Reviews tagging 'Body horror'

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

143 reviews

simmich429's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Child death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

mpbookreviews's review against another edition

dark reflective tense 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Child death, Death, Violence, Medical content, Death of parent, and Abandonment

mobymaize's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad 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

4.5

Yeah, I mean it's fucking Frankenstein, like you got to read it. It is the first sci-fi novel, of course you have to read it. ALSO READ THE 1818 VERSION, IT'S A LOT BETTER.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Incest, Mental illness, Racism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Medical content, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

freesiaelect's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad slow-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror

kierank's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

• 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

Transgender awakening 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, and Death of parent

Moderate: Body horror, Suicide, Violence, and Xenophobia

themorsecode's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• 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

I started reading this mid-last year then just put it down for ages, not entirely sure why as it's an engaging and interesting read; despite the over-florid Victorian prose.  Going in reasonably cold beyond the general cultural knowledge of the story, the book wasn't quite what I had anticipated (in a 'positive' way), although tricky to read without picturing the iconic Hollywood depictions of both Victor and the monster.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, and Abandonment

euphemiajo's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark informative tense medium-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Violence, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, and Classism

kaetheluise_nckl's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Death of parent, and Murder

bookshelfmystic's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• 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

 Reading a formative work of a genre can sometimes be disappointing. We're so used to the ideas and tropes by now that the original thoughts in early works can feel trite. I didn't really like Neuromancer, for example, because the cyberpunk ideas it introduced to the world felt like old hat by the time I read it in the 2010s. (Among other reasons.)

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. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror and Murder

peppypenguin's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad 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

5.0

I find this story to be more horrific than Dracula. Everyone around you falling to terrible fates one by one because of your actions is terrifying. There is horror in the overzealous pride and obsession of humans circling around to haunt them and subject them to a miserable state where only death is the only rest they can receive. While fantastic it really is a universal story. The complex relationship between Frankenstein and his monster, and the pity you are made to feel for them both, is plenty to stimulate profound discussion.

I first read this novel in 2016. My re-read was this edition illustrated by Bernie Wrightson. These illustrations were so powerful in adding to the atmosphere, that I strongly recommend looking them up or obtaining a copy to enjoy for yourself.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, and Grief

Moderate: Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Animal death, Forced institutionalization, and Classism