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.
Having seen so many interpretations of the original story in the form of movies, tv, etc. and being inspired by Dean Koontz’s series on the subject, I decided to read the original. It was a great read. I recommend it if your diet has consisted of the interpretation of others.
Author
barbaras
3 years ago
One of the most marvelous classics. It is a classic for a reason Read it and enjoy. Nothing is as it seems.
Author
rachel
3 years ago
I had a really hard time getting through this book. The last 50 pages were exceptionally difficult to finish.
I do appreciate the various morals of this story, and I understand that Mary Shelley was just a teenager when she wrote it. That right there makes it amazing. I still haven’t written a complete novel and I’m older than she was.
But, honestly, the characterization in this book is just awful. Victor Frankenstein is quite possibly one of the most ridiculous male protagonists I’ve ever had the displeasure of reading about. He faints at the drop of a hat and spends a large portion of the story sick in bed. Everyone has to wait on him, and he seems incapable of doing anything for himself. He doesn’t even catch the “monster” in the end!
I did enjoyed the first bit of the story though. The parts describing his obsession with his work up to the creation of the “monster” were great, and the writing itself is simply beautiful, though some of the descriptions went overboard at times.
After a point though, I felt the urge to roll my eyes after every paragraph describing his periods of sickness because they were so frequent and so drawn out. It made the story progress extremely slowly, and it added to my belief that Victor Frankenstein is one of the most worthless characters in the book.
Besides all of this, I really loved the character of the “monster”. It was enjoyable to read about his ascent from mindless creature to a functional, intelligent human being. In fact, I view Victor as being the villain of this story. He brought a living being into the world just to abandon it because it was “ugly”? He left it all alone to face the harshness of other humans because he couldn’t deal with the consequences of his actions. Then throughout the book, he insisted that he wasn’t in the wrong for leaving the creature all alone. Yes, he regretted creating the “monster”, but after hearing its tale of loneliness, it was never in his heart to take the poor creature under his wing?
At any rate, I gave this book two-stars because the main character made it feel like such a chore to read it. It really detracted from the story, otherwise I would have given it at least a 4-star rating.
Author
patrickplong
3 years ago
This book is absolutely wonderful! I believe this book remains misunderstood and consequently underrated in many aspects. While it is a cautionary tale about the risks and dangers and scientific experiment and technology, and it is regarded as a chilling horror story and “monster book,” it is such a classic because it is so deeply human. At the core of this story are intense issues of abandonment, relationship to parents, and vulnerability, along with and questions of self-worth, self-esteem, worthiness, and belonging that are universal and speak to us all. I believe that is what has primarily resonated with readers for so many years and continues to do so. One of the most beautiful and insightful books I have ever read while intensely haunting. Mary Shelley is rightfully immortalized as a brilliant author and artist with the triumph of this magnificent book.
Author
olympiablack
3 years ago
I love this book. It taps into so many aspects of life and is completely relevant today as science marches on and artificial intelligence begins to learn. And then what will these machines be? Living or dead? And will they be content with being slaves to their creators? There are so many good scenes in this book, but my heart absolutely broke when the monster says, “You must create a female for me, with whom I can live in the interchange of those sympathies necessary for my being.” I think everyone should read this book and there is a reason that this continues to be on the classics list.
Author
leftyleo
3 years ago
The original story is much scarier than the old movies. More thought provoking and intelligent than you would expect. Mandatory reading in the “Mad Scientist” portion for a SciFi class that I had taken.
Author
jezebellydancer
3 years ago
This is another must read. Forget the old Frankenstein movies, they have little to nothing to do with this novel. It raises so many questions. What is life? If we have the power to create life, should we? What is our responsibility for the life we create? I spent many nights discussing this book with friends and many bottles of wine.
Author
kathleenebatey
3 years ago
This is one of the most surprising books I’ve ever read. I had seen pieces of several movies, so I thought I knew what to expect. I only read the book because it was a classic story and I was trying to be well read.
The story, though it agreed in some points, was not at all like the movies. It seemed to me the movies even had the victim and the villain confused.
I recommend you read this book and see if you are not surprised like I was. It has stayed in my mind for several years.
It is not a book for children.
By maryshelley
Great classic
Very slow-moving, dull, and verbose.
Having seen so many interpretations of the original story in the form of movies, tv, etc. and being inspired by Dean Koontz’s series on the subject, I decided to read the original. It was a great read. I recommend it if your diet has consisted of the interpretation of others.
One of the most marvelous classics. It is a classic for a reason Read it and enjoy. Nothing is as it seems.
I had a really hard time getting through this book. The last 50 pages were exceptionally difficult to finish.
I do appreciate the various morals of this story, and I understand that Mary Shelley was just a teenager when she wrote it. That right there makes it amazing. I still haven’t written a complete novel and I’m older than she was.
But, honestly, the characterization in this book is just awful. Victor Frankenstein is quite possibly one of the most ridiculous male protagonists I’ve ever had the displeasure of reading about. He faints at the drop of a hat and spends a large portion of the story sick in bed. Everyone has to wait on him, and he seems incapable of doing anything for himself. He doesn’t even catch the “monster” in the end!
I did enjoyed the first bit of the story though. The parts describing his obsession with his work up to the creation of the “monster” were great, and the writing itself is simply beautiful, though some of the descriptions went overboard at times.
After a point though, I felt the urge to roll my eyes after every paragraph describing his periods of sickness because they were so frequent and so drawn out. It made the story progress extremely slowly, and it added to my belief that Victor Frankenstein is one of the most worthless characters in the book.
Besides all of this, I really loved the character of the “monster”. It was enjoyable to read about his ascent from mindless creature to a functional, intelligent human being. In fact, I view Victor as being the villain of this story. He brought a living being into the world just to abandon it because it was “ugly”? He left it all alone to face the harshness of other humans because he couldn’t deal with the consequences of his actions. Then throughout the book, he insisted that he wasn’t in the wrong for leaving the creature all alone. Yes, he regretted creating the “monster”, but after hearing its tale of loneliness, it was never in his heart to take the poor creature under his wing?
At any rate, I gave this book two-stars because the main character made it feel like such a chore to read it. It really detracted from the story, otherwise I would have given it at least a 4-star rating.
This book is absolutely wonderful! I believe this book remains misunderstood and consequently underrated in many aspects. While it is a cautionary tale about the risks and dangers and scientific experiment and technology, and it is regarded as a chilling horror story and “monster book,” it is such a classic because it is so deeply human. At the core of this story are intense issues of abandonment, relationship to parents, and vulnerability, along with and questions of self-worth, self-esteem, worthiness, and belonging that are universal and speak to us all. I believe that is what has primarily resonated with readers for so many years and continues to do so. One of the most beautiful and insightful books I have ever read while intensely haunting. Mary Shelley is rightfully immortalized as a brilliant author and artist with the triumph of this magnificent book.
I love this book. It taps into so many aspects of life and is completely relevant today as science marches on and artificial intelligence begins to learn. And then what will these machines be? Living or dead? And will they be content with being slaves to their creators? There are so many good scenes in this book, but my heart absolutely broke when the monster says, “You must create a female for me, with whom I can live in the interchange of those sympathies necessary for my being.” I think everyone should read this book and there is a reason that this continues to be on the classics list.
The original story is much scarier than the old movies. More thought provoking and intelligent than you would expect. Mandatory reading in the “Mad Scientist” portion for a SciFi class that I had taken.
This is another must read. Forget the old Frankenstein movies, they have little to nothing to do with this novel. It raises so many questions. What is life? If we have the power to create life, should we? What is our responsibility for the life we create? I spent many nights discussing this book with friends and many bottles of wine.
This is one of the most surprising books I’ve ever read. I had seen pieces of several movies, so I thought I knew what to expect. I only read the book because it was a classic story and I was trying to be well read.
The story, though it agreed in some points, was not at all like the movies. It seemed to me the movies even had the victim and the villain confused.
I recommend you read this book and see if you are not surprised like I was. It has stayed in my mind for several years.
It is not a book for children.