A Masterpiece in the romantic-gothic horror tradition! - Rated 
When I first read Dracula, I already had great expectations. Fresh in memory was Coppola`s Movie, which was hyped to be more true to the original novel, than any other Dracula-movie. This may be so, but the film still doesn`t do justice to the brilliance of Bram Stoker book.
The story, narrated in diary and paper-cuttings(etc)-form, begins with Jonthan Harker, an english barrister, traveling to Transylvania, in order to sell English property to the Boyar(Count) Dracula. Jonathan writes as to his fiancè Mina, but the story soon becomes to filled with horror an ambigous sexual desires, to ever be wished to read by a bethrothed.
Jonathan finds himself a veritable prisoner in the vampire and wolf-haunted castle of the Count. While Jonathan tries to keep his blood all to himself, the evil and demonic vampire-count, sets sail for the English shore, and this is just the initial conflict in the story.
Stoker, keeping the writing always from a first-person point of view, brilliantly manages to describe horror, madness, the temptations of dark desires and spiritual anguish, as the characters are faced with what they least are able to fight without The Crucifix, Eucharist and holy water; thet is - the aggresive sexual power of the Vampire-race.
The language is polished; the different narrators having their own particulars; the women being very feminine in topic, the men trying to be valianat and dutyfull, despite their inner struggle to keep themselves sane when confronting the horrors "of nethermost Hell".
The book makes up some 470 pages, considering which print one reads, but the first time I read it(at the age of 16) I spent only 3-4 days going through it, and since then I have read it some 8-10 times, I think.
The mid-section, may be found hard to get through, as the story is changing from the exotic Carpathians, too fin-de-siecel England, and also takes up the style of a crime-investigation. But it is so much more to it than crime-investigation; the fear of veneral diseases, the fear of moral shortcoming, the fear of a foreign cultures, and eventually; the fear of losing ones soul, and becoming something inhuman...something vampiric.
The book is absolutely recommended.
Finally: Is it scary?
Well, I don`t find it scary anymore, but when I first read it at the age if 16, I certainly felt a chill, there lying in my bed, hearing the branches whipping at my window. Or was it branches? Could it be that the book was not at all a novel, but a report of some uncanny event, and that it was the wings of some bat making the eerie sound on my window? And be sure... if you read this book, you certainly will know why I would fear bats...at night.
Shocking - Rated
I had to read this book for a review and comparison reason, but came out of the book wishing there had been more. I have never seen the films but obviously heard of and seen adaptions of the character. However this original couldn't chill you more, you feel every word hit the very core of your bones. Just astounding is the word. So well written and so bloodthirsty. (pun meant!) Definatly read whether or not you are into this genre of book.
absolutely beautiful - Rated
Dracuala was a really great book indeed. it is very long and beautifully written. It is full of charisma and sophistication.
although, i did not find it scarey one bit!
I would definetly recommend it to anyone.
only negative is, that some parts can get a little bit boring and long wined
Bloodsucking............. - Rated
The original and still probably the best. Beautifully written and very scarey. Not the best bedtime read if you want a peaceful night's sleep.
Well Good Book - Rated
I got given this book as a birthday present, (which I asked for). My birthday was in October and now in March i've only just finished it. But what a ride.
Some parts of the book are slow and hard to read but most of it sucks you in. I was hooked on the last chapter.
I decided to read the book because I loved the 1992 film with Gary Oldman and I felt compelled to read the book. But the film is so different from the film.
If you loved the film, you'll love the book. It is DEAD good. Excuse the pun.
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