Review: Nicely formatted edition
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 6, 2014
I find it difficult to imagine that anyone reading this review does not already know the essential story and fame of Bram Stoker's classic vampire novel, "Dracula," so I will not insult your intelligence or waste your time by rehashing its plot. Suffice it to say this book is comfortably old-fashioned and unnervingly creepy, not the first vampire novel, but in many ways the definitive one. But several things should be noted. (1) The Dracula depicted in the book is somewhat different from the classic Bela Lugosi portrayal in the flick which most (or at least, many) people who have not yet read the book have probably seen. The story differs, too, so as you read be prepared for a new experience. (2) The entire book is told through a series of journal entries and letters which may seem disjointed at first. This epistolary style of storytelling may not initially appeal to some modern readers, and the transition from Harker's truly horrific journal to the first letter (Mina to Lucy) may seem stylistically jarring and a bit of a let-down; bear with it, and the story will get good again. (3) This ebook edition, a "Pocket Book" reprint by Simon and Schuster, is particularly well-formatted and a pleasure to read. As a freebie, it is well worth the price of nada. However, inasmuch as there is no commentary or explanatory material added to the basic text, should this particular edition ever cease to be free, the previous no-cost public domain version (also available in the Kindle Store) is essentially just as good. If you enjoy "Dracula" and want to read more novels and short stories by Bram Stoker, I recommend "The Complete Collection of Bram Stoker" published as an ebook by Di Lernia Publisher and costing a mere $.99. Nothing else by Stoker manages to create the same total atmosphere of horror as "Dracula," but both "The Jewel of Seven Stars" and "The Lair of the White Worm" (though neither is its equal) come close.