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Graphic: Ableism, Confinement, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Terminal illness, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Cannibalism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racism, Terminal illness, Medical trauma, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol
Minor: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Self harm, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, War
I do have critiques of the novel itself, like how the doctors consider Lucy's receiving a blood transfusion from more than one man as polyandry/as a slight to her reputation, marking her as a whore. The male main characters also fall into the exact same pitfalls as Victor Frankenstein when he destroys his creation's half made wife and fully disregards the possibility of revenge harming anyone beside himself, leading to the death of his betrothed. In them killing and redeeming Lucy after Dracula had made her a part of his harem in his slow killing of her, how could they not suspect Mina would be in danger of the same fate as her best friend while living next door to the vampire? I did enjoy the "dracula polycule" moments in the book, as is related to the sexualization of Lucy Westenra, especially since John, Quincey, and Arthur remained close and devoted to each other even after Lucy's death.
Overall, wild book from start to finish, while also somehow managing to be boring often.
I need to read this again, in its book form.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gore, Racism, Terminal illness, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Medical content, Cannibalism, Stalking, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Gun violence, Antisemitism, Alcohol, Classism
Minor: Genocide
"You are nearest and dearest and all the world to me; our souls are knit into one for all life and all time"
Wow. There aren't really words to truly express what it's like to read this classic. There's such a stereotype about classic literature that breeds apprehension to a reader: they're boring, difficult to read and understand, too long etc. Dracula feels like a modern day movie that should be loved by all. The atmosphere is incredible! Definitely recommend reading at leas the first 60 pages listening to some sort of spooky/classical/ambient music as the way Bram Stoker introduces the reader to the story and overall vibe of Dracula is amazing. 100% recommend immersive reading. This story is CREEPY but a little comforting at the same time.
4.75 because it's definitely a longer story to read (took me 16 days to due to my dedication to appreciate and understand every single word) and it was a little difficult as there's a lot of old language and phrasing used (But in Bram Stoker's defence he was writing in 1897 and it sort of added to the vibe).
The characters are so lifelike and more real and loveable than a lot of modern characters I've met this year. I could't help but get attached to them as their emotions are so beautifully portrayed, and their relationships are so deep and real. Dracula is 100% a romance novel. The relationships and idea of Love itself are masterfully explored and written. I mean, I was not expecting to fall in love with this story as much as I did, but it was difficult to pretend this was 'just another Classic when the exploration of Love is the deepest and most beautifully expressed I have ever read.
"If you only knew how gladly I would die for her you would understand-"
"I love you with all the moods and tenses of the verb"
As I said above, definitely try and read this with some ambient playlists in the background - but don't write off using more modern day music! The relationships in Dracula are recognisable enough to listen to songs such as "Wait" by M83. I'd suggest playlists with similar energy to "Saying goodbye to them", "They were never real", or "Missing your comfort character". This story is heartbreaking. If you allow yourself to be taken on the journey, and not stay certain that this is just a piece of Classic literature that you're reading for the sake of it, you will feel every emotion felt by Mina, Arthur, and Jonathan.
An ode to Mina:
Thank you for sharing your story. You deserve the best in the world, for you were the purest being in it and always will be.
"The whole of life seems gone from me all at once, and there is nothing in the wide world for me to live for"
Graphic: Death, Gore, Mental illness, Blood, Grief, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Physical abuse, Violence, Murder
Minor: Chronic illness, Misogyny
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Death, Mental illness, Blood, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Antisemitism, Medical content, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Vomit, Antisemitism, Medical content, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Alcohol
Graphic: Animal death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: War
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Trafficking, Grief, Stalking
Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, Medical content, Medical trauma, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Minor: Animal death, Child death, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Antisemitism
Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Confinement, Gore, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Medical trauma, Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Graphic: Ableism, Gore, Blood, Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Gun violence, Racism
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Sexual content, Blood, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Animal death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Racial slurs