TITLE: Dracula Daily
AUTHOR: Matthew Kirkland & Bram Stoker
GENRE: Horror/Classic
AGE RANGE: Adult
PAGES: 304pg
PUBLISHER: Andrews McMeel Publishing
The wildly popular email newsletter that has been described as an “internet sensation” (The New York Times) and “the coolest book club on the internet” (Fast Company) is breathing new life into Bram Stoker’s classic vampire novel. Now, the internet phenomenon can be experienced in this deluxe hardcover book that includes hilarious commentary and artwork from Dracula Daily readers.
Thanks to Dracula Daily, the email newsletter that delivers the classic vampire novel in bite-sized chunks, “an old story about the undead is getting a new life” (NPR). Combining Stoker’s original text alongside reader-generated content, this version of Dracula is a fun and immersive experience, perfect for vampire scholars, Dracula Daily readers, and newcomers to the story.
Inside, you’ll find a rich selection of artwork and memes from the newsletter’s hundreds of thousands of subscribers. From comics celebrating Dracula’s famous wall-climbing ability to armchair analysis of the novel’s complicated love triangles, the witty commentary and colorful fan art brings a unique twist to the classic tale.
First, my thoughts on Dracula (1897):
“I am all in a sea of wonders. I doubt; I fear; I think strange things, which I dare not confess to my own soul.”
Dracula is one of those books that feel pointless to review; it’s a classic, everyone’s familiar with the story (whether they’ve read it or not), and I doubt that my thoughts on this work are going to influence another reader much on whether they’ll pick it up or not.
I’m going to tell you a few of my thoughts anyways, because what else am I here for?
Dracula is such an influential tale that I’m willing to comfortably assume horror and paranormal fantasy as a whole would be vastly different (and lacking) without its existence. Not only is there the obvious—the vampires, of course!—but there’s also the heavy focus on good versus evil and the capabilities of a group of people who are motivated by nothing so much as their love and affections for one another.
I joked to my spouse at one point that this book is primarily a bunch of people arguing over who will die for the other first, but seriously, let Dracula be a timeless reminder to us all that we can stride bravely into the darkest of terrors without hesitation when we do so for love. It truly is the most powerful emotion, and Bram understood that vividly.
(Case in point: Jonathan Harker’s shift from kindhearted, gentle Englishman obsessing over his newfound love of spice to a feral knife-wielding madman who will take down anyone and anything standing between him and his end goal of protecting his wife? Beautiful. Jonathan and Mina Harker are my heroes.)
It isn’t a perfect read by any means… but I had a really damn good time reading this story and I fully understand why, to this day, readers all over the world uphold it as necessary reading for horror and vampire lovers alike.
And then, my thoughts on Dracula Daily (2023):
“… Dracula is really about a Victorian D&D party going full murderhobo on a megalomaniacal vampire supervillain as revenge for vamping their polycule sweetheart.”
I posted my full thoughts on the story itself in a review for Dracula here, but as far as Dracula Daily goes, I absolutely loved this way of telling the story. Not only do I think the idea of putting everything in chronological order is fantastic, but the memes and comments in the margins were a trip and I laughed out loud at a lot of them. I even followed the link in the author’s note to view more of the posts, and I could spend days down that rabbit hole.
If you or someone in your life likes Dracula and appreciates the inherent rampant bisexual chaos this classic holds, definitely grab a copy of Dracula Daily.
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy! All thoughts are honest and my own.
WARNINGS (click to expand):
—
—
— destiny ♥
mistysbookspace
August 18, 2023I’m happy to say I have finally read Dracula after so many years of saying I really wanted to read it but unfortunately I did not like it. For a book called Dracula there was very little of Dracula actually in it which was a bummer to me.
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
August 19, 2023I’m sorry you didn’t like it! Oh you’re so right, I was also shocked by how little Dracula is actually in it! 😂 I wish there had been more scenes with him.
Tammy Brown
August 19, 2023This sounds like a lot of fun!
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
August 31, 2023It was delightful!
Kit @ Metaphors and Moonlight
August 20, 2023It does feel sort of pointless reviewing classics, but what I’ve discovered from reviewing them anyway is that that people still like to discuss and hear other people’s opinions. Yes, the friendships in Dracula were so strong, that was what I really liked and surprised me! But everyone is very long-winded in their letters lol. The Dracula Daily thing sounds cool!
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
August 31, 2023You’re so right! I mean, when you put it like that, I love seeing people review classics I’ve read because I think we don’t actually discuss them all that often as a community and it can be really fun. Oh gosh, the letters do get so wordy sometimes 😂 but the friendships, really, all of them would die for one another in a heartbeat and it’s precious! I definitely recommend Dracula Daily if you’re ever in the mood for a re-read!