DRACULA BY BRAM STOKER

Jonathan Harker is a soon-to-be-wed lawyer who eagerly travels to Castle Dracula in the lovely country of Transylvania to settle a real estate transaction with the noble gentleman. During his journey, Jonathan suspects that things aren't as ordinary as they seem in the beautiful country. Superstitious locals speak of demons, vampires and vengeful spirits. The wolves howl with unnatural hunger. Children and villagers disappear without a trace. Blue flames appear out of thin air. The land itself seems to be haunted by a dreadful presence. Upon arriving at the castle, Jonathan soon realizes that all the horror in the land is the direct influence of the very man he was soon to meet. Count Dracula is a monster with plans to spread chaos and misfortune wherever he walks, and Jonathan is now his helpless prisoner.

In spite of its flaws, this book holds a special place in my heart. It's far from perfect and certainly far from the best story out there, but I can't help but love it because Dracula is the first horror novel I ever read. This is the book that turned me into a horror fanatic all those years ago, the book that sparked my obsession with dark literature, culture, history, folklore, music and all things relating to the horror genre. From the haunting beauty of the Carpathian Mountains, the eerie hellscape of Dracula's castle and the constant bombardment of dread that stems from the looming threat of Dracula himself, there's a lot to love here.

If you read it with the sole intention of it being scary or horrifying, you're probably going to be disappointed. That being said, it's one of the most atmospheric books ever written in my opinion. The very analytical look into Victorian society, the questioning of outdated traditions and smothering cultural standards, the exploration of sexual identity and expression, the steady rise of science vs. religion, the eerie dread that permeates every page with rumors of monsters, devils, witches, evil spirits and all manner of wicked things, the gloomy gothic architecture and more. The atmospheric nature of the tale told through personal and intimate journal entries truly make you feel as if you're experiencing the events from the eyes of the struggling characters. Stephen King taught Dracula to college students for many years and it reflects in his own works quite a bit.

Speaking of the characters, the version of the cast in the original novel are so much better than any of their numerous film and television counterparts. I always felt like every adaption fails to capture the complexity and emotional depth of the cast, portraying them as bland and one-dimensional when the original versions had a lot of heart to them.

Dracula himself is much scarier and crueler, while still maintaining his lovable disguise as a good-humored, charismatic gentleman. He feeds a living baby to a pack of ravenous vampires then feeds the mother to a flock of rabid wolves. He finds humor in psychological torture and prolonged suffering. He amuses himself by driving people insane and watching them bring harm to themselves and everything around them. He's a creepy sicko, a heartless monster and a lovably passionate nobleman all rolled into one. He's an excellent villain, especially considering the time this was written.

Jonathan, Lucy, Dr. Helsing, Seward, Quincy, even the hilarious Dr. Renfield are all heartfelt characters in their own right. Most of all, my favorite part of the book is the character of Mina Harker. I always felt moved by her bravery, kindness and rebellious humor. No matter how strong the threat of Dracula grew, Mina's the one that remained strong, courageous and rational in the face of terror and despair. Even after losing her dearest friend and when her male comrades were left frantic and devastated, she remained a great leader. She was the link that held the main group together and gave them the courage they needed to face off against the menacing Dracula. If you ask me, she's very underrated as far as strong female characters go. I think it's very sad that Mina's character is always horribly misconstrued and poorly represented in nearly every film and tv show she's ever been in because the original character is fantastic.