Frankenstein!! But they’re very different. Dracula is more of a straightforward horror, whereas Frankenstein is very philosophical and is more about what it means to be a person.
Frankenstein, definitely. Dracula should really be titled “Van Helsing”. Mary Shelley does such a good job exploring ethics, morals, human life, playing God, highly nuanced “good vs evil”, romance, and violence. It really is a masterpiece.
Dracula on the other hand felt like it was sort of wandering all over the place for me. Bram Stoker does good setting up the conflict, then it’s as if he stopped writing for a few years, only to return to the story with a different perspective. It’s really weird.
Thanks everyone! I think i will start with Frankenstein since I’ve had that one sitting on my to be read shelf for over a year and I just bought Dracula the other day..
Both are a bit of a drag tbh. Neither has a particularly engaging style and both feel very dated. Having said that they’re both worth the effort as genre-definers
Dracula. Personally I thought Dr Frankenstein was whiney. He created the monster and all I read was wah wah wah from him the rest of the book. I really wanted him to grow some and take care of his blunder….
He is a whiner. Needs a slap upside the head to remind him to take care of the consequences of his own actions. Like Mary Shelley’s father, who after her mother died blamed the baby and treated her much the same way Victor treats his creature.
Most definitely Frankenstein! I read both a few months ago and wasn’t sure I was going to like either. I loved Frankenstein. Don’t want to spoil Dracula if that is what you choose but it’s time lost I’ll never get back.
Dracula! Read it for the first time when I was 10 and still love it!
Both! ?
I’ve never read Dracula. But Frankenstein was very different from the films, and worth the read as classic literature.
Both!
Frankenstein!!
But they’re very different.
Dracula is more of a straightforward horror, whereas Frankenstein is very philosophical and is more about what it means to be a person.
I was like, “Dracula is scary and Frankenstein is sad and upsetting!” but this is a much better description 🙂
Dracula. The only good part of Frankenstein is the Monster’s point of view.
I also have to go with both. Very different.
Both
Both!
Dracula first
Both! But Dracula first! It’s my all time favorite book!
Dracula. Frankenstein may have created a genre (or was that Swift with the third book if Gulliver’s Travels?) but it can be a tiresome read.
Dracula. I found Frankenstein to be so boring!
Dracula
Both
Frank
Dracula
Frankenstein. He’s not what the movies depict. I found it surprising.
Oh wow! I’ve been thinking of reading Frankenstein. Glad to know I’m not the only one 🙂
Frankenstein ? both great though
Dracula. Still haven’t been able to get through Frankenstein.
Both, but Frankenstein if I had to choose.
Frankenstein
Both!!
Yes to both!!! Especially Frankenstein!!!!!
Frankenstein!
Frankenstein
Hard choice!! But I’d say Frankenstein.
Frankenstein!
Frankenstein – hands down!
For me, Frankenstein if I have to choose
Frankenstein, definitely. Dracula should really be titled “Van Helsing”. Mary Shelley does such a good job exploring ethics, morals, human life, playing God, highly nuanced “good vs evil”, romance, and violence. It really is a masterpiece.
Dracula on the other hand felt like it was sort of wandering all over the place for me. Bram Stoker does good setting up the conflict, then it’s as if he stopped writing for a few years, only to return to the story with a different perspective. It’s really weird.
Dracula
Both.
Frankenstein. It’s a better read over Dracula which tends to drag for later portions of the book.
Dracula!
Thanks everyone! I think i will start with Frankenstein since I’ve had that one sitting on my to be read shelf for over a year and I just bought Dracula the other day..
Both
Chronological order?
Dracula. I re-read it every few years.
Both!
Dracula is scarier, Frankenstein is sad/upsetting. Both are good, depending on what you are in the mood for :).
Well said.
I think I prefer scary to sad and upsetting. Somehow I feel that I can prevail over ‘scared’.
Frankenstein
For me, it was definitely Mary Shelley’s..
Both are a bit of a drag tbh. Neither has a particularly engaging style and both feel very dated.
Having said that they’re both worth the effort as genre-definers
Definitely Dracula. Good pace and keeps the creep factor at a constant, which most books in the gothic horror genre fail to do
Dracula
Both
Both
Dracula
Dracula. Personally I thought Dr Frankenstein was whiney. He created the monster and all I read was wah wah wah from him the rest of the book. I really wanted him to grow some and take care of his blunder….
He is a whiner. Needs a slap upside the head to remind him to take care of the consequences of his own actions. Like Mary Shelley’s father, who after her mother died blamed the baby and treated her much the same way Victor treats his creature.
Yes
Dracula….
Frankenstein!
I’ll add that for the trifecta you’ll need, The Woman in White, by Wilkie Collins.
Most definitely Frankenstein! I read both a few months ago and wasn’t sure I was going to like either. I loved Frankenstein. Don’t want to spoil Dracula if that is what you choose but it’s time lost I’ll never get back.
Frankenstein hands down
I prefer Franky
Both!
dracula
Both
Dracula!!! 🙂 <3
Both
Haven’t read Dracula but I was surprised that I enjoyed reading Frankenstein. (Read it for a college course – I guess I didn’t know what to expect!)
Frankenstein, definitely.
Frankenstein
I am 5 chapters into Frankenstein and I’m pleasantly surprised by how much I like it. ? I will be starting Dracula after I finish this book.
Yes.
frankenstein
Frankenstein!!!
Shelly over Stoker anytime. She undermines patriarchal mores, he upholds them.
Vampyre by John Polidori or Carmilla J. Sheridan’s Le Fanu? :3
Both, but Frankenstein first. Btw, I’m looking forward to the biopic Mary Shelley that opens May 25.
Yes I’m super excited for that as well! I just saw the commercial today!
Frankenstein
Frankenstein
Frankenstein ……the beauty of a creation to create ….
Dracula
Definitely Frankenstein. Hard to believe Mary was only 21 when this masterpiece was first published.
Frankenstein for sure. It’s such a beautiful story.
Frankenstein
Dracula!
Frankenstein
Frankenstein
Frankenstein!
Dracula
Both – if you have any interest in how such classic and influential stories started.
Dracula
I am starting Frankenstein today!
Dracula