Dracula Daily
Reading Bram Stoker's Dracula in Real Time With Commentary by the Internet
by Matt Kirkland
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Pub Date Sep 19 2023 | Archive Date Sep 19 2023
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Description
Thanks to Dracula Daily, the email newsletter that delivers the classic vampire novel in bite-sized chunks, "an old story about the undead is getting a new life" (NPR). Combining Stoker's original text alongside reader-generated content, this version of Dracula is a fun and immersive experience, perfect for vampire scholars, Dracula Daily readers, and newcomers to the story.
Inside, you'll find a rich selection of artwork and memes from the newsletter's hundreds of thousands of subscribers. From comics celebrating Dracula's famous wall-climbing ability to armchair analysis of the novel's complicated love triangles, the witty commentary and colorful fan art brings a unique twist to the classic tale.
A Note From the Publisher
We regret this E-galley is not available for Kindle viewing.
Available Editions
EDITION | Other Format |
ISBN | 9781524884703 |
PRICE | $27.99 (USD) |
PAGES | 304 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Dracula Daily is such a fun and exciting new way to read the classic vampire story. I love that it's sort of interactive and it really makes you grow attached to the characters in a way that is totally unlike how it was when I read the book the first time.
Great job to Matt Kirkland who put together Dracula Daily. I am so excited to have a physical copy!
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an early copy of this book.
Since I’m reading the newsletter as it hits my inbox, I didn’t focus on reading the original text. Instead, my review is based off of the commentary and fan art and whether or not it contributes to the story.
The fan art was a great addition and the commentaries will be liked by those who like how Tumblr users present their posts. If you’re not a fan of that, you’re not going to like the additions to the story.
All the contributors — Tumblr users and artists — are credited in the back as well as when their work appears alongside the original text.
About halfway through, I realized I would want this version of Dracula strictly because I believe the commentary and fan art add to the story rather than damage it.
Overall, I loved the presentation of the text since it’s simple and clean. However, I can see how the format may get wonky if reading through an ebook. (I read this through NetGalley’s Shelf app so it was a .pdf file.)
This is a very fun way to read Dracula especially with a book club or group of friends. The diary entries of Dracula are easily broken out in chronological order so you can read in correspondence to the date. Additional memes or funny comments about this book make it fun. The book itself being Dracula is just an odd book, so either you're already a fan - or you want a more approachable and fun way to read this classic.
Are you a fan of annotated books? Ever wanted to know other people's thoughts while you read your book? Dracula Daily by Matt Kirkland has taken the classic Dracula by Bram Stoker and brought it into the modern world by incorporating comments, pictures, and interesting thoughts from people all over the internet down the right-hand side as you read. This innovative approach provides a new insight into the story, making for an immersive reading experience that will delight fans of the original and captivate newcomers.
Combining Stoker's original text with reader-generated content, Dracula Daily offers a unique and interactive twist on the timeless tale of Dracula. As you delve into the pages, you'll find yourself immersed in a world where the story seamlessly intertwines with the thoughts and creativity of a diverse online community. The inclusion of comments, pictures, and memes from the newsletter's vast subscriber base adds a contemporary layer to the narrative, making it a captivating read for fans of all generations.
One of the highlights of this edition is the rich selection of artwork and memes contributed by the newsletter's hundreds of thousands of subscribers. These imaginative creations range from delightful comics celebrating Dracula's famous wall-climbing ability to thought-provoking analyses of the novel's intricate love triangles. The witty commentary and colorful fan art not only pay homage to the original story but also provide a fresh and engaging perspective that keeps readers eagerly turning the pages.
Dracula Daily is a book that seamlessly blends the past with the present, offering a dynamic reading experience like no other. It allows readers to witness the enduring popularity of Dracula and the creative energy it continues to inspire in readers around the world. Whether you're a vampire scholar, a dedicated Dracula Daily reader, or someone discovering the story for the first time, this edition promises an exciting journey that combines tradition with innovation.
In conclusion, Dracula Daily by Matt Kirkland is a must-read for fans of Bram Stoker's Dracula and anyone seeking a fresh take on a beloved classic. The fusion of Stoker's original text with the vibrant contributions of readers creates a captivating reading experience that breathes new life into the story. With its witty commentary, vivid fan art, and immersive annotations, Dracula Daily is a delightful twist on the original, enhancing the reading experience and leaving readers hungry for more.
My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher Andrews McMeel Publishing for an advanced copy of this new way of reading, an almost interactive way to slow down, enjoy a story and gain insights that might have been missed.
I've noticed that books that I read years ago seem to stay with me longer than books that I've read recently. I'm sure part of this is from getting old, but I also think that the world offers far more distractions today, distractions that get in the way of of our brains and have an effect on our comprehension. Look at the news. The news cycle went from 24 hours to 15 minutes. One story isn't even played when another one comes up. It's hard to keep track of the world, how can we remember a book that we read. I have always been a one title one reader person, but recently I have toyed with the idea of reading two books at once. A book I would read normally, another I would read at leisure, a chapter at a time, with pauses to take things in and reflect on it. I should have known someone had done this on line. Matthew Kirkland took the novel Dracula, and broke it down sometimes by chapter sometimes more, into blog postings allowing others read along and make comments about the reading. Dracula Daily: Reading Bram Stoker's Dracula in Real Time With Commentary by the Internet, is a collection of both the novel and additions from the numerous fans who read along, in a very unique kind of reading group.
Bram Stoker the writer of Dracula wrote the novel in epistolary form, using diary entires, newspaper articles, Doctor's notes, and letters to tell the story of the Count from Transylvania and his adventures in England. I won't touch on the novel here, but I highly recommend reading it in any form one can. The story is unique and different and while not scary has a real ability to get under the skin. In Dracula Daily Kirkland broke the novel down into sections that Kirkland would post daily for reading and for comments. Dracula works well in this style because of the way it was written, and though the book is known to people, it surprises me, even among booksellers how few have actually read it. Each sections has art, comments, Internet jokes, and commentary accompanying the writing.
Sadly I read this right through, but I could see why people would be interested. Reading only a few pages a day makes one have to remember what happened previously, and for many on their first hunted hayride with the book, more time could be spent thinking about what might be happening. I've read Dracula previously, actually a lot for school, fun and role playing, but was still struck by things I have never noticed before, either I found by reading, or by comments. I have never been part of a reading group, but like Lucy Westenra and blood I kind of got a taste for it. Some of the comments seem odd, and dated, but that is the Internet, and again as I stated earlier, time passes quite quickly, as do memes and cultural references.
A singular reading experience, one that might be hard to recreate again. Though I do hope someone tries. A very good example that slowly reading a book, might be for the better, though you are reading with thousands of others at the same time.
I once started reading Dracula Daily when it originally came out but lost track of it once I started reading more often.
I loved the fact that you got the people reactions to the story on the side of the pages. These reactions were hilarious and made the process of reading Dracula more entertaining.
Only thing I didn't like was the rearranging of the book. It makes sense to do this but I'm also so used to the original books layout.
It was a nice compilation of comments and facts about Dracula, not a fanfiction or another novel. I found the idea refreshing. It was witty, funny and a very good read. As a Dracula fan, there were some aspects of the original book I have missed, and that was really nice. Thank you!
Ok, that was fun. I was vaguely aware of Dracula Daily but when I saw this available on NetGalley, I had to get involved. I loves me some Dracula and so anything that familiarizes the public with the original text is ok by me. The cartoons and reactions from people discovering the plot in real time were hilarious. It's wonderful to see the passion it aroused in readers and gives me a taste of what it must have been like during the heyday of serial publication where everyone was experiencing a story in pieces at the same time and discussing it.
I'm conflicted in my feelings about the rearranging of the book but again, anything that gets people interested is good. The only other issue I had was that some of the comments people made about the characters and Bram Stoker are just unrealistic modern projections of how people should have (and apparently should ALWAYS have, no matter the century, no excuses) behaved. I hate to break this to you, but dead European white males gonna dead European white male.
Thank you to NetGalley for my free ebook.
This was fun!! I'm not super familiar with the story of Dracula, which definitely would have helped me here, but that still didn't take away from how much I enjoyed flipping through this. Yes this is better fit for people who are familiar with Dracula, but I could definitely see myself picking this up off of someone's coffee table and easily entertaining myself, even with zero background. Such a unique little book!
This was so fun to read. I never even knew the internet was doing this thing, and I wish I had I feel like I missed out. Luckily, this book is able to capture some of that lost feeling.
The comments, fanart and memes that were included were hilarious, insightful and modern. This content started out as purely jokes at the beginning, and as a huge fan of the book I was absolutely delighted to make fun of it. Towards the end, comments tended to be more reflective, and brought fresh perspectives to the themes of the novel. I also appreciated the additional comments that brought to light the parts that were racist and misogynistic.
Dracula is one of my favorite books, and it was nice to go back and read it with, what felt like, a whole community behind me and ready to discuss it. I do wish there was more additional content to fill some of the blank pages, as they were rather sparse towards the end.
*Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC to review*
As someone that probably hasn’t read Dracula since high school, I was thrilled when Dracula Daily first came about. I admit, I didn’t follow as closely the first time around, but the whole idea was genius. Take a classic novel that everyone thinks they know because of countless retellings and shows and share it with an audience in the corresponding days.
The brilliance of it is reading Dracula in little bites (yes, I went there). I love the little headers and the running commentary throughout the novel. It never feels like the commentary takes over which is a special balance. There are many sections where there is quite a stretch before reader commentary or, for lack of a better word, fan art. I also think a strength is that the commentaries are a mix of jokes and well-thought-out points. There are so many aspects of the novel that get lost in the adaptations, especially the strength of the characters.
Re-reading this after years and getting to get a laugh while reading just makes me know this is going to be the perfect gift to share with my Mina from her Lucy.
Dracula is a classic, but Matt Kirkland takes advantage of the dated diary entries and letters as a vehicle to bring new audiences in. Breaking them down into daily blog posts and combining the humor of the internet breathes new life to Dracula, voicing either new perspectives on the original text or things we’ve always thought but never discussed. Dracula Daily is sure to be a read you’ll pick up as a new tradition, year after year.
I loved the idea to read Dracula in this format! It was so much fun!! It made me want to enjoy more classics like this!
This book combines the classic text of Dracula with memes and tweets from the community, creating a feeling that you're reading this along with a lively bookclub. Worth picking up!
Thank you to NetGalley, Matt Kirkland, and the publishers for giving me a copy in return for my honest review.
Now I had not heard of Dracula Daily when I first started reading the book. For those of you who also don’t know Dracula Daily was a daily newsletter that sent bitesized pieces of the Dracula novel to your email.
It became a huge hit inspiring memes and commentary. Think of it like one ginormous book club reading. This publication of the novel includes some of those memes and comments bring an extra bit of fun to those new and returning fans of Dracula alike.
I thought this was a fun little thing to do with Dracula. The memes and commentary are hilarious and I can tell how carefully each one was chosen. If I had one complaint it’s that there wasn’t enough commentary or memes. I for one wouldn’t have minded if there was one on every page but that’s such a small nitpick it doesn’t really matter.
I definitely recommend this book to anyone looking to get into Dracula or to those who love the story and want to have some laughs with it.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance reader's copy. I love how the author brought new life to Dracula by putting it in chronological order. I truly cannot wait to have the physical version of this book. As a long time Dracula fan, I really enjoyed everything about this book, and the inclusion of the Tumblr posts and illustrations with the corresponding chapter was just great. I would highly recommend this if you have never read the original Dracula.
Enjoyable, great pacing, exciting settings kept me hooked. Fun novel that will be the perfect to lose yourself in. Thank you Net Galley for ARC in exchange for my honest opinion
I read Dracula the old fashioned way, and when my teens told me about Dracula Daily, I was intrigued. My teens have been receiving the newsletter and have been raving about it, and though I listened to it again on audiobook (Tim Curry ❤️ Alan Cumming ❤️) right before the pandemic started, I happily grabbed the chance to peruse the book. I really like how by reading the newsletter, you’re reading along in real time and can partake, via social media, in the pithy commenting, cartoons, as well as some really beautiful artwork. This book contains some of the fans’ comments and artwork and it’s such an enjoyable addition to the story.
A long time reader of the classics, I’m firmly in the camp that they still have a lot of knowledge and entertainment within their pages and will read them for the rest of my life, particularly my favorites (The Count of Monte Christo, Pride and Prejudice to name but two). A long time homeschooler, I love to see kids reading classics and anyone with a novel approach to reading them, deserves praise. I offer mine to Mr. Kirkland for bringing fresh life and vigor to ye olde classic, Dracula - you are a-okay in my book.
** One of my daughters told me that by receiving the newsletter and reading only that days offering, she feels that a wait of any time is much more dramatic and heightens the suspense rather than just reading the book whenever.
Dracula Daily is a terrific way to read a long beloved classic. This title is a great bookshelf addition for the Dracula / vampire fan in your life.
I really enjoyed the premise of this: take the classic Dracula and while keeping the text the same, restructure it so it reads in chronological order arranged by the dates given within the novel. Not only does this give the story itself a fresh spin, it makes it more accessible to readers who may be put off diving into a 126 year book by allowing them to read specific pieces in one sitting. The additional comments and art were fun, but they might be less interesting upon rereading the novel and so I would have been equally happy with just the text itself. Overall though an intriguing new way to read a classic novel.
Librarians have tried to convince people to read the classics. So many pop culture things draw from them. But it is hard to get modern readers to sit down with a book from 1897. That is two centuries ago!
Matt Kirkland has worked some wizardry and made Dracula readable for a modern audience in a way that stays true to the vision of Bram Stoker. Let us hope he turns his pen to other classic tomes next.
The rating is for the presentation - moving the structure to be chronological and per-day rather than in chapters, and adding in the memes and commentary. The idea of reading Dracula as a series of letters, entries, and articles is great, and there are a number of places where this adds interesting suspense different from the original text. Reading it as essentially an internet-wide book club was a whole new experience, and this brings back a lot of the joy and exploration of the text of that time, it's wonderful.
This is a great coffee table book - perfect for "what we do in the shadows" fans or just goth lovers in general!
Dracula Daily was great! I have read Bran Storker's "Dracula" previously, and found it challenging to grasp the language. Having this nook with random facts and notes was very helpful! I liked the commentary in red footnotes, making it simple to locate on the page.
I feel like I just read Dracula, but did it in 1/2 the time!
This was so good! I loved how they did this! So unique and it made reading a classic very entertaining.
I just reviewed Dracula Daily by Matt Kirkland. #DraculaDaily #NetGalley
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What a fantastic way to present such a classic story.
I've participated in Dracula Daily's emails every year they've done it (and this year has just started), but this collection is just superb. The included posts and memes add to the experience, and I'll likely be buying a hard-copy, as well.
If you like the original story, this is a great way to experience it, and if you enjoyed the email delivery method of Dracula Daily, this book is a must-have.
Dracula Daily is the classic epistolary novel 'Dracula' revamped into a sixth-month reading experience. I first participated in the Draculy Daily email newsletter in 2022. I constantly looked forward to the next installment and spent the time between emails browsing memes and fanart on social media. I cannot wait for Dracula Daily to start this year and I am even more excited for the physical edition coming out in September. As a collector of physical books, I will definitely be buying a copy of this gorgeous chronological edition of Dracula complete with Tumblr commentary, fan art, and the original email subject lines. This edition is perfect for anyone who prefers to read physical books but also wants to be included in the internet inside jokes and shenanigans. It is also a great keepsake for those who took on the sixth-month journey and watched Dracula Daily take the internet by storm in 2022.
Thanks to Andrews McMeel Publishing and Netgalley for the eARC!
I got the joyous experience of Dracula Daily as it went live so I was absolutely thrilled when I found out it was going to be a book with the commentary and the fanart!
Tremble with excitement with Jonathan Harker as he experiences new and exciting cuisine! Gasp in amazement as "your friend Dracula" climbs walls and is generally a very weird host!
I loved the commentary and getting to experience it again was a real treat!
I have loved Dracula Daily ever sense I got the first email in my inbox. I truly believe that this is the ideal way to read the book. Compiling it, along with readers’ reactions and jokes, was a brilliant idea. I am looking forward to buying the physical copy.
Interesting take on the story of Dracula and I did also enjoy the notes in the margins as well. Kind of upset with myself that this is my first time hearing about this.
Thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for this in exchange for my unbiased opinion.
This is a fun and delightful way to read (or reread) Bram Stoker's "Dracula". The concept is modern and helps make the original source material (which is delightful in its own way) more accessible to modern readers. I wish there were more illustrations and pictures in this but if you love the original book or you've never read it, you'll enjoy this!
This is one of the funniest, most clever, and amazing concepts I’ve ever seen.
I love that they turned it into a book! A book with MEMES! This made me laugh—I already loved Dracula, but this is so much more fun. I want more unique formats.
If you like Dracula at all, then this is the book for you. I signed up for Dracula Daily back in 2021 and I’ve loved seeing it’s evolution into a book!
From May 3rd November 6th we follow the Dracula storyline as laid out in the book. I don’t have the patience with an actual book like this to read it as intended, but it is still very enjoyable.
I wish this book included more illustrations and pictures. It’s an amazing compilation of all the commentary and fun comics from “Dracula Daily”.
It’s informative, fun and entertaining as it promises.
However, do take your time to get the most out of this compilation more specifically if you’re a “Dracula” fan.
Thank you, Andrews McMeel Publishing, for the advance reading copy.
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