laf223’s Blog

 

It’s incredible to me how BramStoker basically invented the concept of vampires through Dracula. All of the common characteristics that vampires seem to possess in current Western culture across various media and literary platforms were inspired by this novel. Vampires are often depicted as incapable of being out in the sunlight, immortal, able to transform into bats, “allergic” to garlic, sleep in coffins, and are only able to enter a house upon being invited in. If I were Bram Stoker, I would be amazed at how far-reaching Dracula became. Modern adaptations include the incorporation of vampires in the Twilight Saga series, various horror movies, and TV shows.  Many people continue to dress up on Halloween as vampires or even as Count Dracula himself!

Dracula itself was a long and detailed novel as Bram Stoker provided great descriptions which really helped create such an iconic story.

I really liked how the novel was set up. The narratives and perspectives of the different characters in each chapter lead to a seemingly quicker read and helped shape the plot into a bigger picture setting. Some of the dialect was a little bit confusing, but it wasn’t a huge issue in the basic comprehension of the story. Some parts and descriptions within the novel proved to be quite chilling and really scary, which surprised me because I am not normally scared by novels. Dracula proved itself worthy of being such a highly acclaimed novel as it was really well written, especially considering the time period.

 

Originally, when I learned we had to read Frankenstein for English class, I expected the book to be dull and boring. I knew it was written a very long time ago, so I suspected that the “horror” aspects would be old-fashioned and outdated. Also, my preconceived notions of Frankenstein stemmed from the classic Hollywood portrayal of him – big, green, and a monster. Upon reading the book, however, I was pleasantly surprised. I didn’t know that Frankenstein could actually speak. I also discovered that Frankenstein was actually a vegetarian – who knew? That part is clearly a comment on how we should not judge people on their appearances. The fact that Frankenstein is secluded and ostracized due to his looks (he is huge and grotesque) also makes a commentary on society’s values at the time. It’s interesting and a little sad to me that little has changed in societal expectations since this book has been published and now.  It is also fascinating how this isolation causes Frankenstein to become a murderer, leading him to say, ““My protectors had departed, and had broken the only link that held me to the world. For the first time the feelings of revenge and hatred filled my bosom.” His seclusion from others because he is labeled a “threat” is ultimately a self-fulfilling prophecy as it leads him to indeed become one.

Overall, I felt the book was both suspenseful and thought-provoking. Some parts were a little boring, such as the breaks in the text where Frankenstein would talk poetically about something random, but overall the book managed to hold my attention relatively well for an “old” book.

Hi! My name is Lisa and I am currently a freshman at Lehigh University. I am in the college of arts and sciences. I am planning to major in psychology and to minor in Spanish or econ. I think that I want to go to law school after college, but I am still not 100% sure.

I am from Westchester County, New York, around twenty minutes from the city. I have an identical twin sister and two older sisters who go to colleges close by. I also have a dog named Lila who is an English cream golden retriever and is two years old.

In my free time, I enjoy going for a run, watching Netflix, and hanging out with my friends. My favorite shows on Netflix are The Office, Grey’s Anatomy, and How to Get Away with Murder.

At Lehigh, I play intramural volleyball and I also work at the front desk at Taylor Gym.  Most of the time, I stay near the bottom of the hill near my classes and the libraries because on campus, I live in Dravo on the third floor so it’s always a hike to get to my dorm room.  My favorite food at Lehigh is the couscous bowls that they have at the Fairchild-Martindale library. It’s so good and also super healthy. My favorite place to study is in the Steps building because it’s always quiet and not too crowded. The view is also really nice.

That’s just a little about me and I can’t wait to read about everyone else!

 

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