Book Review: Dracula by Bram Stoker

Plot Summary: When Jonathan Harker pays a visit to the castle of Count Dracula, it sets in motion a terrible chain of events that threaten him and those around him.

My Review: One of the best things about this book is that the author makes you feel scared through action and description. It’s like he has a camera that freezes a tense or scary moment in the story and gives you vivid details.

Some lines that demonstrate this are the following: “There was a deliberate voluptuousness which was both thrilling and repulsive and as she arched her neck she actually licked her lips like an animal, till I could see in the moonlight the moisture shining on the scarlet lips and on the red tongue as it lapped the white sharp teeth.”

Another great thing about this book is Count Dracula himself. Although he is evil, he is a very interesting character that pop culture references barely scratch. He has many strengths and weaknesses that make him formidable. A personal favorite trait is the power to control wolves.

In addition, the book has some good words of wisdom sprinkled here and there.

One phrases states,”I have tried to keep an open mind, and it is not the ordinary things of life that could close it, but the strange things, the extraordinary things, the things that make one doubt if they be mad or sane.”

When it comes to the novel’s faults, one of them is  the sexism toward women. There are quotes such as, “A brave man’s blood is the best thing when a woman is in trouble.” that will touch the nerve of female readers. However, the character of Mina Harker makes up for it somewhat. She is an intelligent, clever, pious, and resilient woman.

Besides this, the author’s writing style can be bothersome until you get used to it. Sometimes, the description can be too much and the third person point of view may disappoint and confuse, even as it adds depth to the plot.

All in all, this was a very good book. I recommend this book to anyone who likes horror stories or classics.