"Dracula, My Love" by Syrie James. This is the cover for the audio book, which I picked up at my local library a few weeks ago. It was 12 discs and completely captivating from beginning to end. I've really been loving audio books lately - so much nicer to listen to on my commute to/from work then just the radio!
If you are familiar with the story of Dracula, then many of the characters will be equally as familiar - Lucy, Mina, Dr. Van Heilseng & Dracula. Justine Eyrie is the reader for this book, and she does a fabulous job! I'm so impressed with her ability to make the different voices. And honestly, her voice for Dracula was fantastic. I *might* have fallen half in love with Dracula in this book.
So... this is a sort of non-traditional look at the Dracula story, as told through the eyes of Mina - one of the two women that Dracula seduces. It's an enchanting tale of love and loss and bitter betrayal. Mina struggles with the death of her bestie Lucy, her new found love for Mr. Wagner (aka Dracula) and her love of her husband, Jonathan.
The story begins with Mina and Lucy taking their last vacation to a sea-side English town before they get married. While Mina is away, her fiance Jonathan takes a business trip to Transylvania and encounters Dracula and is much delayed. Meanwhile, a ship crashes to shore where Mina & Lucy are staying, and the only survivor appears to be a great shaggy dog. Of course, all of the crew is either dead or missing. And there are those mysterious 50 crates of dirt in the hold....
The very next day, a charming Mr. Wagner makes his appearance to Mina and she seems instantly captivated by him. Also, Lucy begins sleepwalking and her health is declining. Fast forward a bit, and, well... just go take this book out at the library. You'll love it.
I'm not kidding, when Ms. Eyrie reads as Dracula I'm totally smitten. Completely.
I will say that I didn't care for the ending, and I positively shouted at my radio directing Mina in what she should have been doing. Needless to say, she didn't listen. But there is a nice twist to the end, which could potentially open this up for a second novel along the same lines. It's quirky and a nice departure from the mostly miserable, traditional tales of Dracula.
Or, at least, if I had been Mina I totally would have believed every lie Dracula told me and that would have been that. Eternal love & life with him... I'm totally game. Or, I would be if I was Mina. =)
What have you been reading lately?
I just finished Redemption by Stacey Lannert--she is a young woman who was sexually abused by her father for over 10 years and killed him when she was 18, spending the next 18 years in prison. It was an excellent memoir--she's a pretty amazing woman. I recommend it!
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking about downloading some audiobooks to my iPod for workouts. This would definitely be a contender!
ReplyDeletei just finished reading a clash of kings by george rr martin=)
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