read this over Christmas - I thought the beginning was really well done as was the end - the only reason it doesn't get 5 out of 5 is simply due to the fact that the whole part about giving Lucy transfusion after transfusion went on far too long. A great book though and one that I'm glad I waited until I was old enough to appreciate it before reading.

This was the third time I read Dracula. The firsat time I liked it, the second time I hated it, and this time I liked it again. Must be something to do with the mood I was in or something.

Very cleverly written to be a collection of papers and notes this story is so ingrained into most people's conciousness that it's hard for it to be surprising these days but it still manages it. Especially the very obvious lack of the modern vampire cliche that they can't go out during the day. Dracula spends a good part of this book wandering about in daylight with no ill effects.

Also... the scene where they spend two days carefully destroying all of his coffins and hide in his waiting for his return, only to discover that they have no idea what they're going to do with him is brilliantly paced and unintentionally hilarious.

Great stuff.

I expected to hate this book, mainly because I couldn't get into it when I was younger. However I really enjoyed it finding it well written, entertaining and, despite knowing how it ended, there was a real sense of urgency as the hunt for Dracula began in earnest.

I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a true classic of the vampire sub-genre, forget Anne Rice (and the glut of cookie-cutter modern, pulp vampire novels on the shelves) Bram Stoker is the original master of vampire fiction.