April 26, 2011

REVIEW: DRACULA, MY LOVE BY SYRIE JAMES (@Syriejames @avonbooks @harpercollins)





Published: July 20th 2010 by HarperCollins
Paperback: 457 pages

Many have read and loved Bram Stoker’s Dracula. But questions remain. What is the true story of Dracula’s origin? What if Mina could not bring herself to record the true story of their scandalous affair — until now?

In Dracula, My Love: The Secret Journals of Mina Harker, Syrie James explores these questions and more. A vibrant dramatization, told from Mina’s point of view, brings to life the crucial parts of Stoker’s story while showcasing Mina’s sexual awakening and evolution as a woman, and revealing a secret that could destroy her life. Torn between two men — a loving husband and a dangerous lover — Mina struggles to hang on to the deep love she’s found within her marriage, even as she is inexorably drawn to Dracula himself—the vampire that everyone she knows is determined to destroy.



I can't even express to you how much I loved this book - but I will try my best!

The story of Dracula is one that I have always loved. And while it may not be as popular, it is obvious how its effects have impacted us even today. Just look around you and see the Twilight movies, or Vampire Diaries, or even True Blood and it is clear as day how popular vampires were back then, and still are now.

Bram Stoker's Dracula spawned a lifetime of fiction and even more superstitions - but at the same time, there were a lot of unanswered questions in his work. And Syrie James sets out to answer those questions. Using the character of Mina, Syrie sets out to write a novel based on a set of "hidden" journals that Mina kept while dealing with Dracula. Through her journals, we learn about a secret, deep and wonderfully love-filled affair between Mina and Dracula. The story paints Dracula not as this awful, blood-thirsty monster, but as a lonely immortal who has finally found the love of his life.

The character of Mina is also one of my favorites because not only is she beautiful, but she is incredibly intelligent as well - oftentimes outwitting all of the men in her life! She is strong-willed and has the ability to deal with emotions that would make most of us crawl into a ball and cry, lol. She's in love with two men, has all of her friends trying to kill one of them, and has to lie about it the entire time. It never seems easy, but Mina makes it seem like she can deal with anything.

This story was incredibly suspenseful, funny and romantic. I loved falling in love with Dracula and I couldn't wait to find out which of the two men in her life Mina would choose. Everyone should read this story, as well as Bram Stoker's original. It will be a wonderful treat! Let me know what you think!!!



4 comments:

  1. Wow, I LOVE Bram Stoker's Dracula. I had NO idea about this book. That's YET ANOTHER book you've recommended that I'll be adding to my TBR List! Thanks a MILLION! :D

    ~Hira~
    GFC Follower: Enamored Soul
    Email: Enamoredsoul(at)gmail(dot)com
    Twitter: @inluvwithbookz

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  2. @Enamored Soul - Make sure you let me know what you think about it!! There's not too many others out there that love Dracula as much as we do, lol!

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  3. I liked Bram Stoker's Dracula and its film adaptation with Gary Oldman. And I was pleasantly surprised that there is a book based on Stoker's Dracula. To tell the truth I'm not a big fan of love triangles and emotional struggles between two men/women, but I think I will give a try to Mina's story. Thank you for reviwing this book:)

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