Library Blog

Director of Gold Mine Stores Raeghen Peavey recommends Dracula by Bram Stoker.

This classic is the most important novel in gothic literature, and probably one of the best novels of all time. Originally published in 1897, Dracula has endured in the literary canon ever since. This novel has spawned numerous movies and other novels and expanded on the mythology of vampire lore.

The plot is nothing short of entertaining. Jonathan Harker, an attorney from London, has been asked to go to Transylvania to help Count Dracula purchase property in England.  Written in a series of letters and journal entries, the novel creates a documentary feel to the story.

Once in Dracula’s castle, Harker realizes that Dracula is not an average everyday count. He has supernatural abilities and a thirst for blood.

Harker barely manages to escape the Count’s grasp with his life. The story shifts back to London where Dracula has arrived. There he is causing havoc in Victorian London and two young women, Lucy Westenra and Mina Harker, fall under Dracula’s spell. Lucy is raised as a vampire and is ultimately destroyed by her family. Jonathan is determined to save his fiancée, Mina, and end Dracula’s reign. He follows Dracula back to Transylvania, confronts and destroys him.

The novel reflects the times in which it was written. In 19^th century England, the idea of globalization and immigration were just beginning. The fear that other cultures would undermine the established traditions causes great concern. The novel also illustrates the concern over new science and old religion.

Times and industries were changing fast, leaving many Victorians feeling groundless. Other themes in the novel concern gender roles. England is a patriarchal society, and any thoughts of feminism were seen as a challenge to hierarchical rule.

Stoker keeps his female characters within the boundaries of society; but their wit, intelligence, and other active roles in the story opens a challenge to old gender norms.

Overall, Dracula is an excellent read and I can emphatically say the novel is far better than any Dracula/vampire movie. I would certainly recommend this read.

Find it in our collection in print, ebook, and eaudiobook, here.

Gold Mine Processing Manager Kelly Noble recommends The Swimming Pool Library by Alan Hollinghurst.

When it comes to exceptional writing skills, Alan Hollinghurst is among the best. In his 1988 novel, The Swimming Pool Library, Hollinghurst authors an exquisite story that capture gay life in pre-AIDs London.

It is a novel of privilege, wealth, homosexuality, history, and social class.

The novel centers on the life of a young William Beckworth. Young, wealthy and gay, William’s life is all about what privilege allows. He moves from sexual exploit to sexual exploit without blinking an eye. The novel is set before the AIDs crisis and captures a time when free love was all that some people wanted.

As the story moves forward, William saves the life of an elderly aristocrat, Lord Charles Nantwich. Nantwich offers William the opportunity to write his memoirs. William starts by reading old dairies and comes to find that Lord Nantwich is also gay but lived through a different time. At one point, Lord Nantwich was imprisoned for the crime of homosexuality.

This is true history and a plug to the brave journey many young men faced growing up in a homophobic world.

In the end, William declines to write the memoir. He learns through his research of his own family’s participation in these criminal prosecutions. Most of the crimes were brought to trial by William’s grandfather. This is an exceptional novel that approaches a controversial topic with sensitivity and depth. As with many LGBTQ+ novels, the ending is not one of happiness. The novel ends with William letting go of his boyfriend and moving on with his life. It always seems difficult to find a happy conclusion in this genre. Such as life!

Overall, Alan Hollinghurst is an exceptional writer. The quality of the writing cannot be understated. If I had to site an example of what a British novel should read like, The Swimming Pool Library, would be it. Hollinghurst captures not only British dialogue but something deeper. There is something quintessential British about this novel.

Request this title through interlibrary loan here.