Book Review: Dracula

Author:  Bram Stoker
Title: Dracula
Genre: Gothic, Fiction, Classic, Horror, Fantasy 
Pages: e-book & regular book, 492
First Published: 1897
Where I Got It: Borrowed it from library and bought my own ebook from Amazon


"The aristocratic vampire that haunts the Transylvanian countryside has captivated readers' imaginations since it was first published in 1897. Hindle asserts that Dracula depicts an embattled man's struggle to recover his 'deepest sense of himself as a man', making it the 'ultimate terror myth'."


The summary I just shared is a horrible summary of the book. It doesn't capture the whole picture of the novel. 


Anyways, this novel took me FOREVER to read! I started last year when I checked it out of the library. I got about halfway through when it was due back. There were about ten people in line to borrow that book, so I couldn't re-check it out. I waited and waited and then gave up for a while. I finally decided to just get my own copy when I got my kindle fire. A year late, but better late then never, eh?


I'm glad I decided to finish this. I really wanted to know how it would end and how everything tied up in the end. The ending was everything I hoped it would be. Bram Stoker did a wonderful job giving a satisfying and complete ending. If he ended it with a 'open-ending' and leaving it up to the readers imagination, I would have freaked out. However, he didn't and I'm happy.


It's a slow read, at least for me it was. There were a lot of slow spots and it seemed to drag on and on. I wasn't a huge fan on how Bram Stoker wrote the novel. He wanted it to look like Van Helsing and the group took clippings from everyone's diaries and put them in one big book. I feel like it took away from the story...I don't mind the different POV points, but the diary entries didn't do for me. Perhaps I'm spoiled because I seen the movie a while back and that was pretty good. I don't know; all I do know is that I'm not a fan on how this written. 


Besides for the slowness of the book and the way Bram Stoker wrote it, I liked it. I loved all the symbolisms, the characters, the characters' developments, and just the general story itself. This was a pretty creepy book and I adored the creepiness! I think I needed a good creepy book to get me out of my reading funk. Okay. I will say it...DON'T READ THIS RIGHT BEFORE BED! When your sleeping, your brain likes to process information and if Dracula was the last thing you were thinking about you WILL have odd and slightly creepy dreams. Just saying.


All-in-all, I liked this creepy novel. It may have been slow and style of which it was put together annoyed me, I found it a refreshing read. It was creepy, but in a good way. I would recommend this to the readers who love classic and/or gothic novels. This was most defiantly better than Frankenstein; story-wise and creep-level-wise (not overall creepy, but creepy enough to be interesting). I would also love for Twilight over-fans to read this. ^.^ Out of fives, I have no choice but to give this 3 stars. I'm sorry Bram Stoker! I just hated the slowness and the diary entries!


Favorite Character(s): Mina and Mr. Seward 
Not-so Favorite Character(s): Van Helsing (I mostly skimmed his overly long monologues. GAH) and the three vampire women (gag me with a spoon)

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<3CaroleRae

Wordless Wednesday (17)

(I hope that Rumpel can find and save his Belle.)

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<3CR

Top Ten Tuesday (15): Books I Would Save

~The Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.~

This is later than I originally planned, but blogger was giving me a hard time. They wouldn't let me edit or even post anything for a couple days. That's why Music Monday wasn't posted. Ugh. It's finally working, so now I can share my two cents to everyone. haha! 

This week's topic for TTT is: top ten books to save if my house was abducted by aliens (or such horrible catastrophes occured)

Yes, this is just for "fun" as some may say. Yes, family, clothes, pets, food, and whatnot come first, but if I DID have an extra couple minutes to grab other things I would grab some books and my kindle fire. There is no real order to my list...

1) The Complete Shakespeare with The Temple Notes and The Life of Shakespeare. This would be the very first thing I grabbed. Not only do I LOVE Billy S, but the book means a lot to me. It was my Grandpa Carol's book from 1948. It's very old, but its in GREAT condition. Grandpa Carol helped my love of books blossom! He loved the fact that I have a very creative mind. Miss you Grandpa Carol!

It's hard to see, but right above BOOKS INC it says 1948

Me. :3

Me pretending that an alien is trying to take my book! BACK UP ALIEN! I'M A PRETEND NINJA!

2) My Pink Carnation books. I own all the published novels from the Pink Carnation series by Lauren Willig. I love them all! I couldn't bare to leave them behind.

3) Lord of Ice by Gaelen Foley. That is my ultimate favorite book by her! I'm in love with Damien. *daydreams*

4) Princess by Gaelen Foley. This is my second favorite novel. I just LOVE the story and both of the main characters. 

5) Persuasion by Jane Austen. I couldn't live without this book!

6) The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks. I'm really attached to not only this story, but to the book itself. It was given to me as a gift and I have all my favorite spots marked (I like to bend the corner of the page with my favorite spots so I can re-read it later)

7) Queen of Fashion by Caroline Weber. A very dear and old friend bought this for me on my 16th birthday.  It's really special to me.

8) The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. Even though I haven't even come close to finishing this huge novel, I can't bare to leave it behind. I simply adore Mr Dumas and I love this story! PLUS it's a pretty huge book, so I would have lots of paper to burn if I needed heat. Haha

9) All my Dear America, My Royal Diary, and My Name is America books/diaries. These series are what got me addicted to reading and to history. They are still entertaining to read from time to time. 

10) The Lord of the Rings trilogy (including The Hobbit). If my inner-nerd can't come out once in a while, then I would probable implode. I would need this beloved trilogy to keep me from going insane and/or imploding.

What would you save if you could save 10 books?

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<3CaroleRae

Sunday Ketchup

~'Sunday Ketchup' was inspired by The Muse in the Fog's 'Suddenly Sunday' postings. However, mine are going to be a little bit different. Also when I went to spell 'Catchup' I accidentally spelled it wrong and put 'Ketchup'. I thought it was cute, so I kept it. Also, I'm addicted to ketchup! I want one of those ketchup shirts that says "I <3 Ketchup". Wouldn't that be cute? Every week, or whenever I remember, I'm going to post events that happened this past week, things coming up next week, updates, and news. You can join in and post your own 'Sunday Ketchup' postings, just make sure to mention me...if you want ^.^ ~

Happy Sunday! How is everyone? I must apologize for the lack of posting this week. My schedule has been insane! I've been soooooo busy with school, work, working out, and all that jazz. Lately, I've had a couple things added to my plate, like, I'm helping host a Cystic Fibrosis bowling fundraiser for Anee's niece and Anee nominated me as her Maid of Honor *squeals* How exciting is that?!? I'm really nervous and I have no idea what to do! Any advice? 

Past Week Posts:

• Book Review: Easter's Lilly by Judy Serrano
• Music Monday
• Top Ten Tuesday (14): Books That Broke My Heart
• 6 Facts About Me, Tagging Game

What's Going to Be Posted This Week?:

I WILL have at least a book review and a movie review. I'll also try and get weekly memes posted around the two reviews. I'll try to have a post for everyday. ^.^

Blog News?:

Nothing major. I'll try and remember to update the 'Quotes' section.

Tim Horton News: 

On Monday we are starting Roll-Up-The-Rim. What is this? On our medium, large, and extra large (I believe they are on XL) cups you can roll up the rim of the drink and you have a 1-in-6 chance of winning. How exciting? The prizes range from free donuts to a new car! Exciting stuff! Throughout the week we, employees, are allowed to wear the Roll-Up-The-Rim t-shirts. This year they are bright red....uggggghhhhh....on Monday I'll take a picture of the damnable shirt. If I dye my hair green I would like a tomato. SAVE ME!

Sorry...

What Came in the Mail/Store:

I finally received the next two ebooks of the Lilly Series and Hollywood Stories by Stephan Schochet. I can't to read them! I also bought my own copy of Dracula by Bram Stoker, sooooo I'll finally finish it! Let's see...I bought some pants...huh. Well, that's about it. 

Anything Else Worth Mentioning?:

Mhhhmmmmmm, nope. I'm just really excited that I'm going to help Anee with her wedding by being her Maid-of-Honor. ^.^ The wedding is in 6 months and change. 

Us playing around with her new computer and it's webcam. 

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<3CaroleRae