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leventmolla's reviews
1639 reviews
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
5.0
Our childhood nightmares are full of werewolves, vampires, demons and similar creatures at times. Undoubtedly, one of the most notorious of these creatures is Frankenstein's monster . Most of us have probably seen the original Frankenstein movie which has now been accepted as one of world classics, with the excellent acting of Boris Karloff. (I remember seeing an old, faded copy of the movie in a small town moviehouse)
As popular as Frankenstein is, few people have actually read the original novel published by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley in 1818. Of course the term "Frankenstein" which has been used as an adjective in some languages to depict a horrible creature, is not the name of the monster - as some people still think - but of the scientist who creates him.
When we look into the life and friends of Mary Shelley - who has been neglected in the area of literature - we will see a lot of authors who have been influential in the 18th and 19th centuries. Her father William Godwin is an atheist who is known for novels like Caleb Williams. He has married Mary Wollstonecraft, who has contributed to the discussion of her times with her work Vindication of the Rights of Women (1792). Her daughter Mary married the famous poet Percy Bysshe Shelley.
It is a period of great events. Captain Cook's voyages in the South Seas have resulted in the import of lots of previously unknown types of plant to Europe. Erasmus Darwin (grandfather of Charles Darwin) has started to use evolutionist ideas in his poems and the two-volume Zoonomia. (He would be forgotten after his grandson became famous) The industrial revolution is in full swing, natural sciences are advancing daily. A steamship has crossed the Atlantic for the first time. Locomotives, railroads, roads and bridges are built, work is being done in the study of electricity.
Mary Shelley has been influenced by many people and has come up with a novel which seems to be in the Gothic tradition, but actually includes the contradictions of the times she is living in. The main theme in the novel is the conflict between reason and feelings in modern man.
Victor Frankenstein tries to discover the secret of life and is isolated from the society and from his freinds during this difficult quest. This is obviously similar to the theme in Faust, but science has replaced the mysticism and religion. Frankenstein's success is based on a series of stages and enormous effort, rather than supernatural or religious forces. Shelley has not abandoned the basic themes of Romantic Literature and has displayed the dual nature of Man. This duality will later on re-emerge in works like The Picture of Dorian Grey and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
On the one hand there is a belief that Mankind will eventually conquer nature and will improve living conditions, but on the other hand the emphasis is on the nature and character of Man which might prevent him to achieve this goal. Probably Shelley's novel is the first place where the pros and cons of science has been analyzed in literature.
When the novel was first published, it was acclaimed as a successful Gothic novel. Critiques did not really understand the structure and content of the novel which is a departure from the Gothic tradition. Shelley has first described the act of creation, with the spark of her wide imagination - and then has combined her reasoning with a lot of thoughts she had been influenced with, has added some sub-themes on top of the main one and has come up with a balanced synthesis of reason and feeling. These sub-themes have slightly damaged the structure of the novel, but the novel must really be compared to its contemporaries where an omniscient author goes on a didactic monologue for the reader.
One of the interesting points is that the creature in the novel does not have a name. Frankenstein, who signifies the Modern Man getting acquainted with science, becomes the victim of something he has created but has not really understood entirely.
The whole novel reflects a series of conflicts. Shelly swings from Darwinism (not the evolutionary one) where she attributes change and creativity to nature, to Milton & the theology of Paradise Lost. The way the creature describes itself is a reminiscence of Lucifer, the fallen angel.
Another conflict is between different "scientific" traditions. Frankenstein first searches the solution in the books of ancient alchemists like Paracelsus and Albertus Magnus, but then discovers the scientific method - albeit crude by today's standards. Shelley is aware of he changes in the new Era, and that there is no need for alchemy and other dusty remnants of the old Era.
The fact that the novel was usually ignored by the general public is partly because of the success of Frankenstein in the Movie Screen. After being filmed in the Silent Era several times, the movie has really launched after Boris Karloff portrayed the monster in 1931. After that Frankenstein had a Son, Daughter, Ghost, House, Bride, etc. and fought various creatures like Dracula, Werewolfe and other mythical figures.
Behind Karloff's horrifying creature lies a brilliant novel which reflects the complex effect of a changing world on the literature and authors of the time.
As popular as Frankenstein is, few people have actually read the original novel published by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley in 1818. Of course the term "Frankenstein" which has been used as an adjective in some languages to depict a horrible creature, is not the name of the monster - as some people still think - but of the scientist who creates him.
When we look into the life and friends of Mary Shelley - who has been neglected in the area of literature - we will see a lot of authors who have been influential in the 18th and 19th centuries. Her father William Godwin is an atheist who is known for novels like Caleb Williams. He has married Mary Wollstonecraft, who has contributed to the discussion of her times with her work Vindication of the Rights of Women (1792). Her daughter Mary married the famous poet Percy Bysshe Shelley.
It is a period of great events. Captain Cook's voyages in the South Seas have resulted in the import of lots of previously unknown types of plant to Europe. Erasmus Darwin (grandfather of Charles Darwin) has started to use evolutionist ideas in his poems and the two-volume Zoonomia. (He would be forgotten after his grandson became famous) The industrial revolution is in full swing, natural sciences are advancing daily. A steamship has crossed the Atlantic for the first time. Locomotives, railroads, roads and bridges are built, work is being done in the study of electricity.
Mary Shelley has been influenced by many people and has come up with a novel which seems to be in the Gothic tradition, but actually includes the contradictions of the times she is living in. The main theme in the novel is the conflict between reason and feelings in modern man.
Victor Frankenstein tries to discover the secret of life and is isolated from the society and from his freinds during this difficult quest. This is obviously similar to the theme in Faust, but science has replaced the mysticism and religion. Frankenstein's success is based on a series of stages and enormous effort, rather than supernatural or religious forces. Shelley has not abandoned the basic themes of Romantic Literature and has displayed the dual nature of Man. This duality will later on re-emerge in works like The Picture of Dorian Grey and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
On the one hand there is a belief that Mankind will eventually conquer nature and will improve living conditions, but on the other hand the emphasis is on the nature and character of Man which might prevent him to achieve this goal. Probably Shelley's novel is the first place where the pros and cons of science has been analyzed in literature.
When the novel was first published, it was acclaimed as a successful Gothic novel. Critiques did not really understand the structure and content of the novel which is a departure from the Gothic tradition. Shelley has first described the act of creation, with the spark of her wide imagination - and then has combined her reasoning with a lot of thoughts she had been influenced with, has added some sub-themes on top of the main one and has come up with a balanced synthesis of reason and feeling. These sub-themes have slightly damaged the structure of the novel, but the novel must really be compared to its contemporaries where an omniscient author goes on a didactic monologue for the reader.
One of the interesting points is that the creature in the novel does not have a name. Frankenstein, who signifies the Modern Man getting acquainted with science, becomes the victim of something he has created but has not really understood entirely.
The whole novel reflects a series of conflicts. Shelly swings from Darwinism (not the evolutionary one) where she attributes change and creativity to nature, to Milton & the theology of Paradise Lost. The way the creature describes itself is a reminiscence of Lucifer, the fallen angel.
Another conflict is between different "scientific" traditions. Frankenstein first searches the solution in the books of ancient alchemists like Paracelsus and Albertus Magnus, but then discovers the scientific method - albeit crude by today's standards. Shelley is aware of he changes in the new Era, and that there is no need for alchemy and other dusty remnants of the old Era.
The fact that the novel was usually ignored by the general public is partly because of the success of Frankenstein in the Movie Screen. After being filmed in the Silent Era several times, the movie has really launched after Boris Karloff portrayed the monster in 1931. After that Frankenstein had a Son, Daughter, Ghost, House, Bride, etc. and fought various creatures like Dracula, Werewolfe and other mythical figures.
Behind Karloff's horrifying creature lies a brilliant novel which reflects the complex effect of a changing world on the literature and authors of the time.
Alone by Robert J. Crane
2.0
A Young Adult series that has a theme very similar to the TV series "Heroes". "Metas" are humans with extraordinary capabilities and they can sometimes be dangerous. Siena has been kept home by her mother since she was a young child and has to go out of home when her mother disappears. She is assaulted by mysterious people and tracked by a seemingly unbeatable meta names Wolf. She had to learn about her own power and try to survive.
Mildly interesting.
Mildly interesting.
The Mesmerist by Barbara Ewing
4.0
What a nice surprise! I picked up this book randomly from the library and it turned out to be an enormously complex tale taking place in 19th Century London. Cordelia Preston is an aspiring actress trying to get some parts in recent plays and surviving in an environment that is austere for women.
She meets a Welsh Lord and they fall in love with each other. However, actresses not being accepted as respectable members of the society, Lord Ellis would never marry her. She is very much surprised when Lord Ellis later proposes. They move to Wales and get married. She has three children and lives a secluded life in a distant Welsh manor. However, she would lose her husband and children in a series of unexpected events.
Her mother and aunt have practiced some form of mesmerism, so Cordelia finds out she has a talent in that area and settles back in London to practice phreno-mesmerism, which is a technique using the hypnotisation part of mesmerism and the art to predict behaviour from the shape of skulls.
Things would get really complicated after a violent murder is committed. Cordelia would have to undergo a big test in life and would be brought to the edge of destruction.
Barbara Ewing has created a set of very rich characters and a very believable atmosphere representing 19th century England. It is somewhat appalling to read about typical behaviour against women. The narrative style is very straightforward, but this goes well with this complex storyline.
Highly recommended...
She meets a Welsh Lord and they fall in love with each other. However, actresses not being accepted as respectable members of the society, Lord Ellis would never marry her. She is very much surprised when Lord Ellis later proposes. They move to Wales and get married. She has three children and lives a secluded life in a distant Welsh manor. However, she would lose her husband and children in a series of unexpected events.
Her mother and aunt have practiced some form of mesmerism, so Cordelia finds out she has a talent in that area and settles back in London to practice phreno-mesmerism, which is a technique using the hypnotisation part of mesmerism and the art to predict behaviour from the shape of skulls.
Things would get really complicated after a violent murder is committed. Cordelia would have to undergo a big test in life and would be brought to the edge of destruction.
Barbara Ewing has created a set of very rich characters and a very believable atmosphere representing 19th century England. It is somewhat appalling to read about typical behaviour against women. The narrative style is very straightforward, but this goes well with this complex storyline.
Highly recommended...
The Monk by Matthew Gregory Lewis
2.0
This book is a disappointment for me. Written in late 18th century, it is describing the extraordinary events around a Monk and several female characters. These extraordinary events include rape, murder, ghosts, priests molesting young girls and similar stuff, which are not really extraordinary in the 21st century, but have caused a stir when the book was published in the 18th century.
The writing style is very archaic, so I found it difficult to concentrate and follow.
The writing style is very archaic, so I found it difficult to concentrate and follow.
Invaders from the Infinite by John W. Campbell Jr.
2.0
John W. Campbell is a pioneer editor for Science Fiction magazines of the Golden Age. He put a lot of effort to compile "hard-science" stories and had a taste for stories which employed plausible scientific theories and devices.
Invaders form the Infinite is one of the series of books he wrote, employing the same principle he used to select stories for his magazines. Today the so-called "science" in his books are really archaic and you can se that the writing is really low-quality and these books are space operas of the worst kind. I think this kind of writing was triggered by all the changes that were happening in the science of his day, since you see traces of scientific "facts" that were clearly influenced by Einstein's work on Relativity and the science that followed from it.
This does not reduce Campbell's importance as a pioneer of Science Fiction, but this fact does not make his books more readable.
Invaders form the Infinite is one of the series of books he wrote, employing the same principle he used to select stories for his magazines. Today the so-called "science" in his books are really archaic and you can se that the writing is really low-quality and these books are space operas of the worst kind. I think this kind of writing was triggered by all the changes that were happening in the science of his day, since you see traces of scientific "facts" that were clearly influenced by Einstein's work on Relativity and the science that followed from it.
This does not reduce Campbell's importance as a pioneer of Science Fiction, but this fact does not make his books more readable.
The Uninvited by Liz Jensen
3.0
The Uninvited is a mixture between a horror novel and an ecological thriller. The protagonist, Hesgeth, isan anthropologist who is used in industrial sabotage cases to find out the motivation for such acts and tries to link several cases he is attending to. What makes it puzzling is that in all the cases the people involved have stated one way or another that they were forced to do it. The culprit is sometimes evil spirits, sometimes it is a set of children who stay conveniently invisible. On top of these complex cases, Hesgeth also has to deal with an increasing number of - sometimes lethal - attacks by children and trying to tie the two phenomena together.
The book sometimes invokes chilling images and the atmosphere evoked is dense. You never get the full story behind the phenomena, but the author gives you enough to stimulate you to think about today's environment which could cause some of the events described in the book.
The book sometimes invokes chilling images and the atmosphere evoked is dense. You never get the full story behind the phenomena, but the author gives you enough to stimulate you to think about today's environment which could cause some of the events described in the book.
Destination Unknown by Agatha Christie
3.0
This is a very atypical Agatha Christie book. First of all, it is not a murder mystery at all. It is the story of government agencies in the UK tracking the disappearance of Mr. Betterton, a prominent scientist who has been involved in the design of some fission experiments. Her wife goes to Morocco on a holiday but the plane crashes and a lot of passengers are killed. Mrs. Hilary Craven is travelling to Paris, trying to get out of a depression she has gone into after her son died from meningitis and her husband left her. She buys some drugs and decides to kill herself, but is saved in time by Mr. Jessop, who is actually a government agent tracking the disappearance of Mr. Betterton and other prominent scientists. He offers Mrs. Craven an adventure. With her red hair, she looks like Mrs. Betterton. She would pretend that she is Mrs. Betterton and survived the plane crash. She would then possibly be contacted by those who are responsible for Mr. Betterton's disappearance and it would be possible to trace his whereabouts.
It looks like a suicidal plan, since the plot would be untangled when she would meet Mr. Betterton, but Hilary accepts the challenge, since she has nothing to lose.
It is an interesting book, probably because it is not a typical Murder mystery. It was published in 1954, the early periods of Cold War, just after the Rozenberg trials, thus the tone reflects that era. Not a masterpiece in the Cold War spy thrillers, but acceptable.
It looks like a suicidal plan, since the plot would be untangled when she would meet Mr. Betterton, but Hilary accepts the challenge, since she has nothing to lose.
It is an interesting book, probably because it is not a typical Murder mystery. It was published in 1954, the early periods of Cold War, just after the Rozenberg trials, thus the tone reflects that era. Not a masterpiece in the Cold War spy thrillers, but acceptable.