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aschwartz184's review
4.0
This was a quick, enjoyable twist on Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. I read it in a day and a half, which speaks volumes about its suspense level (I'm an avid reader but usually not a fast one). At first, due to its length (a mere 200 pages), I thought it might be a YA book. As I read a bit, I came to the realization that I couldn't be more wrong due to the gore, language, and frequently sexuality.
Any horror fan would enjoy this book, but those who love Frankenstein would appreciate it more so.
Any horror fan would enjoy this book, but those who love Frankenstein would appreciate it more so.
kaneebli's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
0.25
this book is trying so so so so so hard. it so badly wants to be so dark and edgy but it just comes across as cartoonish. i can't take this book seriously.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Kidnapping, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Rape, and Torture
Moderate: Classism, Pedophilia, and Stalking
rcon001's review
adventurous
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
wellington299's review
5.0
This book is disgusting and depraved.
It's also one of the most brilliant books I've read in a while and loved it. It's basically the story of Frankenstein told by the monster. I was assigned to read Frankenstein in college and now recognize the Frankenstein as the doctor and not his creation.
The book is filled with of moral gray lines and morbid details to make you think. Like Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, it's not entirely clear who is the hero and villain. And also like Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, it's a great book.
sarah1984's review
3.0
11/4 - The only exposure I've had to Frankenstein is through Kenneth Brannagh's movie version - I've never actually read the book (it's on my list). So I can't compare Zeltserman's writing to Shelley's and from reading other reviews I get the feeling this may be of benefit to me while I'm reading it. But, I don't have to have read Shelley's writing to be able to pick up the moments of awkwardness, they'll be visible to anyone reading this. Despite a few of those moments already, within 42 pages, this is an interesting idea - an interesting literary introduction to Frankenstein. To be continued...
17/4 - I still think this is an interesting idea for a story, but a short story not a full length book. After a few chapters and situation changes it felt like Zeltserman was banging me over the head with the fact that the 'monster' of Frankenstein was wrongly accused and treated and that Frankenstein was the 'monster' of the story after all. Every chapter there was more evidence of how badly we had misjudged the monster. There wasn't enough plot for another whole book. I could see this working very well as an extra chapter at the end of the original Frankenstein, kind of like how Stephanie Meyer used the extra chapter Midnight Sun to show another side of Edward, but it wouldn't have worked as a full length book.
17/4 - I still think this is an interesting idea for a story, but a short story not a full length book. After a few chapters and situation changes it felt like Zeltserman was banging me over the head with the fact that the 'monster' of Frankenstein was wrongly accused and treated and that Frankenstein was the 'monster' of the story after all. Every chapter there was more evidence of how badly we had misjudged the monster. There wasn't enough plot for another whole book. I could see this working very well as an extra chapter at the end of the original Frankenstein, kind of like how Stephanie Meyer used the extra chapter Midnight Sun to show another side of Edward, but it wouldn't have worked as a full length book.
directorpurry's review
1.0
CW: Rape, violence against women, sexual violence
A fairly soulless reimagining of Shelley's Frankenstein.
Rather than answering any of the ethical/social/moral questions presented in the original novel (or posing a few of its own), Monster takes a more fantastical bend to the story, turning Victor into a cartoonish villain and adding unnecessary additional violence against women.
And I have no idea what the vampyres/vampires added to the plot. That's not even a spoiler, vampires just show up for no reason.
A fairly soulless reimagining of Shelley's Frankenstein.
Rather than answering any of the ethical/social/moral questions presented in the original novel (or posing a few of its own), Monster takes a more fantastical bend to the story, turning Victor into a cartoonish villain and adding unnecessary additional violence against women.
And I have no idea what the vampyres/vampires added to the plot. That's not even a spoiler, vampires just show up for no reason.
mudmule's review
4.0
This is the story of Frankenstein from the monster's point of view. It was very interesting and I enjoyed the character very much. He is likeable although ugly from the get go. He has a good heart and does good where-ever he goes except for killing one innocent. The book did keep building in the monster's quest for vengeance. I was a bit disappointed in the ending as he never did get the kind of vengeance I thought he should have.
knowledgelost's review
1.0
Friedrich Hoffman (also known as the monster) recounts the false accusations of killing his fiancée and the other gruesome ‘crimes’ he has been accused of committing. He awoke hideously deformed on the table of Victor Frankenstein, without any real idea of what is going on. He now embarks on a single minded quest for revenge on Frankenstein for all the damage he has done.
This plot feels completely redundant; if you want to read a book from the perspective of Monster Frankenstein you read Frankenstein; this is nothing new, not interesting, and just cashing in on the same story. Sure this novel is different but there is nothing interesting about it, it is full of the typical horror tropes and doesn’t really offer an interesting perceptive. I cannot help but think of this as something like fanfic and I struggle to work out why I read this one; I seem to pick up all novels that try to do something with the Frankenstein story.
I will admit there were parts of the novel that really fit the Frankenstein plot, tiny little points to prove that the author had indeed read and been heavily influenced by this masterpiece. I am just not sure why this would be published; a re-imagining, change in perspective (assuming it wasn’t covered in the original book), prequel/sequel or modernisation I can understand but this was the exact same story with minor differences. This feels like the author loved Frankenstein so much that he rewrote the book in his own words, like a writing exercise that is never meant to be published. He has a good style even if he follows a very formulaic horror or gothic theme but the novel did indicate his talent. In an original novel he might have better luck but for me this was just ripping off a classic piece of literature.
When it comes to using classic literature as the basis of your own novel, I am normally a tough judge; you better do something unique and interesting or I will hate the novel. If you are trying to retell Frankenstein then I will be strict, this is my all-time favourite; I have read this multiple times and will be reading it many more, and I am more likely to notice every flaw. Monster and This Dark Endeavour have probably been the two novels that I’ve judged the harshest, since starting this blog and you can see the similarities.
When you look at something like The Machine which isn’t really a Frankenstein reimagining but rather you can see the influence. Some themes and messages are the same and I loved this book, it is in my top five for the year. I guess you are better off reading a book like Machine; I really wish I knew why I keep going for Frankenstein remakes. I think people should read Frankenstein and not bother with this book, but I am curious so see how Dave Zeltserman is as a novelist in something original; I hear Small Crimes is good.
This review originally appeared on my blog; http://literary-exploration.com/2013/10/25/book-review-monster/
This plot feels completely redundant; if you want to read a book from the perspective of Monster Frankenstein you read Frankenstein; this is nothing new, not interesting, and just cashing in on the same story. Sure this novel is different but there is nothing interesting about it, it is full of the typical horror tropes and doesn’t really offer an interesting perceptive. I cannot help but think of this as something like fanfic and I struggle to work out why I read this one; I seem to pick up all novels that try to do something with the Frankenstein story.
I will admit there were parts of the novel that really fit the Frankenstein plot, tiny little points to prove that the author had indeed read and been heavily influenced by this masterpiece. I am just not sure why this would be published; a re-imagining, change in perspective (assuming it wasn’t covered in the original book), prequel/sequel or modernisation I can understand but this was the exact same story with minor differences. This feels like the author loved Frankenstein so much that he rewrote the book in his own words, like a writing exercise that is never meant to be published. He has a good style even if he follows a very formulaic horror or gothic theme but the novel did indicate his talent. In an original novel he might have better luck but for me this was just ripping off a classic piece of literature.
When it comes to using classic literature as the basis of your own novel, I am normally a tough judge; you better do something unique and interesting or I will hate the novel. If you are trying to retell Frankenstein then I will be strict, this is my all-time favourite; I have read this multiple times and will be reading it many more, and I am more likely to notice every flaw. Monster and This Dark Endeavour have probably been the two novels that I’ve judged the harshest, since starting this blog and you can see the similarities.
When you look at something like The Machine which isn’t really a Frankenstein reimagining but rather you can see the influence. Some themes and messages are the same and I loved this book, it is in my top five for the year. I guess you are better off reading a book like Machine; I really wish I knew why I keep going for Frankenstein remakes. I think people should read Frankenstein and not bother with this book, but I am curious so see how Dave Zeltserman is as a novelist in something original; I hear Small Crimes is good.
This review originally appeared on my blog; http://literary-exploration.com/2013/10/25/book-review-monster/
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