The story of Victor Frankenstein’s monstrous creation and the havoc it caused has enthralled generations of readers and inspired countless writers of horror and suspense. With the author’s own 1831 introduction.
First let me say that the book is not for children. It has violence, and is full of adult issues.
Second, the book is not at all like the movies.
This is a book I read only because I was working to read as many classics as I could at the time. I believe that books in that category show many of the precepts that our society is based on. They help one to understand our society better, as well as the people who make up society. But I did not expect to like this book since I don’t enjoy horror stories in general. I was totally taken by surprise.
This book is extremely well written. The use of language is superb, and the characters are fully developed. The story elicits many emotions, and causes you to see things in different lights than you expect. It sticks with me, returning to my mind again and again. In short, it causes you to think and to question your own beliefs. To me, that is the best thing a book can do.
Author
onecaysaavedra
3 years ago
This classic is one of three scariest books I’ve ever read–the other two being “Dracula” and “The Exorcist.”
Author
burra123
3 years ago
My favourite book
Author
michaelettinger
3 years ago
wonderful book, wonderful author 200 years ahead of her time, along with the very best
Author
andrewfisher8240
3 years ago
Forget what you think you know about this story; read the book for yourself.
Author
jaythekansasreader
3 years ago
I finally did it. I finished one of the first books on my TBR list. I remember wanting to read this since 7th or 8th grade after we watched video on classic horror books.
The writing is awesome but I couldn’t get into the book. As much as I love movie Frankenstein I couldn’t love book Frankenstein. I did love the monster. I felt bad for him at times. This should be a book everyone should read at least once in their life. It’s a classic that has brought us a very famous monster in the horror genre.
And I celebrated finishing this with watch Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein.
Author
mackeylee311
3 years ago
Frankenstein is one of my all time favorite reads. There is a reason it is considered a classic. Don’t be misled – this is not a monster book but rather a beautiful love story between creator and creation.
Author
delshereegladden
3 years ago
This actually surprised me quite a bit. It was both dark and beautiful, in some ways, and it will certainly stick with me.
Author
rjohnston
3 years ago
I loved the story, but became very frustrated by the Doctor. He was such a whiny wimp.
Author
lcrazyhorse
3 years ago
A great classic. It’s so interesting that this woman thought up something like this. It’s tense, nerve wracking, nail biting. If you saw any of the movies you really need to read this book because it is not the Frankenstein of your childhood. This is a true monster bent on revenge towards his creator.
Author
ieditone
3 years ago
The book which started the horror genre is not overly scary in and of itself. The implications of the story are. We view this story through the lens of Hollywood and, indeed, it is the perfect visual story. But what Victor Frankenstein’s message is gets lost in the focus on the monster. One other thing, no one currently writes like Shelley did. I don’t know if that’s a plus or a minus. Ornate language doesn’t fit with the fast-paced life we’ve crafted. Reading the original means you have to slow down. That is another gift to this book.
Author
billhbrown
3 years ago
An epic that should be on every reader’s to-read list. Like Stoker’s Dracula, they’re still cranking out remakes of this one.
Author
cheryl
3 years ago
Great classical book to read. If you have never read the book and only watched the movies you are missing a lot of the story.
Author
mscrankypants
3 years ago
A classic is a classic for a reason
Author
chimerasong
3 years ago
It’s a classic, so you sort of have to read it. IT has its moments, but on the whole, it is best remembered for what it represents, not for the writing.
Author
bclark38
3 years ago
We just read this classic in my book group and loved even more than when I read it in college.
Author
jrhamilton
3 years ago
A scientist creates an artificial person, but is too horrified by it to give it the care it needs to become human.
Author
stevencgrant
3 years ago
I haven’t re-read this work in years, it’s still startling how literate the monster sounds and how monstrous is Victor Frankenstein.
Author
markmclaughlin
3 years ago
The original story of Frankenstein and his monster is quite different from any of the movies, which oversimplify this complex epic tale.
Author
jezebellydancer
3 years ago
The book is so much more than any of the movies. Read it! The fact that it was written by a woman and is considered the first science fiction book makes it even better. The prose is outstanding.
By maryshelley
First let me say that the book is not for children. It has violence, and is full of adult issues.
Second, the book is not at all like the movies.
This is a book I read only because I was working to read as many classics as I could at the time. I believe that books in that category show many of the precepts that our society is based on. They help one to understand our society better, as well as the people who make up society. But I did not expect to like this book since I don’t enjoy horror stories in general. I was totally taken by surprise.
This book is extremely well written. The use of language is superb, and the characters are fully developed. The story elicits many emotions, and causes you to see things in different lights than you expect. It sticks with me, returning to my mind again and again. In short, it causes you to think and to question your own beliefs. To me, that is the best thing a book can do.
This classic is one of three scariest books I’ve ever read–the other two being “Dracula” and “The Exorcist.”
My favourite book
wonderful book, wonderful author 200 years ahead of her time, along with the very best
Forget what you think you know about this story; read the book for yourself.
I finally did it. I finished one of the first books on my TBR list. I remember wanting to read this since 7th or 8th grade after we watched video on classic horror books.
The writing is awesome but I couldn’t get into the book. As much as I love movie Frankenstein I couldn’t love book Frankenstein. I did love the monster. I felt bad for him at times. This should be a book everyone should read at least once in their life. It’s a classic that has brought us a very famous monster in the horror genre.
And I celebrated finishing this with watch Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein.
Frankenstein is one of my all time favorite reads. There is a reason it is considered a classic. Don’t be misled – this is not a monster book but rather a beautiful love story between creator and creation.
This actually surprised me quite a bit. It was both dark and beautiful, in some ways, and it will certainly stick with me.
I loved the story, but became very frustrated by the Doctor. He was such a whiny wimp.
A great classic. It’s so interesting that this woman thought up something like this. It’s tense, nerve wracking, nail biting. If you saw any of the movies you really need to read this book because it is not the Frankenstein of your childhood. This is a true monster bent on revenge towards his creator.
The book which started the horror genre is not overly scary in and of itself. The implications of the story are. We view this story through the lens of Hollywood and, indeed, it is the perfect visual story. But what Victor Frankenstein’s message is gets lost in the focus on the monster. One other thing, no one currently writes like Shelley did. I don’t know if that’s a plus or a minus. Ornate language doesn’t fit with the fast-paced life we’ve crafted. Reading the original means you have to slow down. That is another gift to this book.
An epic that should be on every reader’s to-read list. Like Stoker’s Dracula, they’re still cranking out remakes of this one.
Great classical book to read. If you have never read the book and only watched the movies you are missing a lot of the story.
A classic is a classic for a reason
It’s a classic, so you sort of have to read it. IT has its moments, but on the whole, it is best remembered for what it represents, not for the writing.
We just read this classic in my book group and loved even more than when I read it in college.
A scientist creates an artificial person, but is too horrified by it to give it the care it needs to become human.
I haven’t re-read this work in years, it’s still startling how literate the monster sounds and how monstrous is Victor Frankenstein.
The original story of Frankenstein and his monster is quite different from any of the movies, which oversimplify this complex epic tale.
The book is so much more than any of the movies. Read it! The fact that it was written by a woman and is considered the first science fiction book makes it even better. The prose is outstanding.