You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Scan barcode
queer_bookwyrm's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
3.5 ⭐ CW: death of a child, death of dogs, thoughts of suicide
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley is a classic and Shelley is the mother of modern horror. I actually enjoyed this one more than Dracula, despite my prejudice against classics.
We get a man vs. his creation kind of story here. Frankenstein is obsessed with the natural sciences and endeavors create life out of remnant of body parts. He chooses to make something monsterous looking and then abandons it to fend for itself.
Spurned by his creator and unable to properly perceive his senses, the creature wonders around blindly and stupidly until he figures out his new sensations and begins to learn. Having not read this before, I assumed the creature would be mindless, but he is inquisitive and a quick learner. He learns language from hiding himself in a hovel attached to a family's shack and becomes quite proficient. The creature only longs for kindness and friendship, but is cursed and chased away by any who lay on eyes on his unfortunate face.
I'm not receiving kindness or compassion, the creatures sets to revenge against Frankenstein for carelessly bringing him to life and denying him a companion. A little compassion from Frankenstein could have gone a long way.
To me, this was a story about how important it is to show all creatures (ugly or beautiful) compassion and kindness. The creature became the demon people accused him of being. I think there is also some commentary here about the trials ugly or deformed people or disabled people encounter, as these themes often come up to denote morality of a character. Another case of "don't judge a book by its cover."
Shelley also quotes her husband's works throughout the book, which I found adorable. I can see why this story has endured as long as it has, and we can see echos of this in modern storytelling as well (Data from TNG, any alien or robot trying to be more human, any misunderstood being because of how they look).
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley is a classic and Shelley is the mother of modern horror. I actually enjoyed this one more than Dracula, despite my prejudice against classics.
We get a man vs. his creation kind of story here. Frankenstein is obsessed with the natural sciences and endeavors create life out of remnant of body parts. He chooses to make something monsterous looking and then abandons it to fend for itself.
Spurned by his creator and unable to properly perceive his senses, the creature wonders around blindly and stupidly until he figures out his new sensations and begins to learn. Having not read this before, I assumed the creature would be mindless, but he is inquisitive and a quick learner. He learns language from hiding himself in a hovel attached to a family's shack and becomes quite proficient. The creature only longs for kindness and friendship, but is cursed and chased away by any who lay on eyes on his unfortunate face.
I'm not receiving kindness or compassion, the creatures sets to revenge against Frankenstein for carelessly bringing him to life and denying him a companion. A little compassion from Frankenstein could have gone a long way.
To me, this was a story about how important it is to show all creatures (ugly or beautiful) compassion and kindness. The creature became the demon people accused him of being. I think there is also some commentary here about the trials ugly or deformed people or disabled people encounter, as these themes often come up to denote morality of a character. Another case of "don't judge a book by its cover."
Shelley also quotes her husband's works throughout the book, which I found adorable. I can see why this story has endured as long as it has, and we can see echos of this in modern storytelling as well (Data from TNG, any alien or robot trying to be more human, any misunderstood being because of how they look).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death and Child death
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
aconfundityofcrows's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-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
The book includes the two "ghost" stories written at the same castle holiday, by Lord Byron and Dr. John Polidori. Both are vampiric in nature, with Byron's story actually influencing Polidori's story, which is more explicitly about vampires. So a surprising spooky two for one deal here, with the original Frankenstein story and some early vampires.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Murder
Moderate: Ableism, Body shaming, Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Grief, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Xenophobia, and Religious bigotry
thekinkykid's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Gaslighting
solouncapitulomas's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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? Yes
4.0
“Nothing is so painful to the human mind as a great and sudden change.”
This story has been so misrepresented, I grew up hearing about some doctor that created a monster and how this creature ended up with his name (not in the books but for us in pop culture) and to me that was the story, of the creation of a monster and no more depth. If Mary could see us she’d kill us probably (that woman was hardcore goth)
Now, enough with hating on shit I can’t control, let’s talk about the book.
The letters where amazing, all of them. This is such an easy read, even though a classic, but it is fast and with the illustrations my copy includes (thanks to my sister for the birthday gift) it was as vivid as ever. The first chapter bored me perhaps a little but after I read chapter two and then three it was nonstop from there. I wanted to know more about the monster and less about Victor whiny self (he complained about how everything was awful but honey, you did create a monster so don’t know what to tell ya) I did feel bad for his family, poor dad suffered a lot.
Not a five star because, as said by Jananie (thisstoryaintover) “why, Shelley felt the need to refer to Safie as "the Arabian" as if she were a horse is beyond me.”
I feel like the fact that today we call the creature by the name of its creator should be sos thing more discussed by people, tho would’ve been such an interesting topic while I was in high school (at least for me) and it would’ve convinced me to read it earlier, but I’m glad I read it now too because it is definitely for adults. But last year student could definitely read it, I think.
Some quotes I liked:
“Beware; for I am fearless, and therefore powerful.”
“Life, although it may only be an accumulation of anguish, is dear to me, and I will defend it.”
“If I cannot inspire love, I will cause fear!”
“I ought to be thy Adam, but I am rather the fallen angel...”
“How mutable are our feelings, and how strange is that clinging love we have of life even in the excess of misery!”
“When falsehood can look so like the truth, who can assure themselves of certain happiness?”
I was listening to Human by Maggie Lindemann while writing this review
‘kay, I’m out
Bye
This story has been so misrepresented, I grew up hearing about some doctor that created a monster and how this creature ended up with his name (not in the books but for us in pop culture) and to me that was the story, of the creation of a monster and no more depth. If Mary could see us she’d kill us probably (that woman was hardcore goth)
Now, enough with hating on shit I can’t control, let’s talk about the book.
The letters where amazing, all of them. This is such an easy read, even though a classic, but it is fast and with the illustrations my copy includes (thanks to my sister for the birthday gift) it was as vivid as ever. The first chapter bored me perhaps a little but after I read chapter two and then three it was nonstop from there. I wanted to know more about the monster and less about Victor whiny self (he complained about how everything was awful but honey, you did create a monster so don’t know what to tell ya) I did feel bad for his family, poor dad suffered a lot.
Not a five star because, as said by Jananie (thisstoryaintover) “why, Shelley felt the need to refer to Safie as "the Arabian" as if she were a horse is beyond me.”
I feel like the fact that today we call the creature by the name of its creator should be sos thing more discussed by people, tho would’ve been such an interesting topic while I was in high school (at least for me) and it would’ve convinced me to read it earlier, but I’m glad I read it now too because it is definitely for adults. But last year student could definitely read it, I think.
Some quotes I liked:
“Beware; for I am fearless, and therefore powerful.”
“Life, although it may only be an accumulation of anguish, is dear to me, and I will defend it.”
“If I cannot inspire love, I will cause fear!”
“I ought to be thy Adam, but I am rather the fallen angel...”
“How mutable are our feelings, and how strange is that clinging love we have of life even in the excess of misery!”
“When falsehood can look so like the truth, who can assure themselves of certain happiness?”
I was listening to Human by Maggie Lindemann while writing this review
‘kay, I’m out
Bye
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Grief, and Stalking
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Death of parent
Minor: Animal death
cynicalraven's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
Moderate: Animal death, Misogyny, and Islamophobia
dig2deep's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I have to read paradise lost now
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Death of parent
Minor: Animal death and Racism
marenk's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Stalking, and Murder
Moderate: Child death, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Death of parent
Minor: Animal death
valyn_grebe's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
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
2.5
I began reading this book thinking that it was going to be a great read, and for me, it wasn’t. It was just okay. I had trouble connecting with the characters. I generally disliked Victor Frankenstein, because he never thought about the consequences of his actions or how the Monster would react to life. Thus, the Monster has terrible and vile behavior due to his creator’s lack of foresight in his work.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Murder
Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Stalking, and Death of parent
Minor: Animal death and Body horror
caseystar's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Expertly written, just not for me
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Violence
Minor: Animal death, Suicidal thoughts, and Terminal illness
More...