Reviews tagging 'Child death'

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

303 reviews

doriandelioncourt's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Cultural appropriation, Abandonment, and Classism

pbella3's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

venusdapoopiehead's review against another edition

dark emotional sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

so where do i start? the detailed and vivid writing, the overarching theme of the dangers of having a god complex and thinking you can bend nature to its will, as well as the relatability of frankenstein’s creature and how his experiences and the way he’s treated is a sharp critique to how our society operates……are all what i think ultimately makes this one of the best classics ever. at first i didn’t really get the whole frankenstein hype, and now i do, i can absolutely see why this is loved by so many, including me bc i devoured this like a starving victorian child on thanksgiving day. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, and Murder

Moderate: Incest and Suicide

willow1113's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Grief

Moderate: Body horror, Body shaming, Child death, Death, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail

jenna_justi2004's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This book made me get back into reading. Slay Mary Shelley 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

veposve's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Murder, and Abandonment

rin_varga's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I enjoyed reading this classic immensely! I'm so glad that I decided to start it in the heart of winter just after the holidays since I discovered so much of the mood is wrapped up in desolate, frigid landscapes & frozen tundra.

If you've only ever watched the 1930s movie like me, then the original 1818 version will feel like a completely new story to you!

I appreciated how much heart, empathy, passion & flaws we see as both Victor & his creature explore the same feelings (believing that they're completely different from one another) such as hubris, the spectrum of morality, justice, & if wickedness is due to nature or nurture. The book even begins & ends through the lens of a third party, leaving us the reader free to sympathize a bit with both Victor & his creature who are at such odds with each other.

I didn't expect to get as emotionally invested in the characters as I did--it was a pleasant surprise to find myself hoping, grieving & crying on their behalf, especially the monster who so desperately & sincerely loves people & longs to be accepted for who he is on the inside💔

The middle of the novel could drag on at times, especially as Victor traveled and couldn't shake his fears, regrets & melancholy no matter who he was with or what he was doing for long. In the begin & by the end though, events picked up again in anticipation & drama leaving me at the edge of my seat!

There may be a little good & evil in everyone, & this novel explores in depth just how much enemies can be more similar than they'd like to believe. I'd recommend it to anyone who doesn't mind a little (or a lot) of gray area & want to try a classic where emotions are a strong motivation--both for the characters & us as readers!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, Stalking, Gaslighting, and Abandonment

Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child death, Chronic illness, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, and Xenophobia

Minor: Child death, Confinement, Gore, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Stalking, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

hjb_128's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious reflective 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence, Grief, Stalking, and Murder

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Death of parent

rainerasnic's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Death, Suicide, Death of parent, and Murder

carolinebl's review against another edition

challenging dark sad medium-paced

• 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

Frankenstein is such a famous story, but my expectations were quite wrong. I enjoyed the end of the novel, the plot of which I knew less. I understand why it is considered a seminal work, and has inspired so many adaptations, but I did not love it.

The voice of Frankenstein’s monster felt implausible; how could he really have developed such a complex vocabulary? I enjoyed hearing of his early days of life, but it felt like Shelley was unwilling to sacrifice her style for the good of the story.

The narrative voice was interesting,

removed as it was from the main events, though this again brought up issues for me of the detailed recollection of conversations… is my memory just so poor that this seems ridiculous?

Perhaps I am too pedantic over these details, and should focus instead on the novel in general. I found both Frankenstein and his monster deeply unlikeable.

I’m not sure how others genuinely champion the selfish and destructive monster. Both of them should have just offed themselves!

The parallels between Frankenstein and his monster were the most powerful aspect, alongside Shelley’s commentary on superficiality and the beautiful depiction of nature. I want to visit Switzerland, but also to study this novel in more depth… perhaps I would gain a more positive impression.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, and Murder