Book One of 2023
One thing the pandemic gave me was the experience of audiobooks. While we were all trapped indoors we were encouraged to go for walks in our neighbourhoods. In my local Buy Nothing group during a discussion about the boringness of going for walks a neighbour mentioned audiobooks. She had been using audiobooks as a way to pass the time as well as excitement (to find out what happens next) to go for her next walk. It was an interesting theory that I had to try. Before this I had never gotten into audiobooks.
Listening to “Dracula,” by Bram Stoker (The Duke Classics edition. Available on Libby) was a perfect choice for my first audiobook of the year. The Victorian atmosphere and the cast of intriguing characters were perfect for cold walks in the snow of January. The narrator was a great fit for my listening. He altered his voice for different characters and it was easy to fall into the story. Unlike some other narrators I have listened to before his voice didn’t seem forced or too dramatic when he was creating a female character’s voice.
Although I had read the novel, “Dracula,” years ago. This audiobook gave new life to the story. Whether it was my own snowy environment adding to the winter like conditions in the novel or just a great narrator I loved reading this book a second time. I highly recommend rereading a book you like again (or in another format) to uncover new details that you missed the first time around. Or for the purpose of reacquainting yourself with your favourite characters.
Jonathan Harker embarks to Transylvania to settle the affairs and help a foreigner (Count Dracula) start his English journey to buy up property. As his work becomes a nightmare the reader is acquainted with Mina and her best friend Lucy Westenra through a series of correspondence. As the novel unfolds we get wrapped into the story with such compelling characters. (There is a reason this is one of those timeless novels we read over and over again.) Abraham Van Helsing, Renfield, Dr. John Seward, Arthur Holmwood, and Quincey Morris each come into the story in their own time. Just when you think you have one of them figured out a truly human element comes forward and they surprise the reader in their own way.
Each chapter is mysterious and gets the reader to think of just what might be possible next. Even though the reader ends up losing some characters along the way they live on through the survivors. At the end of the story it is easy to imagine how their lives go on beyond the pages.
This book is a timeless story that will live forever probably long past us. The story touches a part of our imagination and the power of good versus evil. Our fascination with monsters but our hope that humanity can overcome them meets in a fantastic whirlwind. So many different discussions can take place between readers; so many different outcomes were possible for the characters involved; so many theories could be posed of any of the characters’ motives for their actions.
Enjoy this novel if you get a chance to read it. If you are into audiobooks I highly recommend the Duke Classics edition. As I said before it can be found through the Libby app.
The Libby app connects you to your local libraries giving you free access to ebooks, plays, and audiobooks for every audience.
Happy Reading!!