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carodunn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Mental illness, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Murder, Violence, Medical content, Ableism, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, and Body horror
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Death, Dysphoria, Gore, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, and Physical abuse
simmich429's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Violence, Mental illness, Murder, Abandonment, Death of parent, Gun violence, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Body horror, Body shaming, Suicidal thoughts, Child death, Death, Religious bigotry, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
mpbookreviews's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Body horror, Abandonment, Violence, Death of parent, Death, Medical content, and Child death
mobymaize's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Grief, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Slavery, Classism, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Body horror, Child abuse, Body shaming, Dysphoria, Mental illness, Xenophobia, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Forced institutionalization, Stalking, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Violence, Incest, Medical content, Murder, and Racism
freesiaelect's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Body horror
kierank's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Child death, and Death of parent
Moderate: Body horror, Xenophobia, Violence, and Suicide
themorsecode's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Murder, Grief, Death of parent, Death, Child death, Abandonment, Body horror, and Stalking
euphemiajo's review against another edition
3.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Confinement, Murder, Terminal illness, Violence, Classism, Death, Death of parent, Body horror, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Stalking, Slavery, Gore, and Grief
kaetheluise_nckl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Violence, Child death, Confinement, Murder, Body horror, Gore, and Panic attacks/disorders
bookshelfmystic's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
However, Frankenstein is so much more than one of the first science fiction novels. Even if it weren't, seeing how the genre has evolved over 200 years is interesting enough: so much time has passed that sci-fi is really different now. But beyond that, Frankenstein grapples with lofty questions in the tradition of the best speculative fiction. Ideas of parenthood, ambition, what we owe to our creation, and what our Creator owes to us are explored through the story of Frankenstein and his creature. Amidst all this, we have chase scenes, murder mysteries, and lengthy, lengthy monologues of the sort of 19th-century writing that I quite enjoy (but I recognize it's not for everyone).
A few things surprised me, especially since we tend to have a collective notion of Frankenstein('s monster) that differs substantially from the original material. This is one of my favorite parts about reading classics: discovering the source of cultural ideas and seeing how they have evolved. Anyway, some surprises:
- Frankenstein built his creation in his college dorm, not a lightning-struck castle.
- Frankenstein is incredibly emo.
- The creature is super well-spoken and intelligent, not a groaning, shuffling monster.
- Neither Frankenstein nor his creature have much moral high ground. You can understand where the creature is coming from and feel pity for him, but he gives off major incel vibes when he keeps killing Frankenstein's family because he doesn't have a wife.
Frankenstein is a classic that's well worth the time, and in fact is quite readable compared to some other classic novels. I continue my streak of really enjoying 19th-century writing, and I'm happy to add another female author to that list.
Graphic: Body horror and Murder