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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I found it challenging to read as a beginner Classics reader but i quite enjoyed the storyline and Mary Shelley portrayed Dr Frankenstein’s turmoil wonderfully.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Stalking
Moderate: Blood, Death of parent
My absolute favourite book ever. Mary Shelley, you will always be famous <3
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Edit: I've come back to rate this 5/5 because I have still been thinking of it weeks after. There is a great podcast episode about it on Writ Large.
I read the 1831 edition as published by Standard Ebooks.
Before reading Frankenstein, I had read Poor Things by Alasdair Gray. I have never seen a Frankenstein movie before. Much of my idea of Frankenstein was from popular culture, like most people.
This book is very thought-provoking. Especially on the topic of creation and scientific progress. I liked Viktor's excitement about science and philosophy, before it all came crashing down. I liked the character of Henry Clerval as a naive colonialist-to-be. So many of the characters in this book had so much heart, like the family that Frankenstein's creature observed, and Viktor's family.
Later on, I started to become irritated by Viktor's complaining. I couldn't help but blame him for it all. The backdrops of mountains became a bit tiresome like depressing postcards.
Frankenstein's creature was mistreated from birth to death, and it is tragic how his life went. I am annoyed that other depictions of him are of a grotesque monster without the heart that he had in this book.
It was a lot of fun for me thinking about Poor Things and how characters were reshuffled into that book.
I read the 1831 edition as published by Standard Ebooks.
Before reading Frankenstein, I had read Poor Things by Alasdair Gray. I have never seen a Frankenstein movie before. Much of my idea of Frankenstein was from popular culture, like most people.
This book is very thought-provoking. Especially on the topic of creation and scientific progress. I liked Viktor's excitement about science and philosophy, before it all came crashing down. I liked the character of Henry Clerval as a naive colonialist-to-be. So many of the characters in this book had so much heart, like the family that Frankenstein's creature observed, and Viktor's family.
Later on, I started to become irritated by Viktor's complaining. I couldn't help but blame him for it all. The backdrops of mountains became a bit tiresome like depressing postcards.
Frankenstein's creature was mistreated from birth to death, and it is tragic how his life went. I am annoyed that other depictions of him are of a grotesque monster without the heart that he had in this book.
It was a lot of fun for me thinking about Poor Things and how characters were reshuffled into that book.
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
"thus strangely are our souls constructed, and by such slight ligaments are we bound to prosperity or ruin."
leading your life being driven purely by desire is the beginning of the end. what's your true intention? what's the consequence of your actions onto others? yourself? did you prove yourself?
"evil thenceforth became my good."
vehemence. vengeance. agony.
one of the things gothic horror is best at is the psychological aspect (this is also fresh on the brain after watching Nosferatu sooooooo bare with me). it deals with 'scary' aspects, but has an alluring aura to it. what's more alluring than creating something from nothing (patchwork, vengeful creature of your own creation)? then gothic horror also does a great job at making the reader be disgusted by their own desires.
"i, like the arch-fiend, bore a hell within me, and finding myself unsympathised with, wished to tear up the trees, spread havoc and destruction around me, and then to have sat down and enjoyed the ruin."
desire and regret are a constant theme in this novel. selfish desire pushes someone to abandon morals. makes the reader relate to a monster; but are we all not creatures that didn't ask to be created? it's got a promethean kinda thing happening. play god? suffer at your own hand.
"the wounded deer dragging its fainting limbs to some untrodden brake, there to gaze upon the arrow which had pierced it, and to die, was but a type of me."
ruminating thoughts. relinquishing control. fleeting hope. false power.
this novel repeatedly begs the question, what's more haunting life or death?
leading your life being driven purely by desire is the beginning of the end. what's your true intention? what's the consequence of your actions onto others? yourself? did you prove yourself?
"evil thenceforth became my good."
vehemence. vengeance. agony.
one of the things gothic horror is best at is the psychological aspect (this is also fresh on the brain after watching Nosferatu sooooooo bare with me). it deals with 'scary' aspects, but has an alluring aura to it. what's more alluring than creating something from nothing (patchwork, vengeful creature of your own creation)? then gothic horror also does a great job at making the reader be disgusted by their own desires.
"i, like the arch-fiend, bore a hell within me, and finding myself unsympathised with, wished to tear up the trees, spread havoc and destruction around me, and then to have sat down and enjoyed the ruin."
desire and regret are a constant theme in this novel. selfish desire pushes someone to abandon morals. makes the reader relate to a monster; but are we all not creatures that didn't ask to be created? it's got a promethean kinda thing happening. play god? suffer at your own hand.
"the wounded deer dragging its fainting limbs to some untrodden brake, there to gaze upon the arrow which had pierced it, and to die, was but a type of me."
ruminating thoughts. relinquishing control. fleeting hope. false power.
this novel repeatedly begs the question, what's more haunting life or death?
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
When I first read this book. I thought I would be immediately bored since I didnt think I would like the flowery language in the book. Not until I finally read it since it was mandatory for my literature class. Little did I know, I would absolutely love this book. The story spoke to me and I found myself relating and sympathizing with the creature. I believe the book does a good job on showing the reader why the characters does what they do but not fully excusing their actions. This book is just a five stars for me!
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes