Dracula

Epistolary novels usually aren't my favorite, but Dracula by Bram Stoker managed to keep me engaged quite well.  There is something charming about a group of intellectual, kind men banding together to protect a lady (who also is quite smartly heroic), and though at times the author's voice did seem outdated on the "manliness" of other characters' heroism, it didn't bother me too much.

Dracula does seem like an incredibly weak enemy, and I wonder why such a villain was ever created.  He seems more like a rat or some other such vermin rather than an equally matched foe.  He scuttles around in the dark, has too many weaknesses to count, and can't even approach you when said weaknesses are brandished.  It seems quite simple to keep yourself out of danger from him.  Just don't invite him in your house, yo.  I wonder why the townspeople around Transylvania never thought to attack him if they knew what it takes to keep him away.  He does seem like a gentleman, though, so maybe they were being courteous.

It was another surprise to find that wolves were Dracula's friends in this story.  Are they separate from werewolves, I wonder?  So many random questions I have.

Anyway, this was a fun read, and is a solid classic.  Seems like a nice, quick pick for some kind of exciting trip.  Or, you know, for just rolling around inside your house, hiding from the sunshine like I did.