Dracula Readalong #DraculaReadalong discussion

Hi Everyone!

Thanks for joining today! This tread is to discuss Dracula as we progress through the book. The purpose for this discussion board is to keep pace with the schedule posted.

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!

Wow, the first chapter. Very descriptive, something I am not use to. Also, this reminds me of watching a horror movie where you want to yell "turn back, don't go in there!!!" to the main character Jonathan.

This chapter reminded me of the book, Nice Girls Don't Get the Corner Office." In that book, one of the managers heard that an employee was bad news. Several people warned this manager. However, the manager was sure that this employee couldn't be that bad. The employee was just as bad as everyone said. The overall morale of the team went down, and the manager's career suffered. The author says, "If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, it's a duck!"

Here, we have multiple people warning the main character of danger, but he just keeps going.....Do you think that this character is naïve? Why does he ignore so many people? Have you ever felt like you could succeed where so many others had failed? How did that turn out?

Lisa of Troy wrote: "This chapter reminded me of the book, Nice Girls Don't Get the Corner Office." In that book, one of the managers heard that an employee was bad news. Several people warned this manager. However, th..."

Jonathan referred to Dracula as a friend. How they met, not sure. So, for me, if they were a pen pal and was my friend. I would still do it because I didn't want to hurt their feelings. Sorry excuse but I would feel that pressure.

Chapter one definitely did jump right in setting up spooky.

Quack Quack! I like the title of Nice Girls Don't Get the Corner Office: 101 Unconscious Mistakes Women Make That Sabotage Their Careers. I may look for that in the library.

I didn't think Jonathan was naive, but I didn't really think he was stubborn or arrogant either. Maybe more like he was following through with a commitment or duty of some sort, very well could be pen pals.
I have many times tried to succeed where others have failed, most times I fail as well, but every once in a while you succeed-that's the hope that keeps you going-that little nugget of a possibility, and it's so worthwhile.

Love Chapter 2! I like the idea of a character not having a reflection.

Dracula tries to explain what happened last night: the people were trying to find treasure. Do you think this is true or were they just trying to confuse Jonathan so he can't run away?

You have a good point, Charity. If someone asks me to do something, I usually end up doing it, too!

Would you ever purchase a place sight unseen?

Chapter 2-very eerie ...The lack of reflection, the entering by your own will by invitation, the description of Dracula's hair, teeth, and nails--all coming out in my mind from pop culture and my distant memories of the tale.

No , I don't think they were looking for treasure. I'm not sure if they were confusing him intentionally, or just spellbound or conforming due to being influenced, maybe just beaten down.

I've never thought about it, but I wouldn't make a large purchase, property, car, etc or a pet/livestock sight unseen. Jeans and other clothes, yes.

The way that Jonathan described Dracula would scream warning flags to me. In that time period, that can't be normal

I had to mark this in chapter 2: "The light and warmth and the Count's courteous welcome seemed to have dissipated all my doubts and fears." At the end of the chapter he finally goes, I am a prisoner.

Lisa, when you say that the character not having reflection, what do you mean?

At the very end of the chapter, Jonathon is using a mirror to shave, and Dracula is standing in front of it. Dracula has no reflection and he throws the mirror outside, shattering it.

Oo I thought it was a literal reader type of thing. That makes sense.

In Chapter 3, Jonathon doesn't seem like a very good guest. He tries to get into locked rooms, and he does exactly what Dracula requested not to do.

At the beginning of the chapter, Jonathon seems almost happy to be considered a prisoner. It strikes me a bit odd, because no facts have changed, only his mindset.

If he can breath fresh air, why doesn't he try to run away? Also, a month is a very long time to be away from home, especially considering that Jonathon would not be able to hop on a plane to get back. In other words, in addition to the month with Dracula, he would also have significant travel time. Why doesn't he say that he must get back? Or say that he has other engagements?

Do you think if Jonathon was an American his reaction would have been different?

Memo to self: Why doesn't Jonathon have a British accent on the audiobook?

I thought he was literally locked in the castle and was panicked at the beginning of Ch. 3 so I thought he couldn't run away. as he gets fresh air but dreams of running away. Jonathan does seem spellbound by Dracula and the castle. not just the
travel time for people it will take forever for a letter, both real and coerced, to get anywhere.
I think if he was an American during this time period it wouldn't be that different.
an authentic audio voice makes or breaks the experience
and agh! What was inside the bag ????

Poor Jonathan, Ch 4 is torturous for him.

Until Chapter 4, I could just chalk Dracula up to being a little strange. However, if someone opened my letter, I would have serious words.

Also, why doesn't Jonathon tell Dracula no, especially regarding the letters? Personally, I wouldn't feel that it would be ethical to write a letter stating that I was in the process of traveling back home if that was not the case.

Do you think Dracula will actually come to London? Why wouldn't he just want to stay in Transylvania? Also, why do you think that Dracula picked Jonathon? It seems that a missing lawyer from London would draw some major suspicion versus maybe someone local who is estranged from their family.

I think so far Jonathon hasn't said anything so it wouldn't get Dracula suspicious. He already knows he is in danger, so he doesn't want to make it worst.

I was kind of wondering why Jonathon? I found it interesting that Dracula took his clothes and started impersonating him. So maybe with his new life in London, he would take on Jonathon's life?

I thought that Dracula had someone else going around in Jonathon's clothes so that the townspeople would report having seen him.

Chapter 5 - The letters exchanged between Mina have me thinking that she will forget Jonathon quickly and will be married off to someone else.

Maybe I am missing something, but does anyone know yet what Quincy Morris, Arthur Holmwood, or Dr. Seward have to do with Jonathon or Dracula?

ch. 4 crossed the threshold of strangeness as Dracula is concerned.there's many days between Jonathan's entries.He pass the days zombified in horror? I think that's why he's so permissive, incapable of saying no, even knowing Mina and the guy\not sure of name? will get lies in the mail. Yet he tries to trust a stranger to mail the other post.

It seems like Dracula has everything he needs in the castle, but maybe he has gotten bored living hundreds of years there and wants to travel about. yes I think he's going to London. Maybe there's some kind of conflict with one of Jonathan's ancestors. Dracula may hold a grudge. that's an interesting idea that dracula could take on Jonathan's whole life. might he have lots of money.

I liked when he saw the specks flitting around, which I,m assuming we're the other occupants of the castle in bat form.
The wolves are awfully bold and particularly vicious too.

Ch 5 aha, more characters! My inner romantic is hoping for true love for Jonathon and Mina.

The only connection I got, so far, between Quincy, Arthur and Dr. Seward and Jonathon is Lucy, who is such a good friend of Mina. but a good bet would be that changes!

Chapter 6 - I wonder why the part about the graves was included in the book.

Are we supposed to feel bad for Mina because she won't know what happened to Jonathon, not have a formal place to grieve him?

It must be really hard for Mina because she doesn't know what happened to Jonathon. Did he run off with another woman while on his travels? Did he just get tired or over worked and hasn't had time to write? By the time that she gets sorted on his actual disappearance, the trail will be long cold.

Chapter 6 - The part about the graves may be irrelevant to the story, nevertheless I found it an amusing read. The Leeds dialect of the old man was a tad annoying to read though as I couldn't understand at times what certain words meant.

I feel bad for Mina, not knowing what happened to Jonathan. I don't think she doubts his faithfulness to her. She just thinks something bad must have befallen Jonathan. I wondered whether she will go to Transylvania herself in search of Jonathan. But at the end of chapter 6, the Russian ship seems to suggest the story is going in a different direction.

I have to admit that this chapter was hard to get through. I wanted to know why we are talking about this.
There has to be a reason and maybe we will find out later in the book.

I do feel bad for Mina. I don't think they are not yet set to be married but she really loves Jonathon. She can even sense that his shorthand letter is off.

Ch 6-Very spooky mood continue. I thought the obvious, the white women and the graves were omens of death. I thought the old man's accent almost like a different language.

I, too, feel bad for Mina 's processing Jonathon's eerie and suspicious response. I'm sure she's hopeful that he's wrapped up in work. Would a 19th century woman be inclined or even allowed to travel alone to to search for him?

Also the trail would be cold by the time she found him, even if she's able to fight through the presumable vampires, due to the length of letters being delivered and business getting done in the time period. It's so slow compared to modern business.

I reread the last chapter to get an idea of the ship. A new adventurous direction looms.

Laura wrote: "Ch 6-Very spooky mood continue. I thought the obvious, the white women and the graves were omens of death. I thought the old man's accent almost like a different language.

I, too, feel bad for Min..."

Ah! The ship that has Dracula on it! Suddenly men were disappearing and reporting a thin man. Eerie indeed!

Chapter 7 and 8

Dracula was published in 1897 so I don't know if this is normal or not for that time period......but it seemed strange to me that Sister Agatha was asking for money in her letter. She writes that Jonathon is recovering but he has no money.

Do you think that this is strange that the sister is asking for money? Do you think that this is some sort of trap? Do you think Renfield was trying to talk to Dracula? What do you think has happened to Lucy? How did Jonathon have money for a train ticket?

Ch7 - yes- that sounds like a trap or scam from sweet too good -to-be true Sister Agatha. Otherwise it seemed plausible as they did not have health insurance or similar things back then, but that one sentence made me suspicious. I think we’ll hear more about that in upcoming chapters.

Ch8- earlier in the story Renfield is as pretty standardly disturbed. In this chapter though I think when he’s shown as talking to himself, pg 107, he is really talking to Dracula or one of his associates.

I do not think a safety pin did that to her Lucy’s neck. Something/one was feasting upon her. Especially how weak and pale she has become.
Jonathan must have gotten money from the castle. That fact was just thrown in in the post script.

Things are picking up in Chapter 10!

I feel bad for Lucy. Thankfully she has someone helping her get better but seem to have the same issues over and over again.

I'm so confused about the blood transfusions. You can't just give blood to random people - you have to have compatible blood types. Yet the gentlemen just keep rolling up their sleeves and donating to Lucy without any sort of testing.......

I am having so much creepy fun reading this book. If it weren't for this group I wouldn't have read it. One chapter a day is easy to do, but makes me pretty spooked--By the fullish moon this week, a slinky animal, cat or raccoon running behind my shed, fluttering leaves at night and my neighbor driving a stake into her yard. I joked with her did she find a vampire?


Lucy 's process is indeed so drawn out full of ups and downs.

I found that part of the transfusions confusing and the acts were so passive, too. Ultimate creepiness.

Did anyone else get mad in this chapter when Lucy's mom threw out the garlic flowers? I know she meant well but my goodness you ruined everything. lol

I was totally spooked about the end of chapter 11. Why the bat (obviously it has to be Dracula) targeting Lucy?

Also, Dr. Sewards diary entry about his patient bursting into his study and lapping up blood. Wow, creepy. But so good.

What happened to Lucy!?!?!

Charity wrote: "What happened to Lucy!?!?!"

Reread pg 213 in my paperback, the last page of Ch 12 (view spoiler)[ "It is all over, said Van Helsing, she is dead. " Gasp! but also kind of inevitable, I was thinking (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

Charity wrote: "What happened to Lucy!?!?!"

I actually didn't see it coming. lol

(view spoiler)[Just thought he was going to spend the time drinking her blood forever or Van Helsing was going to save her (hide spoiler)]

Aww... And now the children are getting messed with. Oh the horror.

Laura wrote: "Aww... And now the children are getting messed with. Oh the horror."

Ahhh! It is terrible!

I got from my library the audiobook narrated by Tavia Gilbertand and J.P. Goimont. which is well-paced and each voice is distinct. I can recommend.