Reviews with content warning for Murder - Frankenstein: The 1818 Text

Reviews tagging 'Murder'

Frankenstein: The 1818 Text by Mary Shelley

312 reviews

booitsnathalie's review against another edition

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dark slow-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

4.5

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comfsp's review against another edition

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challenging dark reflective sad tense medium-paced

Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

I think I understand why some people think of this as an absolute masterpiece, and in the context of its role in history it's totally justified, but just taking the reading experience... It made me infinitely frustrated. Nobody changes their views, Frankenstein still has a cruelly prejudiced, tunel vision-like worldview and is insanely self-centered thruout the entire book. Reading this was a torture to me too, not juszt the characters, and it honestly pains me becaouse of the importance this iconic book has.

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bookshelfmystic's review against another edition

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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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oomaymayoo's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious slow-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

2.75

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chiara_dose's review against another edition

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challenging dark reflective sad 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

3.75

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peppypenguin's review against another edition

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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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thegreatelise's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging mysterious reflective tense slow-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

3.5

I had to read this book for a college assignment and I actually quite liked it, it took me a long time to get through, probably because it's harder for me to read a book that I have to read and that I didn't pick up on my own will.
But that put aside it was a really good book, some passages were a bit hard to understand to me, especially the end, I was a bit lost and couldn't understand what was happening and I find the end a bit rushed as well.
The narrative and exchange between Frankenstein and his monster were very interesting to me.

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