Book Reviews: Dracula, Times Echo, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde & Books that Changed History.
Dracula by Bram Stoker
I am going to Whitby for a holiday next week, so because of this my good friend recommended I read before I go, Bram Stoker’s Dracula. I have reached the age of 48, having been an avid reader from my earliest memory and had never read the classic Gothic horror. Bram Stoker wrote the book in 1897 and visited the town of Whitby in England seven years before, where it is said he gained the inspiration to write the book.
It is written in an epistolary format which works wonderfully, going back and forth as you read the journals and letters of the different characters. The introduction involves Jonathan Harker. who travels to Transylvania to undertake paperwork for the Count Dracula. It soon transpires that the Count is keeping Jonathan a prisoner, and the story unfolds with the characters then residing in Whitby, such as Lucy Westenra, who becomes Dracula’s second victim, having the life blood drained from her, without her knowledge, until Dr Van Helsing arrives and suspects a vampire being the culprit. Poor Mina, Harker’s fiance, soon begins to suffer in the same manner. The story is incredibly well written and gives you a feeling for the times that existed over 100 years ago. It is spooky, a little scary and Stoker mentions many times the areas and landmarks around Whitby where Dracula and the characters lived. St Mary’s Church, the 199 steps and the River Esk. It was an amazing book to read.
Times Echo by Pamela Hartshorne
A time-slip novel centred on the present day ‘Grace’ who inherits a house from her godmother and then through visions, goes back in time 400 years to 1580s York, where she becomes acquainted with ‘Hawise’ a young girl who is accused of being a witch. You can really tell the author is an historian, having studied for a PhD in Medieval Studies, as the atmosphere in the story is set out so realistically. You really feel as if you’re there walking the streets of Elizabethan York in the past. It’s a sad ghostly tale, with the poor heroine suffering at the hands of her brother-in-law and the way she contacts Grace in the present day about her experiences. It was another amazing story, but I love historical fiction anyway.
The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
Once I had read Dracula, I had the Gothic thirst in my bones and I yearned to read another horror. So it was inevitable that I had to pick up this one from the library. AÂ famous tale covering only 100 pages, yet it certainly packs a punch. The story involves the good Dr Jekyll and his need to experiment to find his inner evil self. Gabriel Utterson and his cousin suspect foul play when their good friend Dr Jekyll makes the cruel remorseless Edward Hyde the sole beneficiary of his will. Utterson, a well respected lawyer, thinks that Hyde is blackmailing Dr Jekyll and seeks to help his friend. After a murder takes place of an innocent man, Jekyll refuses to see or speak to any visitors and shuts himself away, and then the story unfolds. A very enjoyable story and quick to read.
Books That Changed History by DK Penguin Random House/6 contributors.
I was given this book last Christmas as a present and I have near enough finished reading it. A large non-fiction book covering, as the title states, books that changed history. Starting from 3000 bce to 1900 onward. it covers works that have had significant impacts on culture, literature, science and history since the earliest times. There really are some really interesting book reviews with great details explained such as:
The Egyptian Books of the Dead, the blue Koran, the Domesday Book, The Codex Leicester, Micrographia by Robert Hooke (this was fascinating), Samuel Johnson’s Dictionary, On Origin of Species and the Diary of Anne Frank. In fact, and I’ve counted them, there are 74 books featured with full descriptions and history. Its brilliant!!!
x Pip
Pip
I am a mother of two children, and have had many experiences in my life that I have been through and had to overcome. I feel it would be beneficial (at least to me, and perhaps you) to share my experiences. I’d love to hear your comments and suggestions. x
14 Comments
M.L. James
Pip, I’ve always wanted to read Dracula and now you’ve inspired me to do that. I know I have the book…somewhere. As to Dr. Jekyll, I believe enough evil has been unleashed over in my neck of the woods and we certainly don’t need anymore. I don’t know if you’ve been keeping up with the mass shootings over here, but the SOB that went to El Paso and killed all of those people at Walmart actually graduated from the same school that my daughter graduated from. I’m just glad they didn’t attend at the same time! The whole thing makes me sad and mad! Now you have all of these copycats trying to get their names out in the news as well! What a world! Escaping into books until things settle down sounds like just the thing right! We have a weekend of tax-free shopping coming up and it scares me because that’s usually a crazy weekend of shoppers trying to take advantage, which just puts them at risk for more tragedy. I don’t think I’ll go anywhere this weekend. I loved your reviews! Mona
Pip
Thank you Mona. That is so tragic what you have said. I had no idea x
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