Women are the only main reason most men are motivated to even live and breath, because our love for them is strong. I really loved both the book and the 1992 movie, in fact I saw the movie first years ago and wanted to compare it with the book so I did. The book for me though is very slow, and there are slow details discussed that might have worked as a form of narration back then, but it is hard for modern tastes today (at least it was painstaking for me). Fans should read the book and watch the movie. And as for Lucy's character, I feel you are comparing the author's description of women characters to todays modern standard and for me that isn't how I would view the novel. Women and men had different roles in the far past, they had different upbringings, and different societal and social expectations of them that nothing that could have been written or portrayed in the 1800's could ever compare to this modern world's ideologies. But over all it is a classic and a wonderful work of art.
@dr.davidbannersworstday5860
7 жыл бұрын
If you like the novel you should check out the BBC mini series "Count Dracula" from 1977 starring Louis Jourdan. Might be hard to find but it is floating around out there on DVD. If you can find it, most agree that it is by far the most faithful adaptation of Stoker's novel. Much more so than the 1992 movie IMO (which I found actually strayed pretty far from the tone and themes of the book by creating this love story between Mina and Dracula and focusing a lot on gore). The '77 version combines Arthur Holmwood and Quincy Morris as one character and Lucy and Mina are sisters but that's pretty much the only changes, and are pretty minor changes IMO. Other than that it's almost word for word accurate to the book and really captures the feel and tone of the book.
@on1230
9 жыл бұрын
If you like Dracula, I recommend you read Salem's Lot by Stephen King and watch the English TV show Penny Dreadful.
@EmilyCait
9 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the recommendation Siuon! I'll definitely add Salem's Lot to my TBR. Maybe for next Halloween. :)
@niksbookworld779
9 жыл бұрын
Salems' Lot is a really good book! Try it out Emily Cait.
@seanraines5871
3 жыл бұрын
Hopefully she reads it. That's all I read was dracula and Salem's lot as a teenager growing up
@luislebron6321
8 жыл бұрын
Good review I remember the first time I read Dracula. At first I thought that I wasn't going to like it. I wasn't into the concept of journals but the more I read the more I began to grow on me. Now I've lost count of how many times I have read this book the only thing I know is that the more I read it the more I love it. My favorite vampire novel of all time.
@dulcemoonchild
10 жыл бұрын
I loved the fact that was wrote in diaries, which caused me more curiosity, totally enjoyed this book
@EmilyCait
10 жыл бұрын
The diary style was really excellent! I really liked that a woman's POV was actually included in the diary entries. It's great that we got Mina's POV.
@FinalBlowJoe
10 жыл бұрын
I can finally comment on this video as I read Dracula last week :) The written journal/letter format I found really interesting and something I'm not too used to. It gave a odd after the fact viewpoint, slowed some parts down and sped others up which worked really well in most cases. I wasn't keen on Lucy but I really liked Mina. Dracula would of sunk his teeth into all of them without her.
@EmilyCait
10 жыл бұрын
The journal/letter format was really cool. Now that you've pointed it out, I totally see how it changed the pacing of the novel in places. Which is actually really awesome. Mina is the best. She definitely saved the day. But I almost wonder if it would have been better if Mina became a vampire. She would have had a lot of power being Undead... I'm really looking forward to rereading Dracula next fall. There is just so much to think about! :)
@FinalBlowJoe
10 жыл бұрын
I'll be rereading at the end of next year too, to see the little things I missed first time around.
@LetsReadSFF
10 жыл бұрын
Right on. Haven't read it but your excitement is infectious.
@EmilyCait
10 жыл бұрын
Thanks! :)
@samgallic9464
9 жыл бұрын
I've always liked Mary Shelley's Frankenstein better
@jonser2008
3 жыл бұрын
I've read Dracula many times, and it is very much a product of its times. Not to make light of the patriarchy by any means. Victorian attitudes towards women and sexuality were highly repressed in general, and this is reflected quite clearly in Bram Stoker's writing. Still a classic masterpiece, Dracula weaves folklore and history with fiction.
@oc2113
8 жыл бұрын
Greetings Emily, After procrastinating for a long time, I finally read Dracula. I am no expert and I haven't read as many books as you have, but I will be more than happy to share my thoughts with you. It is very interesting how you are conflicted with the way women are portrayed in the book. I never perceived the novel to belittle the female role. Mina is the nucleus of the whole Dracula hunt and I would suspect that such a female leadership role in 1897, puts Mina ahead of her time. Lucy on the other hand, plays more of a vulnerable role (perhaps, this is where you feel uncomfortable), but I do not find that particularly representative of all females of the time. I also find fascinating how we read the same novel, but yet we have different perceptions. I thought it was very clear that the motivation to kill Dracula was the classic good vs evil battle. I don't see how the characters masculinity was ever challenged by Mina and Lucy having supernatural powers. Is there anything in the book that alludes to that notion? I really would love to take a second look at it. About Lucy not having much to offer, I totally agree with you on that, but this is why I don't lose any sleep over it. Let's remember that this story takes place in the 19th century, where females were oppressed. If I remember correctly, Lucy was born with a silver spoon in her mouth, was young and therefore probably immature. I would think that Stoker portrayed Lucy very accurately according to the character's background. I am looking forward to discussing the novel. P.S. I feel that deep inside you want to give it 5 stars.
@EmilyCait
8 жыл бұрын
Hi Oscar, Thank you for your thoughtful response. Unfortunately, I read Dracula a little over two years ago and don't really remember enough specifics to engage with your points in detail. I'm going to have to be a little general. More generally, I can address the idea of a character being 'of her time' -- which I think is a totally fair reading! I agree that Lucy is probably more typical of the time period in which the novel is set. Mina is probably more the exception to the rule in this instance. However, there is a trend in recent scholarship to return to old novels and reread them looking for places where time-appropriate-behaving female characters act with agency. So instances where a female character makes period-appropriate choices from a wide range of legitimate choices. I think what I meant by Mina and Lucy being a treat to the masculinity of the male characters (and therefore having to be fixed) is in that a female vampire is a subversive figure. Because she has fangs she is now able to penetrate other humans, the female vampire takes on the active role as the one who penetrates (opposed to the more passive role of the one penetrated). Penetration is typically associated with the phallus, which signifies male power. So when women have fangs, they possess the phallus and therefore possess power. The impulse of the male characters to want to fix the female vampires (take away their fangs/phallus/power) is what probably read to me like a threat to masculine dominion over the power associated with the phallus. It reads as a the male characters wanting to restore the 'natural order of things' in which women are phallus-less and passive. (There is a scholar -- Kathleen McConnell -- who touches on vampires, power, the phallus, etc in a text called Pain, Porn and Complicity if you are interested in reading more about the female vampire as subversive figure.) Hopefully that makes sense?
@oc2113
8 жыл бұрын
Good morning Emily,I heard somewhere that no two persons ever read the same book. I think we are the perfect example of that. I didn't even think about the whole penetrator vs penetrated dilemma. It is very interesting to see other points of view. Thank you for the recommendation, I will check it out and I hope to exchange some more ideas with you. Just out of curiosity, how many books do you read a week? Do you make a living out of it?
@EmilyCait
8 жыл бұрын
Oscar M. Cordero It's so true! And a well-written book will always stand up to multiple readings of the story's meaning. :) As for my reading, it really depends. When I was in school I was reading up to 5 books a week for my classes. Now that I'm working, it depends on my free time. I'd say right now I average a book a week. And I don't make a living with reading/reviewing/youtubing.
@oc2113
8 жыл бұрын
Emily,One book a week? In my world that is very impressive, you really eat books. Now with the movie coming out. By any chance, have you read "The Divine Comedy" by Dante?Do you work with books? I enjoy your reviews, so thank you for that. Oscar
@EmilyCait
8 жыл бұрын
Oscar M. Cordero I'm glad you hear you enjoy my videos :) And I haven't read The Divine Comedy. I work in two areas of a bookstore currently: "tasking" (unpacking shipments and making the store look pretty while the store is closed) and sales. It's SO. MUCH. FUN.
@omarnoor767
6 жыл бұрын
I'm SOOO jealous of the library being you. 😭❤️
@Elvis-guy1973
5 жыл бұрын
It is a masoganistic novel, I mean what point was there exactly in cutting Lucy's head off and stuffing her mouth with garlic they dident only dismember her they disempowerd her, I'm on chapter 25 and I gotta say I'm board through! The Victorian lingo really began to make the story drag for me, can't wait till I'm finished.
@atrixa1991
10 жыл бұрын
I'm so pleased to hear that you liked this! I just started reading this last night as my creepy read for October. So far I'm liking the style :)
@EmilyCait
10 жыл бұрын
I'm glad you are enjoying it! The letter style, flipping POV is really great! Happy reading! :)
@PEACERELAXINGSOUNDS
3 жыл бұрын
Dracula is one of my favorite classics of all time.
@bookhunterrr3973
4 жыл бұрын
Love to hear your thoughts. It is such a masterpiece 🙌🏼
@JBW_timothy_96
6 жыл бұрын
Going to read this again today. Thanks for making want to read it more. 10/10
@TheAracelicat
4 жыл бұрын
I just finished 🧛🏻♂️ and rewatched your review of it. I am agree with the role of the two women being rather conflicting. At the same time Mina is my absolute hero of the story. She is the brains of the operation, is literate and in the end even carries a gun. Considering the time it was written in, creating such a female character was probably quite revolutionary. It is a bit sad that in the end when „all is well “ Mina has returned to the conventional role as a wife and mother.
@conorhowells7306
4 жыл бұрын
Why is that sad? It is a good and noble thing, society actually does need women to be good wives and mothers. Sometimes the important role is not the flashy one.
@jimburke3801
4 жыл бұрын
Glad you liked it. Your review was very interesting. I don't live too far away from where Bram Stoker was born and got married in Dublin.
@OmbrellaMedia
4 жыл бұрын
Hi Emily. Thanks for your book reviews. You're so cool!
@datorin2653
3 жыл бұрын
Emily maybe I'm confused but to me it seemed like the men in the story valued the women above everything else and specifically attempted to remove them from harm's way. To me the women were strong and beautiful and smart and caring. They wanted to protect the men. Just as Mina tried to by not telling Jonathan how sick she was feeling. But the men wanted to protect the women. Maybe you have different thoughts than I do but I felt like the relationships between the human men and women were fairly healthy. As far as Lucy the men mention often how gentle she is. Generally speaking well about her personality. But maybe you read some other insight that I didn't see?
@armincartoonist
2 жыл бұрын
Hey Emily, great review - I just finished the book yesterday! I also felt very conflicted by the portrayal of women in this book.. while not unexpected for the time period, I feel like I have seen more forward thinking stories compared to this, like Sherlock Holmes, or directly vampire related: Carmilla. Wondering if you've read Carmilla, and also wondering what you thought of how idiotic Van Helsing and the men were in the middle of this book .. when they just left Mina at home because they didn't want to "frighten" her.. they were the reason she got bit by Dracula! it was kinda annoying seeing that unfold and I was yelling at the book lol. Anyway great vid
@Aust51989
5 жыл бұрын
Hi Emily, I really enjoyed your review! Dracula is awesome! I’ve been plotting a sci-fi/horror sequel to Dracula since I was sixteen (I’m Thirty now, ha), and your review gave me a few ideas as far as what I can do to change some plot details and characters. Thank you!
@EmilyCait
5 жыл бұрын
Awesome! Happy writing, Austin :)
@7israelll
6 жыл бұрын
Dear Emily, I've just read it. Please forgive me if I have misunderstood your point regarding the female characters. What exactly disturbs you with them? They are feminine, smart, sensitive, beautiful and courageous, in my opinion. And the male characters, except for Ramsey and the count, are self-sacrificing, respectful, courageous, and even loving to one another. Wouldn't the world be a better place if more people would be like that? Do those characteristics in both male and female characters bother you? If so, why?
@stephaniegagne3376
4 жыл бұрын
7israelll I think you meant Renfield and not Ramsey?
@charlenewilliams879
2 жыл бұрын
The best story ever written
@darkflowerthebloodshrike2333
7 жыл бұрын
I enjoyed Dracula, it was an amazing read and it's probably my favorite classic. Some of the critiques I had (or have) somewhat vanish when you consider it was published in 1897. But as far as the character of Dracula..wow, completely sinister. But for me, I felt the portrayal of women fit the time period. But I don't think Stoker left that there, I think he drew upon it because Mina "grew" and was amazing because she helped orchestrate the agenda. Lucy, after her "conversion" was very vicious. Overall, one of the best classics I have ever read and I will definitely read it again. Great review :)
@EmilyCait
7 жыл бұрын
Thanks :)
@maysmallfan
7 жыл бұрын
I bought Dracula recently because of this video. Reading it now!
@yesmissjane
10 жыл бұрын
It's a while since I've read this, but my recollection is that there was a lot of undertone about immigration in the book, Dracula as a 'filthy foreigner" / decadent, exotic eastern prince come to make his home in London, (and therefore threatening to besmirch our women-folk, which is of course what aliens are always after).
@EmilyCait
10 жыл бұрын
I can definitely see undertones of 'immigration fear'... Dracula 'corrupting' the susceptible women... the men's need to stomp out all of Dracula's influence in London. Thanks for pointing that out! I'm so excited to reread Dracula and look for what it offers beyond the surface story! :)
@ShoaibRashdi
8 жыл бұрын
I loved Dracula as well; keeping my eyes away from it was like really, really hard. It was very compelling.
@peskylisa
6 жыл бұрын
Interesting point of view, and I agree that Lucy Western was kind of a useless fluff head, whereas, Mina Harker was the true heroine of the story. Shows the whole Victorian perspective of the sexes in the Victorian era. Plenty of religious themes as well, and Mina provides a sympathetic perspective on the Count as to how unhappy he is to be trapped into an evil situation(eternal darkness, the whole blood drinking thing)
@Nicky.Slunsky
6 жыл бұрын
Nowadays, more often than not, I really wish I was gay...
@oc2113
7 жыл бұрын
Emily,You could not work at a more appropriate place. I bet your room looks like a library. I worked at a department store and I enjoyed unpacking and making the display look nice. If after finishing, I didn't get the urge of knocking it down for pleasure, then the display wasn't good enough. Emily, I am curious about book sales. Do current events affect the type of books being sold? I remember after 9/11, the Bible sold out in many places. What can you tell us about that?Have a good night.Oscar
@EmilyCait
7 жыл бұрын
Definitely! We had a lot of people buying books on/by Hilary and Trump leading up to the election. Before/after big book awards, we will rapidly sell nominated and winning books. Before/after an anticipated film we sell through the inspiring books. (And our home office seems to anticipate this by arranging for large quantities of these 'hot topic' texts to arrive when people are thinking about these things.)
@giorgisulkhanishvili7129
8 жыл бұрын
one of my favourite books
@ChrisThomas-yi8bs
7 жыл бұрын
It seems to be very difficult to come across a female reviewer who doesn't gender everything.
@jiminator904
6 жыл бұрын
Every man in the book was willing to die on the spot to protect the women and women find this offensive
@stephaniegagne3376
4 жыл бұрын
Not this woman. I actually took the historical context into consideration
@dominicgaetani3099
7 жыл бұрын
Hey, what cover is that?
@EmilyCait
7 жыл бұрын
Premier Classics. It appears to be something Canadian? (The cover only has a Canadian price on it).
@iamthedanger9602
4 жыл бұрын
Sad to see all those books going into such a hollow head.
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