Who Would Like This Book:
Step beyond the green-faced, bolt-necked monster and meet the real Frankenstein - a deeply thought-provoking tale of creation, humanity, and responsibility. Mary Shelley's Gothic classic isn't just a horror story; it's a fascinating blend of science fiction, philosophy, and emotion. If you enjoy timeless debates about morality, the dangers of unchecked ambition, or stories that make you reflect on what it means to be human, this is a must-read. Fans of literary classics, sci-fi origins, and psychological drama will find plenty to chew on here.
Who May Not Like This Book:
Shelley's florid, melodramatic prose and the slow pacing of some sections can be a hurdle for modern readers used to fast, action-packed plots. Those who expect lots of gruesome monster action or familiar movie-style horror may be surprised (or disappointed) by the introspective, reflective tone and lack of graphic detail. The layered, Victorian-era storytelling and philosophical detours can feel dense or meandering if you're just after scares or straightforward storytelling.
About:
'Frankenstein' by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley is a classic horror novel that tells the story of Dr. Victor Frankenstein and the creature he creates. The plot explores themes of creation, rejection, loneliness, and the consequences of playing god. The writing style varies from flowery and old English to deep and meaningful, with a focus on exploring human emotions and philosophical questions through the perspectives of both Dr. Frankenstein and his monster.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Triggers include themes of abandonment, murder, mental distress, and deep existential despair.
From The Publisher:
For the bicentennial of its first publication, Mary Shelley's original 1818 text, introduced by National Book Critics Circle award-winner Charlotte Gordon. Nominated as one of America's best-loved novels by PBS's The Great American Read
Ratings (863)
Incredible (189) | |
Loved It (248) | |
Liked It (231) | |
It Was OK (123) | |
Did Not Like (56) | |
Hated It (16) |
Reader Stats (1406):
Read It (912) | |
Currently Reading (19) | |
Want To Read (300) | |
Did Not Finish (20) | |
Not Interested (155) |
21 comment(s)
Yup, it's still just not my thing. I can see its value, but I just can't get into the story of the Ultimate Deadbeat Parent.
“Hateful day when I received life!' I exclaimed in agony. 'Accursed creator! Why did you form a monster so hideous that even you turned from me in disgust?” [pointing] hey yeah this guy gets it.
the universal experience of reading frankenstein and being like. psh. this is stupid. if *i* were there i would have simply loved the monster and none of this would have happened. insert tumblr flower crown edit of frankenstein’s monster. anyway its so sad he didnt know about monsterfuckers…..truly the worst thing victor did. like there are gargoyles fans out there who would babygirlify you like youve never seen. anyway,
What the smurf?! You go in expecting a book full of the creation of monsters and, "Hand me a brain Igor" and instead you get... beauty?! It's literally the most beautiful book I've read on how ugly people can be...
I found myself rooting for the monster...
It’s very different than most people’s conception of what the story of Frankenstein is. It’s an intellectual piece about what it is to be arrogant and play god and how that affects the lives of the people around you. Whole the creature is the victim we associate with the story, I think the creature is the manifestation of Frankenstein’s own obsessive and self serving character. The true victims are those close to Frankenstein, due to his secretiveness and manipulative nature. Which in full irony, Frankenstein believes the creature to be the manipulative one. I love the exploration of a man who comes from a very loving background being hypocritical and a little narcissistic as he blames everything on the creature and refuses to properly acknowledge and address why the creature is the way his is or how he came to be. I like that the book heavily focused on what actually makes one a moral individual and how easily people are not only manipulated but quick to judge. My favorite theme of this book is the idea of treading between heaven and hell. Frankenstein views his family as his heaven, although he clearly thinks so little of them that he can’t even tell them about the creature for fear of being shunned. And he views the creature as hell, but it’s a space he created. I honestly at first thought the creature was a creation of his own psychosis and hallucinations. But I truly believe Frankenstein and the creature are meant to be the same character in a way. They both admit to wrong doings but do nothing to fix or change the behavior. They both believe the other to be obsessive, monstrous and manipulative. But I think the creature is that way simply bc Frankenstein is. The creature admits to wanting love and affection but the moment he’s rejected, he lashes out. And Frankenstein rather than admit he abandons the creature simply convinces himself the creature is a demon and is the reason for his own misery.
Philosophically brilliant. Really captures the craziness of creation in a way I’ve never read before. Asks you to question whether bringing life into the world can be exploitative and horrifying.
A modern reader may dislike Mary Shelley's 1818 Frankenstein if they expect it to be a novel with a credible story and believable characters. It isn't, and I haven't found any evidence suggesting that the author intended to craft such a work.
Victor Frankenstein's behavior, especially his astonishingly passive way of experiencing events instead of influencing them, cannot be considered natural or realistic. For an unprepared reader, this behavior can easily break the suspension of disbelief.
However, once you accept that the author wanted to create an allegory to discuss a specific theme (the dangers of ambition) without being limited by what credible behavior demands, everything becomes clear and acceptable.
Victor Frankenstein creates a living being, yet he cannot accept it emotionally. Despite being capable of harboring kindness toward others, the creature is rejected by his creator and everyone else because of his appearance and deformity. This results in resentment and a spree of revengeful acts.
Throughout the book, Victor recounts his story, highlighting the risks of allowing scientific goals to dictate a person's decisions without considering the potential consequences. If you imagine him as a character on a stage delivering a monologue to the audience, no matter how reliable or sane his words appear, you'll be able to focus on the novel's main moral theme.
In Frankenstein, the story and characters are secondary narrative devices whose quality has been sacrificed to offer a warning and moral. Don't let over 200 years of mythology influence your expectations; just enjoy the simple cautionary tale for what it is.
2.75⭐ - More like
Fevernstein. The concept is brilliant and the prose is intriguing, but the execution falls flat with its horrendous pacing, one-dimensional characters -
throughout the story, Frankenstein's monster is the only character who experiences significant personal growth and develops a clear sense of purpose - and lackluster storytelling.
This story could have been condensed to a maximum of 70 pages and achieved perfection. Unfortunately, the rest of the book drags on with endless descriptions of the protagonist's repetitive emotions, poor decision-making, and unnecessary filler.
The captivating creator/creation dynamic is given little focus, and the characters all blend together with an identical narrative voice. Essentially, they merely serve as pawns to push the plot forward and allow Shelley to express her idea of how real people, particularly males, would converse. Which is
not, that.
I had never heard the whole story before. Its quite political and well performed by Jamie Bell. An atmospheric and interesting listen, I'd recommend it, yes.
that was actually quite depressing but I enjoyed it
What can you read after
Frankenstein?
About the Author:
The daughter of Mary Wollestonecraft, the ardent feminist and author of A Vindication on the Right of Women, and William Godwin, the radical-anarchist philosopher and author of Lives of the Necromancers, Mary Goodwin was born into a freethinking, revolutionary household in London on August…
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