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wannabekingpin's review against another edition
4.0
all reviews in one place:
night mode reading ;
skaitom nakties rezimu
About: The book is not ground-breakingly different. The essence is exactly the same. Except that here, after a very, very long debate by translators and whoever else at the start, we get different proportions, and slightly differently toned characters. For instance, while we had a fairly short visit at Dracula’s castle, or at least a short description, for it wasn’t all that short for Harker, and then a longer story of the hunt for Dracula in England, here we got the opposite. Most of the book is purely Harker roaming about Dracula’s castle, realizing he’s a prisoner, and that he really, really likes Dracula’s niece. The rest of the book is told very quickly, in meager little chapters, and not in the already familiar diary form. As for differences in characters, Dracula is a bit more blunt, and fairly more sexual being, not at all timid with his words or compliments. Others got some alterations too, but due to lack of interaction with them, since there virtually was no continuation after Harker fled the castle, I’ve nothing to tell other than what translators at the beginning told.
Mine: At the start of the book the translators will tell you high and mighty what this book is supposed to be, how it’s different, how different are the characters, their interactions among themselves. After a long debate, they come to a conclusion that this is: a) a rewriting by Icelandic translator; b) a blessed by Stoker rewriting by Icelandic translator; c) the original that Bram Stoker wrote, but couldn’t publish. In my humble opinion, they spoke too much to serve us what they served. If this is not word-to-word translation, and is instead an abbreviation, for I honestly tell you, at the end we’re told “and then Dracula came, roamed around, and those guys killed him” rephrasing, then I’m more than a little bit upset. And then, if it is an uncut gem, fully translated book, then it is marvelously bad. Either way, it seems, I’m not very happy.
If you like Dracula the way I do, both the historical figure who might have inspired Stoker, and the myth, the legend, Count Dracula the Vampire, then you should read this book, no matter what. And Dacre Stoker’s works too, mostly for his own speeches in them. This is also the reason I give this book a 4 out of 5, no less. For otherwise, if you are not a fan, this is not worth that high of a score, no.
night mode reading ;
skaitom nakties rezimu
About: The book is not ground-breakingly different. The essence is exactly the same. Except that here, after a very, very long debate by translators and whoever else at the start, we get different proportions, and slightly differently toned characters. For instance, while we had a fairly short visit at Dracula’s castle, or at least a short description, for it wasn’t all that short for Harker, and then a longer story of the hunt for Dracula in England, here we got the opposite. Most of the book is purely Harker roaming about Dracula’s castle, realizing he’s a prisoner, and that he really, really likes Dracula’s niece. The rest of the book is told very quickly, in meager little chapters, and not in the already familiar diary form. As for differences in characters, Dracula is a bit more blunt, and fairly more sexual being, not at all timid with his words or compliments. Others got some alterations too, but due to lack of interaction with them, since there virtually was no continuation after Harker fled the castle, I’ve nothing to tell other than what translators at the beginning told.
Mine: At the start of the book the translators will tell you high and mighty what this book is supposed to be, how it’s different, how different are the characters, their interactions among themselves. After a long debate, they come to a conclusion that this is: a) a rewriting by Icelandic translator; b) a blessed by Stoker rewriting by Icelandic translator; c) the original that Bram Stoker wrote, but couldn’t publish. In my humble opinion, they spoke too much to serve us what they served. If this is not word-to-word translation, and is instead an abbreviation, for I honestly tell you, at the end we’re told “and then Dracula came, roamed around, and those guys killed him” rephrasing, then I’m more than a little bit upset. And then, if it is an uncut gem, fully translated book, then it is marvelously bad. Either way, it seems, I’m not very happy.
If you like Dracula the way I do, both the historical figure who might have inspired Stoker, and the myth, the legend, Count Dracula the Vampire, then you should read this book, no matter what. And Dacre Stoker’s works too, mostly for his own speeches in them. This is also the reason I give this book a 4 out of 5, no less. For otherwise, if you are not a fan, this is not worth that high of a score, no.
quixoticreader13's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting start that definitely fades by the end.
filmcritic23's review against another edition
4.0
I was looking forward to this book when I heard it came out, and it did not disappointed. If anything, this fixed Dracula for me, which I did like, but had some issues with. Its like the author (Vladimir) did as well and sought out to fix it. I'm glad this book was found and translated so it can be enjoyed by all audiences. I have read mixed reviews on it, but I have nothing but good things to say about it. I'm glad they made Harker less of a pansy in this version, and reduced the three charming maidens to one since for some reason she provided more intrigue and mystery than the three of them. I'm only really disappointed with one thing, but since it was very drawn out in Stoker's version, I'm letting it slide. I highly recommend.
prehistories's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
emilybryk's review against another edition
3.0
Meticulously researched. This was three stars *for me* because about halfway through I realized that my world doesn't need an alternate edition of Dracula. This isn't a flaw with the actual book - it's just that my actual reading experience needs no more.
kumipaul's review against another edition
2.0
Supposedly an Icelandic translation of Bram Stoker's 1897 Dracula. I say "supposedly" because there are significant portions that appear to be the same, or similar. However there are so many differences, mainly in tone and structure (narrative rather than story told in diaries). Small odd changes include a beautiful woman in the Dracula Castle from the Dracula family, a sacrifice of a woman that included Dracula as high priest along with 150 participants, very little involvement of Van Helsing, and no extensive search for the Count. It still had some of the Bram Stoker Dracula excitement, but it felt watered down with less build-up of tension. It was a worthwhile comparison read to Stoker, but it felt much more like literary theft than translation. The introduction and forward were interesting to give the work context, and the extensive footnotes comparing the work with the original were there for anyone who wished to do those detailed comparisons (which I didn't).
polter6eist's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
While the tone of the story is more compelling than the original Dracula, in my opinion, it's still overall quite dull. It is written mainly as a series of events without a lot of focus on the emotion impact upon the characters, which is something I enjoy. I like to feel things along with the characters. So while it wasn't terrible and incredibly mindnumbing, it wasn't something to write home about either.
mundinova's review against another edition
3.0
A rollercoaster of a book: highs and lows and WTFs.
I think reviewer Sean Chick sums this book up very well: "This is the Lusitania of novels. It is fast and lovely but when the end comes it is quick and terrible."
Great book for book club. There was so much to discuss and speculate about.
I think reviewer Sean Chick sums this book up very well: "This is the Lusitania of novels. It is fast and lovely but when the end comes it is quick and terrible."
Great book for book club. There was so much to discuss and speculate about.
ktxx22's review against another edition
4.0
If the OG Dracula is 5 stars from me this would’ve been 6 if the last half of this book had been properly completed and not just a brief and quick ending. Lacking the zeal of the first part of this book. I loved this. And I’m devastated that the ending is lacking so completely because this is just a sexy sordid version of Dracula. And whether or not Stoker intentionally released this racier version or if it’s a embellishment of the translator I loved it. But I can’t in good conscience give it 5 stars because it’s virtually unfinished. I do recommend, if you’re a lover of Stoker’s Dracula this is a must read even just as a comparison study!