‘A vampire book with a fascinating plot, a spooky aura, and a challenging read that is not Twilight!’
I was apprehensive when I first opened Dracula. Almost everyone I knew was immersed in the Twilight books or something else very similar, and I had absolutely no wish to read these books. I simply hoped the original Dracula would not be one of them.
I need not have been worried. It was nothing like anything I had read or, indeed, seen before: I found it very original and exciting.
From the very beginning, it is clear something very strange is going on: all the villagers seem very apprehensive and frightened of the large castle up on the hillside.
You then journey, seeing through the eyes of Jonathan Harker, to meet the mysterious owner of the castle. From this point, the book is like an intrepid explorer! It goes full speed ahead but then slows down and concentrates on the suspense of the exploration.
What first struck me when I read Dracula was the layout of the story. It is not in chapters, as most books are, but in the form of the characters’ diaries and letters. This set-up gives you an accurate idea of what everyone thinks of each other and allows you to regularly see different sides of the situation.
For this reason, you may be able to put together the clues more quickly and more accurately than the actual characters which is very fun because it means you are constantly second guessing and debating with yourself.
If I speak truthfully, Dracula is rather sexist. You must remember, however, that it was published in 1897, and for this reason is rather old fashioned when it comes to ideas about women.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone searching for a vampire book with a fascinating plot, a spooky aura, and a challenging read that is not, Twilight!
