Bram Stoker's Dracula by Bram Stoker Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Bram Stoker's Dracula
Book Review: Pretty, but abridged
Summary: 2 Stars
I was intending to buy a novel for my nephew, one which I had read unabridged and enjoyed immensely. Unfortunately, I didn't realize that the "editor" was in fact an "abridger" and that lots of the original text was gone. This abridgement was not listed under book details; I wish I had scrolled down to the reveiws. Now I have to go through the hassle of return, shipping charges, etc.Book Review: Reader Beware!
Summary: 2 Stars
Bram Stoker wrote the perfect gothic novel, and Jan Needle (so-called "editor") has butchered it in this edition. This is NOT Bram Stoker's original novel, it is an abridged version. Whole passages are missing, condensed or summarized. The language has been modernized, and the story has lost much of its period flavor. Poor Mr. Stoker must be turning in his grave.
Admittedly, some younger readers might appreciate not having to cope with a novel written in Victorian English, and the simplified delivery might suit some readers. But remember- this is a PERIOD novel, and translating it into contempory language inevitably and irredeemably changes its character.
On a plus side, the wonderful illustrations lend atmosphere, and the blood-soaked pages are suitably grisly.
Book Review: Scared to turn off the light!
Summary: 5 Stars
This was a definate page turner. The vivid descriptions of the living dead were realistic and even made you wonder if it could exist. My 24 year old son gave me this book to read. I wonder if I did something to scare him in his youth? Payback! and a great read!Book Review: Tediousness
Summary: 3 Stars
Bram Stoker has a unique writing style. The whole book is made up of letters that are written back and forth between the main characters,Mina and Lucy. This novel is 450 pages long and much of the beginning is unsuspenseful, useless information. Bram Stoker has a very unusual vocabulary. Many of these words are of nothing I have ever heard before. Parts of this story are confusing because it goes from the diary of Jonathan Harker to letters between Mina and Lucy. His style of writing makes you lose interest fast.
This story starts out with Jonathan Harker going to Dracula's castle on business matters. Once Jonathan finds out that Dracula is a vampire, Dracula locks Jonathan in the castle. He then travels to England in search of victims to lure into the houses that he's set up all over England, so he can suck their blood. He makes sure that each one had a coffin in it so the light will not kill him during broad daylight. Jonathan escapes the castle and finds that Dracula is trying to manipulate
both Mina and Lucy. Mina being his wife. This is when the vampire "doctor" Van Helsing and Jonathan are on the prowl for this blood sucker and they will do whatever it takes to find him.
This book is only recommended to those who enjoy long novels with challenging vocabulary. The book's exposition was way too long and I don't think that the vocabulary really matched the time period. Personally, I think it was confusing to try and remember where each character was. It had Jonathan Harker, who was from England, and Dracula from Transylvania which got confusing when they ended up going to each
others' homeland. Overall, the book was much too confusing to try and grasp.
Book Review: Terrible
Summary: 1 Stars
As stated by another reader, this is *NOT* Dracula. This is a "Modernized for the 21st Century Reader Edition" variation of the original. Another way to describe it would be "Dumbed down for a third grader edition".
All of the feel, most of the character, and part of the story are completely gone.
Do not bother with this if you want Bram Stoker's Dracula.