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I have been wanting to Frankenstien for a while, not because I particularly like gothic horror (I don't) but because it is part of our literary heritage and pop culture to the point of almost being folk loric.
Then, an opportunity to take part in a readalong presented itself. A readalong is like a bookclub, but you all read the book together and 'check in' at agreed intervals, so you discover the book together. It was so much fun.
Not only that, but we did it using the Audrey audiobook app. The audiobook comes with a guide written by someone with a deep understanding and appreciation for the text. It's like having the best English lit lesson, but you don't have to write an essay afterwards. For instance, the bit in guide that stood out for me was an explanation of racial attitudes of the time. I would have read the text completely differently had I not known that bit of contextual information.
Were it not for the factors outlined above I don't think I would have made it through because this is a bleak tale or fable warning against hubris, not pushing science so far that we do more harm than good, appreciating what you have not what you want (living in the moment) and what it is to be a parent.
Although this book was heartbreaking, it is a classic, and I am so glad to have read it and with such a lovely bunch of thoughtful people
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Suicide, Violence, Murder
Moderate: Body horror, Body shaming, Child death, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Grief, Murder
Anyway. Like most classics this is beautifully written but so goddamn looooooong. Someone needs to go in a time machine and force these bitches to break up their paragraphs oh my goooooood. And it might’ve been because I was so tired reading the last chapter, but that was such a slog! And SIX CHAPTERS OF MONSTER MONOLOGUING?? JESUS CHRIST HELLO???
Also. When were viktor and Henry going to kiss?? Viktor and Robert even?? Gay people are real and they’re in Europe?? You don’t speak about your friend like that and don’t desire them carnally. Just sayin.
Graphic: Death, Violence, Murder
Moderate: Body horror, Child death, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking
Minor: Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Graphic: Incest, Grief
Moderate: Body horror, Body shaming, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Violence
Minor: Child death, Death of parent
Moderate: Body horror
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Grief, Murder
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Incest, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Deportation
Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Child death, Death, Incest, Terminal illness, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Abandonment
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Incest, Death of parent, Murder
Minor: Drug use, Gun violence, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Stalking, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Graphic: Child death, Death, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Grief, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Murder
Moderate: Torture, Medical content
Minor: Body horror, Racism, Toxic friendship
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Cultural appropriation, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail