Thursday, September 23, 2010

Book Review and Giveaway: Dracula in Love: Two Winners for this one!

Title: Dracula in Love
Author: Karen Essex
Publisher: Doubleday
Format: Finished Book
ISBN: 978-0385528914
Price: $25.95; Pages: 370
Release Date: August 10, 2010

I have a faint remembrance of reading the original Dracula many years ago. I recall it's told from the perspective of the men in the story, particularly Jonathan Harker, whose fiancee Mina Murray, was the object of Dracula's desire...or something along those lines. In Dracula in Love, Karen Essex takes the story in a new direction. She tells this old classic from the female point of view. It is written in first person from the perspective of Mina. Let's take a look at the blurb on the book.

Reader, you are about to enter a world that exists simultaneous with your own. But be warned: in its realm, there are no rules, and there is certainly no neat formula to become--or to destroy--one who has risen above the human condition...The truth is, we must fear monsters less and be warier of our own kind. (from the books prologue)

London, 1890. Mina Murray, the rosy-cheeked, quintessentially pure Victorian heroine, becomes Count Dracula's object of desire. To preserve her chastity, five male "defenders" rush in to rescue her from the vampire's evil clutches. This is the story we've been told. But now, from Mina's own pen, we discover that the story is vastly different when told from the female point of view...


I found Dracula in Love to be lush and Gothic. It's sensual and erotic, but not in a salacious way. It's a totally absorbing read. The novel is literary in it's sensibilities, but not over the top. I think it's literary prose is part and parcel of the time and place in which it is written, Victorian England, but the flow of the writing is smooth; it's easy to discern and the reader is engrossed in the story from it's first sentence. The language is lovely, even beautiful in parts, but never so gorgeous, that it neglects understanding and comprehension. Let's take a peek at the very first paragraph...

Everyone has a secret life. Perhaps yours is merely a gossamer web of thoughts and fantasies woven in the hidden furrows of your mind. Or furtive deeds performed on the sly or betrayals large and small that, if revealed, would change how you are perceived.

Not only is it a good story, but you will learn so much of how woman were treated during that time in history. That in itself is a horror, vampires or not!  The author gives the reader a real history lesson and the amount of research she did is impressive. I understand she traveled to England and utilized original documents in this regard.

If you'd like the opportunity to acquire this new classic that is sure to be a keeper in your own library, just become a follower if you're not already and answer these questions: Have you read the original Dracula? What is your favorite vampire book? That's it. Don't forget to leave your email in your comment so you may be contacted if you're one of the two winners.

Thanks to Judy and Liz of Doubleday for making the books available. Giveaway is open to residents of the US only, at publisher's request.

Winners will be chosen randomly and the giveaway ends Monday, September 27, 2010

Toodles!

24 comments:

  1. Yes, I have read Dracula. This book sounds very interesting. My favorite vampire novel of all time would be "Lestat" by Anne Rice.

    DreamyCowgirl@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. No, I have not read Dracula but it's on my Kindle to read soon! My favorite vampire book is The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova.

    manningjessicar(at)yahoo(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  3. I have not read the orginal Dracula. My favorite one(s)are the Kerrelyn Sparks vampire ones and the Stephanie Meyer Twilight books. I have heard many great things about this book over the net. I really love the cover and the story sound good.
    katsrus(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  4. I have read the original Dracula book back when I was in high school. Though I might say it made me sleepy most of the time. lol. but I did appreciate it now. I love the movie though. Intense. :) My favorite vampire book would be Twilight because I haven't read any vampire novels yet after it. :)

    -Len-
    maidenveil(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  5. I haven't read the original Dracula yet. My favorite vampire novel is Infinite Days.

    stephaniet117 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  6. I actually have read Dracula a few years back. I still remain convinced its the best vampire book ever written. ^^ Plus i love Mina.

    jedisakora@msn.com

    ReplyDelete
  7. I have read the original Dracula - I thought it was a struggle - perhaps it was the language...
    My favorite vampire is Kisten from Kim Harrison's books, but he is dead now.
    bevsharp@desch.org

    ReplyDelete
  8. Already publicly following Writing is a Blessing with Google Friend Connect [Cheryl F. {The Lucky Ladybug}] -- I have read the original Dracula. It's my favorite and I have two hardcover copies on my bookshelves :) *Thanks* for the giveaway!
    theluckyladybug[at]gmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  9. Already publicly following via GFC :) I have not read the original Dracula *blushes* but my fave vampire novel at the moment is Anne Rice's "Lestat".

    silverhealer21 at msn dot com

    ReplyDelete
  10. i loved Dracula the original that is have to say Lestat by Anne Rice is the bets book ever great post


    mortalsinn@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  11. I haven't read the original Dracula. I didn't even read my first vampire book until last year. I think my favorite vamp book might would be Hearts at Stake by Alyxandra Harvey. Of course I haven't read a whole lot of vampire books. Thanks for the giveaway. :D

    Old follower.

    ~Briana
    thebookpixie[at]yahoo[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  12. I am an old follower.
    I have not read the original Dracula.
    I have only read the Twilight series though I have Vampire Academy on audio but have yet to listen to it.
    Love & Hugs,
    Pam
    pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  13. I have read the original Dracula and loved it. I have also read Abraham Lincoln, the Vampire Slayer and like Lincoln much more than the vampire parts but it was still good.

    CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  14. I'm a follower!

    Unfortunately, I haven't read the original Dracula. I got put off on Frankenstein somewhere and never bothered to try the original vampire again...

    My favorite contemporary vampire novels are the Vampire Academy books.

    Thanks for hosting the giveaway!

    whatinabox at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  15. This book sounds really intriguing, and I've heard nothing but good things about it :) Thanks for hosting this giveaway. I've read the original Dracula in parts, I need to one day sit down and make myself read it in its entirety. Hmmm, I think my fave vampire book is 'The Vampire Armand' by Anne Rice.

    raoreviews(at)gmail(dot)com
    Follower as Teresa C

    ReplyDelete
  16. I'm a follower.

    I've read Dracula and I have to say that it's also my favourite vampire book.

    spettolij AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  17. I haven't read the original Dracula, though I kind of want to. As for my favorite vampire book, I'd have to say...any one of the Morganville Vampires books.

    Thanks for the giveaway!

    I'm a follower.
    theresa9854@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  18. Sigh, unfortunately I haven't read the original Dracula. I saw like 30 min of the movie with Keneau Reeves ( is that how you spell his name) and Gary Oldman. I feel like I haven't read that many vampire books... which is really weird haha. Maybe Morganville vamps?

    ReplyDelete
  19. Ahh oops I forgot to add my email address, aprilxu2222@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  20. I have not read the original but I have read alot of the anne rice books. I love the ORIGINAL interview with a vampire. I think Queen of the Damned the book (not the movie cause the movie was crap) was incredible.

    I like the Van Helsing one, he was pretty amazing.

    moneycleo @ aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  21. I have read Dracula and loved it. Van Helsing was my favorite character. But my favorite vampire novel is SUNSHINE by Robin McKinley.

    chopinleaf@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  22. I have never read the original (hanging head in shame) and my favorite vampire books we Tanya Huff's Blood Ties. I always loved the books and in the tv version, Henry was just dreamy.

    I would love to win a copy of these books.

    http://shaihasramblings.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  23. I read the original Dracula last year and wrote a paper on it. I thoroughly enjoyed it, although it left me saddened by how confused people are about Dracula himself, particularly concerning how he was killed and his supposed inability to walk in daylight.

    What interests me about this story is how the author handles Dracula taunting Harker and his cohorts that their women are the equivalent of his slaves, for the purpose of defilement. Can this ever be equated to love? One of Dracula's three vampire companions implied he had loved once...

    ReplyDelete
  24. Well that one time must have been what Essex is writing about in Dracula in Love. It is such a completely different take on the story.

    I was surprised at how differently it made me feel about the Dracula character. It doesn't have that creepy, monster feeling of the original. It's more sad. It is also very interesting how the author portrayed him becoming a vampire. I haven't heard that perspective before.

    You've got to read it and tell me what you think in comparison to the original. Thanks for dropping in October!

    ReplyDelete

I enjoy reading what you have to say. Seriously!