This is the year. The week! The first time that I can participate in Dracula Daily in its entirety! It starts this Friday and I am quite excited! And what better way to celebrate than a good, old-fashioned info dump?

I had heard of Dracula Daily before, but it was mid-way through the thing and I wanted to experience it from beginning to end. I ordered the book last year and am subscribed to the newsletter. I made a calendar reminder too haha. I'm glad I waited and will experience this. Dracula is one of my favorite novels of all time. I read it countless times as a teen and a young adult. Sadly, not as often in the last decade or so. I think I became more entrenched in newer works and dropped my habit of rereading old favorites. It's a bit of a hard balance to reread the old and experience the new, no? I feel it's important to do both to add breadth and depth to one's perspective, but like all good intentions, I don't do quite as well as I wish I did.

I think Dracula was my first epistolary novel but my love for it has deepened my appreciation for the style. Maybe because my strength lies in language learning (NOT MATH haha). I always loved journals, quotes, and letters. Ephemera of words in different forms. This blog is a journal of sorts for me and in a way a small version of a commonplace book. I have a few pen pals I write letters to. A true luxury in this day and age! Some of my happier moments are finding a letter in my inbox. A wonderful letter to read... about a friend's life, philosophy, and thoughts in something deeper than two sentences. To respond to their observations, point by point, and expand the conversation slowly. To allow myself the time to properly process and reply in a way that does their missives justice. And the epistolary novel is a story told via freaking letters and journals! Perfection, haha. There are many I want to read. Perhaps I should dedicate a season to the form? It might be a fun way to catch up.

I'll stop now ^_^ It does feel good to nerd out though a bit.

Some Epistolary Novels I've Read and Enjoyed

He may not enter anywhere at the first, unless there be some one of the household who bid him to come, though afterwards he can come as he please.
– Bram Stoker (Dracula)