Bram Stoker's "Drakula" is one of my favorite novels. This is a great companion piece, in my opinion. Very different, lots of European history (especially the 15th century), but I enjoyed the story very much. I think it is interesting that evil and religion - or should I say Christianity - are always so closely linked. Drakula spent his life - both as a living person and the king of the undead - moving from one Monastery to another. I think it is interesting that the abbots would welcome Drakula to their monasteries not simply from fear of his evilness, but because they hoped to be involved in his redemption. That is strong faith!
Despite the different narratives (Rossi, Paul, Elena? - funny, the daughter's name is not mentioned very often!), I didn't have trouble following the different story lines. I liked the letters and postcards which aided in fleshing out the details of this expansive story.
I wondered why Drakula seemed to always be targeting Librarians! It seemed like everyone was always fleeing from a librarian. :) Of course that makes sense once you find out that Drakula's purpose in "life" was to accumulate the best Library that had ever existed. I guess in order to do that, you go for the Librarians - and then the most brilliant Historians you can find to help carry out that mission.
So, my questions:
1) There was quite a bit of time spent talking about Drakula being beheaded and his head being transported separately from his body to his final - or not so final - resting places. So, why does he have his head during the 500 years he spends roaming the earth as the undead?
2) Helen is brilliant, with full knowledge of vampire history. So, WHY does she jump off the cliff at Saint-Matthieu, knowing that she had already been bitten twice and that committing suicide almost guarantees a life of the undead? And a follow-up question to that: why does Drakula let her be after she jumps? Why not follow her and finish the job to his satisfaction?
3) Helen dies from a "wasting disease". She never became undead. So why does Paul have to "finish the job" of her death using a silver knife?
4) Elena(?) receives a book at the end of the novel. Does this mean that Drakula still "lives"?
Wendy's Rating: ****
No comments:
Post a Comment