Frankenstein

FRANKENSTEIN 

by Mary Shelley

Steel engraving (993 × 78 mm), for the frontispiece of the 1831 revised edition of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, published by Colburn and Bentley, London. He looks like he's freaking out about his penis. - Kellie

Pat 7

The mother of all horror books was perfectly creepy and Gothic. I kept imagining Goth punks being mesmerized by its gloom and misery.  My favorite section was the Creature's narrative. He was so eloquent and noble. He also spoke this way in the Penny Dreadful series which renewed my interest in Frankenstein. The lack of specifics on how the Creature comes to be didn't bother me. Jurassic Park did a decent job of explaining DNA and how the dinosaurs were reanimated, but in the end all I really cared about was rampaging dinosaurs. Rampaging humans, artificially created or otherwise, are just sad. It wasn't the rampaging I enjoyed in Frankenstein but the Creature's thoughts about life and morality. Something that good horror novels bring to the forefront, but horror flicks rarely do. It was also pretty cool to be reading what amounts to the source material for so much sci-fi, horror, and world wide culture. The Creature is the Elvis of monsters. 

Adrianne 6

Most enjoyed character was the Creature because he experienced every emotion a human can while everyone else only managed a few which were mostly gloomy. Found him endearing even though he was a murderer. Though the story occasionally dragged here and there, she would reread a section and it would pick back up. Liked Henry Cherval's dedication and loyalty to Victor.  Saw a don't mess with nature theme. Shelley predicted a lot of the issues that we're dealing with today. With artificial intelligence right around the corner we will continue to deal with them. 

Becky - 7.25

Shelley was so far ahead of her time. Much of this resonates today especially the moral dilemma of playing God. Inventors almost always seem to be self-absorbed, brilliant types who can't think beyond their successes to their often logical bad (or at least morally questionable) endings. We need inventors, but their relentless drive makes them difficult to be around as did Victor's selfish misery, Alas! Woe is me! attitude. The Creature was a sympathetic character and also very clever to have planted the incriminating locket on an innocent. She liked how he led Victor on and how this became his reason for being. Wondered at the beginning at who Walton was, then saw that he too was a monomaniac similar to Victor. 

Sandy - 9

Loved the writing style and descriptions. Wondered how the story would translate to a modern day HBO version. Figured that Elisabeth and Victor would be incestuous Game Of Thrones type lovers, while Walton and Victor would be gay lovers. Didn't know anything about Frankenstein except what she learned from Mel Brooks's Young Frankenstein. Said there was no way she would have gotten past page three were it not a book club book. Looked forward to reading and couldn't wait to pick back up. Thought that the story brought up a fair criticism of society in how we treat those who are disfigured. Says a lot about us in how we treat them.It broke her heart when the blind man and his family rejected him. How sad. Did not see the idea of a female companion coming. Loved this book. The writing was fantastic and Shelley's background story was amazing. 

Maggie - 6

First few pages were difficult but she eventually got into a rhythm. The relationships between everyone, aside from the Creature, were a flowery, sugary, lovefest that grated on her. EVERYONE LOVED EVERYONE, but they couldn't find any compassion for the Creature. Missed the explanation of how he was put together and it frustrated her that it was left out, she thought it crucial to the story. Didn't notice any change in the narrative between Walton's recounting and the Creature's. Had a hard time with how incredibly well self-educated the Creature was. Was also incredulous that the he could travel vast distances, across continents! and magically appear when convenient. How could such a huge hideous creature go unnoticed everywhere? But at its face value, it's a fantasy story that's been on her Classics list and she thoroughly enjoyed it. 

Caroline 4

In the olden days Caroline would have rated a five, this time it's a four. Found it hard to start. Got lost with the names at the beginning. It really bugged her on how important details were left out. He  abandons the Creature with very little explanation, and where was the Creature for the two years after that? Wondered why Victor, after the Creature had already killed several people close to him, thought the Creature was coming after him on his wedding night! She liked the Creature's way of speaking, and wanted so much for him to have a bride. Was disappointed when there wasn't one. Liked Victor's line about there being no end to scientific wonder. Speaking of wonder, Caroline wondered where all the body parts were coming from on an island with only three huts, and if Victor was so concerned about them breeding an evil race, why didn't he just leave a few key body parts out? At least I think this was Caroline, I know someone said this, but I didn't write it in my notes. Caroline? Anyway, she never would have picked it up if it weren't for book club and likes book club for this reason. 

Letitia 8.5

Thought it was a great pick. Loved the language and wondered if she had the right book when started off at sea. Thought Walton immediately sounded gay. His language, the way he phrased his desire for companionship, being raised by his sister, all made her wonder. Was relieved that it didn't go into detail on how exactly the Creature was created.  She too thought she missed some text when suddenly he opened his eyes. It didn't bother her that it wasn't realistic. After all it's Frankenstein. She cared about the beast and was upset he didn't get a bride. Found it a page turner. Thought that Walton's ambition was similar to Victor's and was relieved when Walton finally turned the ship around. Thought Victor was vainglorious to the end. 

K'Lynn 6

I was familiar with Mary Shelley from the Grateful Dead song Ramble On Rose.  "Just like Mary Shelly, just like Frankenstein. Clank your chains and count your change and try to walk the line."  I've heard those two lines for about 30 years now and was excited to read this book.

I've never been a fan of modern day horror stories.  I hate scary movies. This was a horrific story that is epic in scale, spanning many years. I kept thinking about the time it was written.  It must've been a scandalous and very scary story for the people of 1816 to read. Mary Shelly was only 16 when she began writing Frankenstein.  In the author's note at the beginning critics said, "How does such a young girl have such a hideous story?"

 I found myself feeling sorry for the monster.  In his grotesque appearance and his desire for companionship.  When he decides to try to ruin Victor's life by killing William, Justine,  Cherval, and Elizabeth I found it believable, but predictable. The human aspects of the monster were real to me.  But I couldn't help feeling sorry for him. In the end all of his revenge turns out to be misplaced and he doesn't feel better at all.

Victor's character was the hardest for me to relate with.  So dramatic, so undefined. I couldn't picture him in my mind.  Why did he desire to build a human? Because he could? He knew he shouldn't, but did anyway.  Marrying his sister, and then having been threatened by the monster, letting her out of his sight.  You knew what was going to happen. Also, why didn't he just go to the police after the death of William?  I found all of that very predictable.

Miles 6.5 - 7

Has read this a couple of times before, the most recent being about twenty five years ago. To reread as an older adult is to see time. Thought it stunning that though it's over 200 years old it's completely readable and relevant and he enjoyed rereading it. Miles thinks the scholarly interpretation that it's an indictment of Modern Man and the Industrial Revolution is BS. He didn't remember the vanity of Victor and wondered if Shelley might have been trying to spoof some actual person of the times. The Creature was imbued with such eloquence and was woke enough to be a vegetarian. It wasn't his fault he was who he was, a hideousness in human form. Clever how she put it all together and recommended the original Dracula for a spooky, gothic page turner.

Next book: Old Baggage by Lissa Evans