# Have you read the novels of Frankenstein and Dracula? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 4, 2018, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-read-the-novels-of-frankenstein-and-dracula/808143 "2018-02-04T01:25:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2018, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-read-the-novels-of-frankenstein-and-dracula/808143/1 "2018-02-04T01:25:11Z")
Obviously, there’s been hundreds of movie versions of these two characters. I’ve never read either book. Should I? I did read Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and quite frankly, I preferred the 1932 film. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2018, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-read-the-novels-of-frankenstein-and-dracula/808143/2 "2018-02-04T01:30:01Z")
I have tried. As God is my witness, I have tried. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2018, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-read-the-novels-of-frankenstein-and-dracula/808143/3 "2018-02-04T01:35:20Z")
I’ve read Dracula and…started Frankenstein. Never got into it. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2018, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-read-the-novels-of-frankenstein-and-dracula/808143/4 "2018-02-04T01:36:57Z")
I did, and of the two, I preferred _Frankenstein_. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2018, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-read-the-novels-of-frankenstein-and-dracula/808143/5 "2018-02-04T01:45:10Z")
I did, and of the two, I preferred _Dracula_. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2018, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-read-the-novels-of-frankenstein-and-dracula/808143/6 "2018-02-04T01:54:42Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > Obviously, there’s been hundreds of movie versions of these two characters. I’ve never read either book. Should I? I did read Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and quite frankly, I preferred the 1932 film. Why not read them? I assume you know what they are about. A brilliant scientist on the verge of discovering the mystery of life itself, who succeeds in creating an artificial man, but ultimately loses his shit when it comes to dealing with his own creation. A timeless monster who never loses his power to terrify, in any age or setting. I enjoyed them well enough. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2018, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-read-the-novels-of-frankenstein-and-dracula/808143/7 "2018-02-04T02:10:23Z")
“Dracula” was a lot of fun; “Frankenstein” was Dullsville. ---
**Author:** ![BeeGee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5a626/32.png) [@BeeGee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeeGee)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2018, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-read-the-novels-of-frankenstein-and-dracula/808143/8 "2018-02-04T02:23:11Z")
The joys of living in a small town with no library before the internet: I read some stuff all the way through which i most decidedly would not today. I prefer not to be clubbed like a baby seal by the emotions the writer wants me to experience. I put both of these books, Turn of the Screw, and Heart of Darkness in a category I call “O! The Horror!” A category I not only eschew, but would gladly wrap in iron chains and tump over the barge. But I don’t like to suffer alone. I think you should read the books. Tell us how far you get. Book report due Tuesday. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2018, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-read-the-novels-of-frankenstein-and-dracula/808143/9 "2018-02-04T02:27:44Z")
I read both, neither is very good however. Dracula was actually a pretty bad read and Frankenstein had some parts that meandered into dribble. I read both over 30 years ago though and have forgotten most of it. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2018, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-read-the-novels-of-frankenstein-and-dracula/808143/10 "2018-02-04T02:33:03Z")
I’ve read both and prefer _Dracula_, which I’ve read several times. _Frankenstein_ is shorter but IMHO _Dracula_ is more of a page-turner. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2018, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-read-the-novels-of-frankenstein-and-dracula/808143/11 "2018-02-04T03:03:11Z")
I’ve read Dracula twice and enjoyed it, but after a couple of swings at Frankenstein I gave up. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2018, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-read-the-novels-of-frankenstein-and-dracula/808143/12 "2018-02-04T03:07:00Z")
I “read” _Frankenstein_ as an audio book. Haven’t gotten to _Dracula._ ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2018, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-read-the-novels-of-frankenstein-and-dracula/808143/13 "2018-02-04T03:19:10Z")
Read both. Too long ago to remember much. I recall enjoying Frankenstein. ---
**Author:** ![Julius\_Henry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8797f3/32.png) [@Julius\_Henry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Julius_Henry)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2018, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-read-the-novels-of-frankenstein-and-dracula/808143/14 "2018-02-04T03:47:15Z")
I’ve read _Dracula_ many times over the years. It’s a ridiculous action story, but no more so than _Die Hard_ or whatever your favorite action movie is. It was written in a style that was old fashioned when the book came out and so is more out of date now, but I still enjoy reading it. I’ve only read _Frankenstein_ once, though I started it quite a few times. It’s a difficult read, to say the least, and there’s a good story in there, but isn’t really worth it. Both are far better than _Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde_. And stay far away from _The Phantom of the Opera_. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2018, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-read-the-novels-of-frankenstein-and-dracula/808143/15 "2018-02-04T04:20:47Z")
I’ve tried to read _Frankenstein_, but if the action eventually picks up, it takes a heck of a long time to do it. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2018, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-read-the-novels-of-frankenstein-and-dracula/808143/16 "2018-02-04T04:51:11Z")
I’ve read them both and I liked them both. There’s not much action in Frankenstein though, if that’s what you’re looking for. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2018, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-read-the-novels-of-frankenstein-and-dracula/808143/17 "2018-02-04T04:56:11Z")
Closest I’ve gotten is reading _Frankenstein Unbound_ by Brian Aldiss. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2018, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-read-the-novels-of-frankenstein-and-dracula/808143/18 "2018-02-04T04:59:23Z")
I read Frankenstein for a lit class in college. I do remember liking it, but it’s not at all what I expected. It was short and tragic and more of a “thinker” than modern-day horror (which is more of what I thought it’d be). ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2018, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-read-the-novels-of-frankenstein-and-dracula/808143/19 "2018-02-04T05:00:56Z")
Never read Frankenstein, but I did read Dracula. It was one of the first books I read when I got into reading a few years back. I still keep it at the top of the list of my favorite books. My mom hasn’t read Dracula, but really liked Frankenstein and keeps bugging me to read it. If you’re choosing one, my vote is for Dracula. If you’re a fast reader. Go for both. Other than being randomly grouped together, I don’t know if they’re even in the same category. And come to think of it, I beleive I may have started Frankenstein at some point, I don’t remember. Was there something about a boat at the beginning? In any case, I certainly didn’t read it. Or at least not past the first few chapters. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2018, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-read-the-novels-of-frankenstein-and-dracula/808143/20 "2018-02-04T05:01:51Z")
It just seemed like it would be so easy to thwart Drac- wear a choker with crosses on it. What were they thinking? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-read-the-novels-of-frankenstein-and-dracula/808143.md?page=2)