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annahill888's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
wellreadashlee's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed this novel, and honestly have always kind of been in awe by Mary Shelly coming up with this story in a time where women really didn’t do this sort of thing. Not only that but she created one of the most iconic characters in history who has been used in numerous books and movies time and again.
I enjoyed the psychology behind why the “monster” became what he did. It can honestly be likened to those who grow up in neglect and broken homes and end up committing crimes.
All that said… I’m team Frankenstein’s monster 100%. Victor is a terrible human.
I recommend this classic to anyone.
I enjoyed the psychology behind why the “monster” became what he did. It can honestly be likened to those who grow up in neglect and broken homes and end up committing crimes.
All that said… I’m team Frankenstein’s monster 100%. Victor is a terrible human.
I recommend this classic to anyone.
keanneberry's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
diogsis's review against another edition
5.0
The basics of philosophy of life, one of the most famous monsters in history and the origin of science fiction, what else do you need?
markfinn98's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
eleisha34's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
nataliestorozhenko's review against another edition
5.0
“Life, although it may only be an accumulation of anguish, is dear to me, and I will defend it.”
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is a remarkable piece of gothic literature, which is often considered to be the original science fiction and a perfectly written horror story. What's even more astounding is that Mary Shelley was a teenager when she wrote it.
The novel delves into many themes, but the primary focus is on the fear of industrialization and scientific progress. During Mary Shelley's time, machinery started to replace human labor, which is a prevalent concern in the book.
“Learn from me, if not by my precepts, at least by my example, how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge, and how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be his world, than he who aspires to become greater than his nature will allow.”
The monster's abandonment and anguish mirror Mary's own suffering and lack of maternal presence in her life. Her father's constant disapproval also influenced the book's tone, making the monster's anguish feel more authentic and relatable. All this parallels with the theme of "unwanted child" too.
"I have love in me the likes of which you can scarcely imagine and rage the likes of which you would not believe. If I cannot satisfy the one, I will indulge the other."
The book's writing is impeccable, with an interesting structure of a story within a story. The narrative starts with Captain Walton writing in an epistolary style to his sister, followed by Victor Frankenstein's story as he recounts his life to the captain. During Victor's narrative, we hear the monster's perspective as he confronts his creator.
Victor's comparison to Prometheus is a fascinating aspect of the book, which sets the tone for the primary plot. Although he is at fault for unleashing the monster upon this world, the way he's stripped of all that's dear to him hurts very badly, and I deeply empathized with him. I am not sure if it's an unpopular opinion, but I liked Victor's character a lot. I know he's a morally grey, superior bastard who decided to play god and then basically left his failed experiment to its own devices without taking responsibility. But he is for sure a fascinating and complicated character that you love and hate at the same time, but towards the end, you just hope that he finds some peace and mourn the loss of all the great potential.
The monster's narrative is truly heartbreaking - starting with his description of how he loves the scenery, how he enjoys the sound of birds, and how beautiful he finds people. But it's evident how human cruelty, abandonment, and loneliness can create a monster. Basically, the monster was not created by Dr. Frankenstein right away, it was just cemented by a cruel circumstance of human shallow nature.
“My heart was fashioned to be susceptible of love and sympathy, and when wrenched by misery to vice and hatred, it did not endure the violence of the change without torture such as you cannot even imagine.”
Overall, this is exactly the kind of gothic horror story that I like. It's not a spooky kind of horror when you jump at loud noises or flinch because of shadows. It is a kind of horror that brings you real sadness and real fears that sit deeply inside of every human being. The fear of loneliness, of loss, of grief. It combines elements of science fiction and has amazing character development (or regression? or both?). I absolutely loved it.
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is a remarkable piece of gothic literature, which is often considered to be the original science fiction and a perfectly written horror story. What's even more astounding is that Mary Shelley was a teenager when she wrote it.
The novel delves into many themes, but the primary focus is on the fear of industrialization and scientific progress. During Mary Shelley's time, machinery started to replace human labor, which is a prevalent concern in the book.
“Learn from me, if not by my precepts, at least by my example, how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge, and how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be his world, than he who aspires to become greater than his nature will allow.”
The monster's abandonment and anguish mirror Mary's own suffering and lack of maternal presence in her life. Her father's constant disapproval also influenced the book's tone, making the monster's anguish feel more authentic and relatable. All this parallels with the theme of "unwanted child" too.
"I have love in me the likes of which you can scarcely imagine and rage the likes of which you would not believe. If I cannot satisfy the one, I will indulge the other."
The book's writing is impeccable, with an interesting structure of a story within a story. The narrative starts with Captain Walton writing in an epistolary style to his sister, followed by Victor Frankenstein's story as he recounts his life to the captain. During Victor's narrative, we hear the monster's perspective as he confronts his creator.
Victor's comparison to Prometheus is a fascinating aspect of the book, which sets the tone for the primary plot. Although he is at fault for unleashing the monster upon this world, the way he's stripped of all that's dear to him hurts very badly, and I deeply empathized with him. I am not sure if it's an unpopular opinion, but I liked Victor's character a lot. I know he's a morally grey, superior bastard who decided to play god and then basically left his failed experiment to its own devices without taking responsibility. But he is for sure a fascinating and complicated character that you love and hate at the same time, but towards the end, you just hope that he finds some peace and mourn the loss of all the great potential.
The monster's narrative is truly heartbreaking - starting with his description of how he loves the scenery, how he enjoys the sound of birds, and how beautiful he finds people. But it's evident how human cruelty, abandonment, and loneliness can create a monster. Basically, the monster was not created by Dr. Frankenstein right away, it was just cemented by a cruel circumstance of human shallow nature.
“My heart was fashioned to be susceptible of love and sympathy, and when wrenched by misery to vice and hatred, it did not endure the violence of the change without torture such as you cannot even imagine.”
Overall, this is exactly the kind of gothic horror story that I like. It's not a spooky kind of horror when you jump at loud noises or flinch because of shadows. It is a kind of horror that brings you real sadness and real fears that sit deeply inside of every human being. The fear of loneliness, of loss, of grief. It combines elements of science fiction and has amazing character development (or regression? or both?). I absolutely loved it.
ch1oe's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
emvao's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0