Journal Entry 1 by CharmedKim from Secaucus, New Jersey USA on Wednesday, April 21, 2004

I loved this book! I bought it after seeing "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" because I wanted to know more about the character of Mina Harker. After hearing so much about Dracula over the years and compared to the horror genre of books and movies today, I was surprised to still find myself on the edge of my seat in fear.
 

Journal Entry 2 by CharmedKim from Secaucus, New Jersey USA on Wednesday, April 21, 2004

I liked this book so much that I want to share it with others so I'm sending it out on a bookring. :-)

<1.MoonDancer11 (Irving, TX)*
2.Czersk (Roscoe, MN)*
3.Zarylia (MN or Poland)*
4.bookgal23--back to me!


Please journal when you recieve the book and when you're done, tell us what you thought of it. Also, PM the next person on the list for their address. I hope you enjoy the book. :-)

 

Journal Entry 3 by CharmedKim from Secaucus, New Jersey USA on Friday, May 07, 2004

Sent out today to MoonDancer11. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!  

Journal Entry 4 by MoonDancer11 from Irving, Texas USA on Tuesday, June 08, 2004

My apologies for not journaling sooner. I rcvd the book mid-last week and have been incredibly busy. Will read and pass along ASAP. Thanks! 

Journal Entry 5 by MoonDancer11 at Controlled Release in Irving, Texas USA on Tuesday, August 17, 2004

Released on Tuesday, August 17, 2004 at Controlled Release in Irving, Texas USA.

My, my, my! I've had this book a long time. Sorry guys! I read it then somehow it got shuffled into my PC stack Ooops!

Having seen the movie, I must say that I still prefer to the movie to the book. I got lost in the letters and seemed to have a hard time keeping the who's who's straight.

Mailing to czersk today via Media Mail with Delivery Confirmation: 0300 1290 0002 8182 4000 

Journal Entry 6 by Czersk from Roscoe, Minnesota USA on Sunday, August 22, 2004

In the midst of a cold, foggy, altogether dreary morning, Dracula appeared as if out of no where . . . Nah, I'm just kidding. It was actually very sunny yesterday- just trying to get into the mood :) I'm thoroughly prepared to be scared, although I doubt that will happen. I have been watching scary movies regularly for over a year, and I have yet to find one that will scare me. Exception: Signs. Reason: childhood fear of aliens- enough said. 

Journal Entry 7 by Czersk from Roscoe, Minnesota USA on Saturday, September 18, 2004

Nope- didn't scare me in the least- But it was really good! Dracula is a classic that you just HAVE to read, especially if you love Horror, like me. Frankenstein was great, too, for all of you out there you like Dracula . . . But anyway, the book. At first the journal entries and the letters were cumbersome, especially since they weren't all written by the same person. But as the book progressed I really came to appreciate all the different journalings, since it presented the story from many different perspectives. It just seems right for this story to be written in that form. It just wouldn't be the same if it was written any differently. I must say, though, that the characters were a lot different than I expected them to be, largely due to Hollywood. I expected Van Helsing to be wildly attractive with a swooshing cloak and a great hat (thank you Hugh Jackman) and Mina Harker to be a more aggresive, dark super chick that I saw portrayed on The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. That just goes to show you what the movies do to good books. Drop just about everything but the title. I have the movie Dracula (with Anthony Hopkins) waiting for me downstairs. I will have to see how that film holds up to the book.

Off to Zarylia in Poland- which, come to think about it, is eerily close to Transylvania. At least it's a lot closer than Minnesota. Ha ha! Have fun with that, Mags! 

Journal Entry 8 by Zarylia from Saint Paul, Minnesota USA on Monday, December 06, 2004

The book has arrived on an appropriately dreary day, excellent timing. Anyway, I don't know when I'll have time to read it, probably sometime over Christmas break or maybe sooner. I haven't decided yet whether I want to read it on a 'dark and stormy night' in Poland, or on a sunny beach over Christmas break. Hmmm..... Thanks for including me in the ring! 

Journal Entry 9 by Zarylia from Saint Paul, Minnesota USA on Tuesday, July 26, 2005

Paynesville/MN/USA - I've finished it! It's a quarter to 4 in the morning, but I have finished the book. It was a surprisingly hard one for me to get through. Pehaps my state of mind or the way it was written. Either way, I'm done now. I'm dreadlly sorry I've kept it for so long though. There is no excuse for a 3 person bookring taking more than a year to get back home. Again, I am so sorry. As for the book, I am thankful I got to read it, even though it was hard for me to get through. While I didn't find it TERRIBLY frightening, I must admit that there were moments where the seer creepiness of the Dracula's descriptions had my skin crawling and goosebumps rising. Mostly I enjoyed the devotion of the group to each other. Though I couldn't help but sit up a little straighter and raise my hackles when they constantly referred to how Mina had a "woman's mind" and how she was so delitcate and should be spared. Please people, she's the one that got bitten, I think she can handle a little plotting. But then again maybe that's just my feminism rising to the surface. :-D I was also, like Czersk, slightly disappointing that Van Helsing wasn't the swashbuckling hero he was in absolutely hilarious movie (seriously, it's just so bad it's funny) and that Mina didn't kick some vampire butt, but I'll get over it. :-D Thank you again for letting me read a book that has been on my list to read for years, and I can't tell you how badly I feel about holding the book hostage for so long. It will be on its way back home shortly. 

Journal Entry 10 by CharmedKim from Secaucus, New Jersey USA on Saturday, August 20, 2005

Dracula returned home safely around two weeks ago. I'm glad I was able to share it with you all and hear your opinions. I hope you enjoyed it!