A review by caroline_reads
Frankissstein by Jeanette Winterson

reflective medium-paced
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

I enjoyed the aspect of the story that fictionalised Mary Shelley, Percy Shelley, Polidori and Byron's time in Geneva and onwards.  

Generally, however, I thought that the novel was generally unfocused with no clear plot or purpose. There was an unnecessary scene in which
the trans protagonist was sexually assaulted by a background character. This incident happened randomly with little build up and there was no later mention to this event in the novel. The protagonist handwaved the incident as something that has happened to him many times before and it was fine. In summary, I don't see what this scene did to further our understanding of his character and I'm tired of reading fiction in which trans or genderqueer characters are abused/face violence as though this is acceptable and an essential element of being a queer person.
. I almost gave up on the book at this point - the scene occuring 2/3s of the way through. Lazy writing at best.

Winterson indicates in her final note that the purpose of this novel is to explore how reality is unclear. Lofty ambitions, but she has not explored such an idea in a way that is compelling or adds to our understanding of human reality.

The best line of the novel comes near the end: "grief means living with someone who is no longer there."
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