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Sometimes, and admittedly only sometimes, it is worth reading the classics. They just might surprise you. Contrary to many of the cinematic portrayals of this iconic novel, the book is actually quite beautiful. It weaves and wanders through numerous scenes and subplots stretching from the Carpathian mountains to the sleepy seasides of England, and although often the subject of criticism, it is in these that the book comes most alive. The descriptions of the scenery are graceful, the episode involving Lucy is sublime, and the human Renfield is creepier than the novel’s titular character. The depiction of the vampire himself is so cleverly written that even in the context of the book it is hard to pick apart what is genuinely true and what are the fear-induced imaginings of the protagonists, much like the news today. It’s not a difficult read so if you’re looking for a break from the monotony of your normal life, this could be it.