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

What a heart wrenching book! What a spell binding narration and what a poignant description! Frankenstein by Mary Shelley is classic for a reason.

The subjects explored in this book, the complexities of human nature and mind, the drive and hunger for knowledge and glory to the point of destruction, the eloquent dialogues and scenery, and the describing of the most sought after emotion of all mortal beings - the longing of a companionship, has been so fervently sketched in this book; a description as comprehensive as this I have read little elsewhere. Shelley's power of narration is wonderful - I found myself siding with both the antagonist and protagonist in their respective narrations, not just with mind but with heart, and the most striking feature being the interchanging roles of the two - the protagonist was antagonist and vice versa in different parts of the story. The harrowing life the creature had led would inflict in me a sorrow, the wretchedness and agony of Frankenstein would cause me to empathize with his pain, and the battle that thus ensued between the two and its consummation was a journey that had me hooked to the end. A heart wrenching read this was, the kind that I would take a while to pick up again.

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elspethmigliore's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective 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

4.5

I absolutely loved this story. There are so many things wrong with it, which is exactly the point and the prime reason I loved it so much.

definitely reread material ✅

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chubbypug21's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense

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

4.25

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strabbyfieldz's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

3.0

ur telling me an 18 year old wrote this book? dang shelley.

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margztgz's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious 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? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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samchase112's review against another edition

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adventurous dark reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
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

5.0

The whole series of my life appeared to me as a dream; I sometimes doubted if indeed it were all true, for it never presented itself to my mind with the force of reality. - Frankenstein

Thus the harrowing tale of Frankenstein and his monster begins. This was such a creative and well-told story which I enjoyed to the very end. Mary Shelley is such an excellent writer; her frame narrative perfectly fit the story she was telling, as it allowed readers to sympathize with both Frankenstein and the creature, as well as get an outside perspective through Walton. She warns us not too take creativity too far - there is a line between science and destruction, and we cannot cross it.

I ought to be thy Adam, but I am rather the fallen angel...The fallen angel becomes a malignant devil. Yet even that enemy of God and man had friends and associates in his desolation; I am alone. - the Creature

The edition I read - the penguin edition - was a great edition! I felt that the book was set up well and easy to understand. Walton's letters were a major part of Volumes I and III, with the creature's story as the bulk of Volume II. This edition was also great because it included the author's introduction as well as notes on the 1818 and 1831 editions (this edition was based on the 1831 copy).

I do know that for the sympathy of one living being, I would make peace with all. I have love in me the likes of which you can scarcely imagine and rage the likes of which you would not believe. If I cannot satisfy the one, I will indulge the other. - the Creature

I absolutely loved this book, and I would definitely recommend it as an easy-to-read classic.

Learn from me, if not by my precepts, at least by my example, how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge, and how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be his world, than he who aspires to become greater than his nature will allow. - Frankenstein

Reread: March 2021

The DRAMA, the ROMANCE, the HORROR!

Mary Godwin Shelley, you are a master.

Content Warnings

camilleingram's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional tense slow-paced

Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

Mary Shelley's lack of experience in writing is very prominent in this book, with every character sounding extremely similar in point of view. However, the story is really gripping and incredibly interesting. I analyzed this book in an English class, and it's been the best book to analyze so far. There are so many ways to look at and read this novel, and in-depth character analysis was honestly so interesting.

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