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jwood99's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- 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
4.0
amullens12's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
boomboombook67's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- 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
3.75
beereading90's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- 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
3.5
Ich muss sagen, ich war überrascht wie sehr sich Frankensteins Monster als Popkultur-Figur
dann doch von der Originalversion unterscheidet.
Während die Filme oft nur den Horror in den Fokus legen, geht es in dem Buch auch um die Ethik.
Dürfen Menschen neues Leben schaffen? Was sind die Folgen davon?
Können wir diese Verantwortung tragen?
Frankenstein selbst wirkt wie ein egozentrisches Kleinkind was ständig weint,
weil die Welt ja so ungerecht zu ihm ist.
Er sieht nur seinen wissenschaftlichen Erfolg, möchte unbedingt Gott spielen und übernimmt
dann keine Verantwortung für sein Schaffenswerk.
Also kein Wunder, dass das Monster sich allein gelassen fühlt und schließlich die Menschen
dafür verantworlich macht und sie und seinen Schöpfer abgrundtief hasst.
Oh Karma, ich hör dir trapsen!
Während, wie bereits gesagt, Frankenstein mir eher auf den Geist ging, fand ich dafür die Passage in der das Monster sein bisheriges Leben beschrieb sehr interessant, herzerwärmend, aber vor allem traurig.
Liebend gerne hätte ich es bei mir wohnen lassen und ihm die Zuneigung gegeben, die es sich so sehr gewünscht hat.
Die Geschichte kann für mich ohne weiteres gekürzt werden, da sie unheimlich viel Gefühlsduselei, geweine und Landschaftsbeschreibungen enthält.
Trotzdem, meinen Respekt für Mary Shelley, dass sie mit 18 Jahren zu dieser Zeit etwas so kraftvolles schreiben und publizieren konnte.
dann doch von der Originalversion unterscheidet.
Während die Filme oft nur den Horror in den Fokus legen, geht es in dem Buch auch um die Ethik.
Dürfen Menschen neues Leben schaffen? Was sind die Folgen davon?
Können wir diese Verantwortung tragen?
Frankenstein selbst wirkt wie ein egozentrisches Kleinkind was ständig weint,
weil die Welt ja so ungerecht zu ihm ist.
Er sieht nur seinen wissenschaftlichen Erfolg, möchte unbedingt Gott spielen und übernimmt
dann keine Verantwortung für sein Schaffenswerk.
Also kein Wunder, dass das Monster sich allein gelassen fühlt und schließlich die Menschen
dafür verantworlich macht und sie und seinen Schöpfer abgrundtief hasst.
Oh Karma, ich hör dir trapsen!
Während, wie bereits gesagt, Frankenstein mir eher auf den Geist ging, fand ich dafür die Passage in der das Monster sein bisheriges Leben beschrieb sehr interessant, herzerwärmend, aber vor allem traurig.
Liebend gerne hätte ich es bei mir wohnen lassen und ihm die Zuneigung gegeben, die es sich so sehr gewünscht hat.
Die Geschichte kann für mich ohne weiteres gekürzt werden, da sie unheimlich viel Gefühlsduselei, geweine und Landschaftsbeschreibungen enthält.
Trotzdem, meinen Respekt für Mary Shelley, dass sie mit 18 Jahren zu dieser Zeit etwas so kraftvolles schreiben und publizieren konnte.
book_concierge's review against another edition
4.0
A classic "ghost" story. Victor Frankenstein pursues science to its logical extreme to create life, and he is immediately horrified at his own success. The monster, however, is intelligent and resourceful and comes to understand his own loneliness and therefore seeks revenge on his creator. There are many unexplained occurences (How'd the monster find the ship? or get Henry Clerval's body onto the very shore that Frankenstein would wind up on?) especially for today's more savvy reader, but it's still a masterpiece.
UPDATE October 5, 2012
Simon Vance does a superb job narrating the audio (for Tantor Unabridged Classics). My heart breaks for the monster as he relates his loneliness and despair. Of course, I do not condone his way of trying to fix his condition!
UPDATE October 5, 2012
Simon Vance does a superb job narrating the audio (for Tantor Unabridged Classics). My heart breaks for the monster as he relates his loneliness and despair. Of course, I do not condone his way of trying to fix his condition!
babs_reviews's review against another edition
5.0
"I, the miserable and the abandoned, am an abortion, to be spurned at, and kicked, and trampled on."
“How mutable are our feelings, and how strange is that clinging love we have of life even in the excess of misery!”
I read this in Highschool and I could recall the gist of the story and blended with the knowledge pressed upon me over the years through adaptations etc. I thought I knew what I was getting into. Turns out, I didn't.
I was surprised by how incredibly heartbreaking it was to read this. In trying to cure his loneliness, Victor Frankenstein created what he then deemed a monster, leaving it on its own with a childlike disposition and confusion. Oh, how this story could have gone with some compassion and communication for the thing he created. Instead, in pursuit of companionship and love he, Victor, destroyed all those who loved him because when turned away Frankenstein's 'monster' became murderous and vengeful.
I'm not sure I can adequately describe the range of emotions I experienced while reading this. We get a narrative of love and equal parts hate, of beauty and ugliness and how they can be pinned to a visual and/or a feeling, and an overwhelming want of hope that is shadowed in despair.
I think the creature was my favorite character and I felt for him and related to him as he was genuinely seeking connection and acceptance in a world he didn't feel he belonged in.
Not at all surprised to find my take aways in my 30's to be vastly different from those in my teens. Absolutely loved this book.
“How mutable are our feelings, and how strange is that clinging love we have of life even in the excess of misery!”
I read this in Highschool and I could recall the gist of the story and blended with the knowledge pressed upon me over the years through adaptations etc. I thought I knew what I was getting into. Turns out, I didn't.
I was surprised by how incredibly heartbreaking it was to read this. In trying to cure his loneliness, Victor Frankenstein created what he then deemed a monster, leaving it on its own with a childlike disposition and confusion. Oh, how this story could have gone with some compassion and communication for the thing he created. Instead, in pursuit of companionship and love he, Victor, destroyed all those who loved him because when turned away Frankenstein's 'monster' became murderous and vengeful.
I'm not sure I can adequately describe the range of emotions I experienced while reading this. We get a narrative of love and equal parts hate, of beauty and ugliness and how they can be pinned to a visual and/or a feeling, and an overwhelming want of hope that is shadowed in despair.
I think the creature was my favorite character and I felt for him and related to him as he was genuinely seeking connection and acceptance in a world he didn't feel he belonged in.
Not at all surprised to find my take aways in my 30's to be vastly different from those in my teens. Absolutely loved this book.
slowa_w_filizance's review against another edition
4.0
Książka świetna, tylko Victor Frankenstein jakiś taki nieudany.
A tak bardziej serio, uważam, że to naprawdę świetna historia o ludzkiej naturze i o tym, jakich granic człowiek nie powinien przekraczać (ewentualnie o tym, że jak się już przekroczy te granice, to wypada zająć się uszytą przez siebie istotą, zamiast bawić się w typowego starego, który wyszedł po mleko i nigdy nie wrócił).
A tak bardziej serio, uważam, że to naprawdę świetna historia o ludzkiej naturze i o tym, jakich granic człowiek nie powinien przekraczać (ewentualnie o tym, że jak się już przekroczy te granice, to wypada zająć się uszytą przez siebie istotą, zamiast bawić się w typowego starego, który wyszedł po mleko i nigdy nie wrócił).
mishareilly's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I had a wonderful time reading this book. This is the first classic I've ever read. I love how reading classic makes me feel smart Hahah. So many new words to learn while reading this book.
Victor was a big whiny crybaby bitch the whole time. His problems were 10000% his own doing. This book did make me reflect on how this can be a cometary on people's relationship with the Christian God. Had quite a few annotations throughout. Also made me think a lot about how men are and how that creates a lot of very avoidable problems. If Victor would have reached out for help from any one of his family members or friends that care about him and are much too kind to him, he could have resolved his problem before he lost everything.
My favorite section of the book was part 2. This is the monster telling his side of the story. I believe the monster was pretty just in his actions. And even after all of the mistreatment, he still just wanted to be loved and accepted by humans. The monster has a bigger heart than Victor would ever be capable of. Victor is a typical self centered, whiny crybaby of a man that creates all his own problems.
Victor was a big whiny crybaby bitch the whole time. His problems were 10000% his own doing. This book did make me reflect on how this can be a cometary on people's relationship with the Christian God. Had quite a few annotations throughout. Also made me think a lot about how men are and how that creates a lot of very avoidable problems. If Victor would have reached out for help from any one of his family members or friends that care about him and are much too kind to him, he could have resolved his problem before he lost everything.
My favorite section of the book was part 2. This is the monster telling his side of the story. I believe the monster was pretty just in his actions. And even after all of the mistreatment, he still just wanted to be loved and accepted by humans. The monster has a bigger heart than Victor would ever be capable of. Victor is a typical self centered, whiny crybaby of a man that creates all his own problems.
ketutar's review against another edition
4.0
I'm on monster's side. The little shit deserved to die, and Frankenstein deserved to live without a loved one, just as he condemned his creation to live without love.
And having stood on ice for weeks and knowing that they will certainly be dead unless they return, and then tell them they are cowards and should continue... what an arse! No, I do not consider Frankenstein in any way a good man, or having any noble qualities. He should have blamed himself and sacrificed himself to live with his creation and be a father to his son, instead of deeming him evil just because he looked horrible. HE didn't create himself!
And having stood on ice for weeks and knowing that they will certainly be dead unless they return, and then tell them they are cowards and should continue... what an arse! No, I do not consider Frankenstein in any way a good man, or having any noble qualities. He should have blamed himself and sacrificed himself to live with his creation and be a father to his son, instead of deeming him evil just because he looked horrible. HE didn't create himself!
nienkethepanda's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
slow-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? No
3.0
This is one of those books that had been on my TBR for literal ages. I bought this on a flea market when I was studying English, because it used to be on the assigned reading list, but they removed it before I took the course on the romantic period. When one of my bookish friends organised a readalong for this book, it felt like the right time to pick it up. I’m really glad I did, because I really liked the book and definitely recommend it!
I absolutely understand why this novel is one of the greatest gothic novels of all time. Is it as scary as I thought it would be? Maybe not, but I think this one is very strong psychologically and that gives the creepy/gothic vibes.
The novel consists of letters and prose text and is told from the perspective of the doctor and the monster. It took me a while to figure out the switch in perspective in the second part of the book, which is why I was very confused at first. After figuring it out, however, I couldn’t stop reading. I found it very intriguing to experience life from the perspective of the monster, since he does not at all feel like a monster. He feels unwanted and unloved, when he really wants to try and have a nice life. He feels abandoned by the doctor and shows this by taking revenge, which is not ethical, but understandable.
The doctor might be intelligent, but really he is pathetic. Create something and flee from it? Having your creation kill others and not stopping him? I like how his conscience is tested in the novel and you can actually feel the switch from haugtiness to guilt after he has realised the consequences of his actions. This is really subtle and well-written.
The style of writing was a bit more difficult than standard English, but I would definitely say that it is not too difficult if you’re at least and average speaker of English. It’s not necessary to understand each and every word to be able to follow the plot.
I absolutely understand why this novel is one of the greatest gothic novels of all time. Is it as scary as I thought it would be? Maybe not, but I think this one is very strong psychologically and that gives the creepy/gothic vibes.
The novel consists of letters and prose text and is told from the perspective of the doctor and the monster. It took me a while to figure out the switch in perspective in the second part of the book, which is why I was very confused at first. After figuring it out, however, I couldn’t stop reading. I found it very intriguing to experience life from the perspective of the monster, since he does not at all feel like a monster. He feels unwanted and unloved, when he really wants to try and have a nice life. He feels abandoned by the doctor and shows this by taking revenge, which is not ethical, but understandable.
The doctor might be intelligent, but really he is pathetic. Create something and flee from it? Having your creation kill others and not stopping him? I like how his conscience is tested in the novel and you can actually feel the switch from haugtiness to guilt after he has realised the consequences of his actions. This is really subtle and well-written.
The style of writing was a bit more difficult than standard English, but I would definitely say that it is not too difficult if you’re at least and average speaker of English. It’s not necessary to understand each and every word to be able to follow the plot.