Hello all,
I only relatively recently took up reading for pleasure again. Most of my reading has been limited to university textbooks, but I used to love reading as a child, so I took it back up. I started with Bram Stoker’s Dracula, which I absolutely loved. For some reason I really enjoy the sometimes archaic manner of writing (hitherto, whithersoever, …). I would never write or talk like this, but it’s fun to read. And I learned a ton from it, even if it’s a fictional story! So many new words, new phrases (credit Van Helsing, especially) and proverbs.
I then took up Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein from a recommendation from my old high school English teacher. He said it is a story many people think they know, but don’t really. And that it’s more philosophical. I really loved it. And despite it being written more than 200 years ago, it was surprisingly easy to read! And what a beautiful tale, that I felt in some ways I could relate to (both from the monster’s perspective and that of Victor). So sad but beautifully written and a true joy to read.
Anyway, I am looking to continue in this “Gothic” genre. I would especially love books also written in a similar style, with all the archaic jazz and beautiful long sentences. I suppose it needn’t be a story about a monster or demon or vampire or anything like that, just something a bit darker and with gorgeous prose.
Thank you so much!
by symbolabmathsolver
3 Comments
Picture of Dorian Grey
Creepy, short, and mesmerizing.
Carmilla by Sheridan Le Fanu. My understanding is that this story inspired Dracula.
You sound like me OP! I’m a goth girl getting back into reading classics.
Frankenstein is my favorite classic so far. (So much so I recently got back into theatre because I wanted to do sound design for a local Frankenstein horror play! So fun!)
I also recently read Dracula, but appreciate the philosophy and depth of Frankenstein more. For wit, classic writing but readable, more philosophical, I DEFINITELY recommend Picture of Dorian Grey by Oscar Wilde. It’s my fav so far after Frankenstein.
If you’re looking for something more in the style of Dracula that reads kind of like a POV crime thriller, I think Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is essential Universal movie monster reading, haha. It’s quick, too. I didn’t find it as epic as Dracula, but it’s good.