Scan barcode
Reviews tagging 'Suicide'
Her Lost Words: A Novel of Mary Wollstonecraft and Mary Shelley by Stephanie Marie Thornton
2 reviews
halkid2's review
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
fast-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? No
4.25
For fans of LOVE AND FURY by Samantha Silva and MONSTER: THE STORY OF YOUNG MARY SHELLEY by M.R. Arnold AND for those enamored by EITHER the early feminist philosopher and writer, Mary Wollstonecraft OR her even more famous daughter, Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin (the author of the wonderful novel Frankenstein and much more) -- this is an emotional and engrossing retelling of the lives of two brilliant women you won't want to miss. Awarded four stars on Goodreads.
I'm convinced that if these two Marys had been born men, everyone would known all about them. Author Stephanie Marie Thornton recounts the lives of these two accomplished women in alternating chapters. Both were surrounded by some of the most prominent thinkers of their day. And their stories couldn't contain more drama if they had been made up.
Let's start with Mary Wollstonecraft (1759-1797). A thinker way ahead of her time. Unfortunately, her unconventional personal choices shocked society and overshadowed her writings for decades. Against all expectations for women of her day, Mary W. promoted equal rights for women, believed in free love, argued against the legal "bondage" of married women, had love affairs, and gave birth to an illegitimate child. She ignored the very real threats of imprisonment and execution when she traveled alone to Paris to write a first-hand account of the French Revolution (1789-1799). Eventually Mary W. found her soulmate in philosopher William Godwin (1756-1836).
Her daughter, Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin (1797-1851), also scandalized society by running away with the already married poet Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822) when she was just seventeen years old. Only two years later, as part of a competition with Shelley and the flamboyant poet Lord Byron, the younger Mary wrote FRANKENSTEIN; OR, THE MODERN PROMETHEUS. Her book was first published under a pseudonym because publishers at the time did not think readers would believe a young woman could write such a dark, Gothic tale. Of course now her novel is considered a classic and a trendsetter, one of the earliest examples of the genre of science fiction.
I have outlined only the basics of these two remarkable women. The book provides much more detail. Including more tragedy than anyone deserves -- savage gossip, poverty, physical abuse, depression, suicide, ostracism, illness, and many deaths.
It's a fast, compelling read about two truly fascinating women from history. And if you haven't read the original FRANKENSTEIN novel, I recommend you do. You probably won't even recognize the story, after all the movies that have been made. But it's a sad, touching, and tender page-turner where, I promise, it's the monster you will love.
I'm convinced that if these two Marys had been born men, everyone would known all about them. Author Stephanie Marie Thornton recounts the lives of these two accomplished women in alternating chapters. Both were surrounded by some of the most prominent thinkers of their day. And their stories couldn't contain more drama if they had been made up.
Let's start with Mary Wollstonecraft (1759-1797). A thinker way ahead of her time. Unfortunately, her unconventional personal choices shocked society and overshadowed her writings for decades. Against all expectations for women of her day, Mary W. promoted equal rights for women, believed in free love, argued against the legal "bondage" of married women, had love affairs, and gave birth to an illegitimate child. She ignored the very real threats of imprisonment and execution when she traveled alone to Paris to write a first-hand account of the French Revolution (1789-1799). Eventually Mary W. found her soulmate in philosopher William Godwin (1756-1836).
Her daughter, Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin (1797-1851), also scandalized society by running away with the already married poet Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822) when she was just seventeen years old. Only two years later, as part of a competition with Shelley and the flamboyant poet Lord Byron, the younger Mary wrote FRANKENSTEIN; OR, THE MODERN PROMETHEUS. Her book was first published under a pseudonym because publishers at the time did not think readers would believe a young woman could write such a dark, Gothic tale. Of course now her novel is considered a classic and a trendsetter, one of the earliest examples of the genre of science fiction.
I have outlined only the basics of these two remarkable women. The book provides much more detail. Including more tragedy than anyone deserves -- savage gossip, poverty, physical abuse, depression, suicide, ostracism, illness, and many deaths.
It's a fast, compelling read about two truly fascinating women from history. And if you haven't read the original FRANKENSTEIN novel, I recommend you do. You probably won't even recognize the story, after all the movies that have been made. But it's a sad, touching, and tender page-turner where, I promise, it's the monster you will love.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Child abuse and Suicide
transportedlfl's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-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
4.5
I am especially pleased to share an amazing new historical fiction that highlights two fabulous female authors.
I was initially introduced to Mary Wollstonecraft's writing through historical romances with strong female protagonists. In many ways, Mary Wollstonecraft is the forerunner to much of modern feminist thinking. And though I had forgotten, she was also Mary Shelley's mother.
The book was told in first person with alternating chapters from Mary Wallstonecraft and Mary Godwin/Shelley. Though I knew a bit of the history of both women separately, I especially appreciated the choice to pair them in this way. Reading their alternating perspectives made the choices and feelings of each all the richer.
Mary Wallstonecraft is best known for writing A Vindication of the Rights of Women. She advocated for women's education, suffrage, the right to divorce and property. I had not known of her additional writings on the French Revolution or travel. So I learned a great deal reading this.
I especially appreciated the Author's Note in which Stephanie Marie Thornton clarified when and how she changed facts for a simpler story (especially in terms of so many women named Mary). As she describes it herself, this book is a love letter to both Mary Wallstonecraft and Mary Shelley and to the amazing writing both did.
The narration was done by two women: Grace Gray as Mary Shelley and Hannah Curtis as Mary Wallstonecraft. I found it quite helpful that their voices were different in following which story I was listening to at the time.
CW: domestic violence, suicide, loss of a child
I was initially introduced to Mary Wollstonecraft's writing through historical romances with strong female protagonists. In many ways, Mary Wollstonecraft is the forerunner to much of modern feminist thinking. And though I had forgotten, she was also Mary Shelley's mother.
The book was told in first person with alternating chapters from Mary Wallstonecraft and Mary Godwin/Shelley. Though I knew a bit of the history of both women separately, I especially appreciated the choice to pair them in this way. Reading their alternating perspectives made the choices and feelings of each all the richer.
Mary Wallstonecraft is best known for writing A Vindication of the Rights of Women. She advocated for women's education, suffrage, the right to divorce and property. I had not known of her additional writings on the French Revolution or travel. So I learned a great deal reading this.
I especially appreciated the Author's Note in which Stephanie Marie Thornton clarified when and how she changed facts for a simpler story (especially in terms of so many women named Mary). As she describes it herself, this book is a love letter to both Mary Wallstonecraft and Mary Shelley and to the amazing writing both did.
The narration was done by two women: Grace Gray as Mary Shelley and Hannah Curtis as Mary Wallstonecraft. I found it quite helpful that their voices were different in following which story I was listening to at the time.
CW: domestic violence, suicide, loss of a child
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Domestic abuse, and Child death
Moderate: Suicide
More...