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pbraue13's review against another edition
4.0
I have always been a fan of the Universal horror films, especially the Frankenstein films. As I grew older I learned about and appreciated the first two entries in the franchise on even deeper level from a queer perspective. This book is about the director of those films, James Whale. Being one of the earliest openly gay directors in Hollywood, James Whale always slipped in innuendo, wit, or a dark sense of humor into his films and tried seeing what he could get away with while dealing with the Hollywood censors and the early days of the Hays Code. It's a complete shame that his career did not have the longevity of some others and that he was almost forgotten. This novel covers his last month of life before dying by suicide in his pool (it's not a spoiler as its both in the first paragraph and one of the first things that is found on Google when you look him up) alone at home. The novel is a fictional framing of those last few days mixed with memories of his youth, first love, behind the scenes on sets, and also current events like starting a brief friendship with his gardner by asking to draw him and his relationship with his housekeeper. In the end, it is a book about how all of us seek companionship in one form or another and like Frankenstein's monster just want a friend to make our brief moments on earth just a little easier.
4/5 stars!
4/5 stars!
lckrgr's review against another edition
4.0
A well written book full of lots of detailed imagery. There was something haunting, beautiful, and frustrating about the prose, which I think made this book very readable. I have to admit to having seen Gods and Monsters many years previous, and even though I barely remember it, in my brain James Whale looked like Ian McKellen and Clayton Boone looked like Brendon Fraser. That being said, I am now inspired to watch James Whale's monster movies and to read more Christopher Bram.
adambwriter's review against another edition
4.0
Thoughts: http://roofbeamreader.com/2013/04/29/thoughts-gods-and-monsters-by-christopher-bram/
sinners's review against another edition
4.0
A surprisingly powerful and riveting story, considering the cast and setting, which some may consider dull. Despite very little connection with my own experiences, I found this a very personal read.
boris's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
virgilsinferno's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
Minor: Homophobia
dancpharmd's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
a_chickletz's review against another edition
5.0
I love film, but I get a kick out of reading books that have to do with fictional incidents related to film.
A friend of mine has been trying to get me to watch 'Of Gods and Monsters'. It wasn't until I was thrifting around recently I found this book and realized it was the basis for the film. I said I'd read it before watching the film.
Well, what a interesting, strange, twisted treat that was. I loved the author's writing. How he seems to blend both fiction and life together to create this story. His own monster.
Father of Frankenstein has an interesting story. I grew up with the Universal horror films as a child but I truly didn't care for them all that much. (Except for Phantom... ha) I had no idea the backstory of the film's director and his secret life in the gay community of Hollywood. I also did not know that he died rather mysteriously.
The book creates a fictional tale of intrigue that the director has over his pool boy. He also creates a story that the director dwells upon Frankenstein constantly and has a lot of inner self-hatred and thoughts about the monster and society, comparative to him.
Again, this book read so well that I really enjoyed the blending of the two together. It made me want to re-watch the original Frankenstein film and Bride of Frankenstein. Since there was alluding that the studio had a lot of issues with the sequel and meddled with it and the film.
A friend of mine has been trying to get me to watch 'Of Gods and Monsters'. It wasn't until I was thrifting around recently I found this book and realized it was the basis for the film. I said I'd read it before watching the film.
Well, what a interesting, strange, twisted treat that was. I loved the author's writing. How he seems to blend both fiction and life together to create this story. His own monster.
Father of Frankenstein has an interesting story. I grew up with the Universal horror films as a child but I truly didn't care for them all that much. (Except for Phantom... ha) I had no idea the backstory of the film's director and his secret life in the gay community of Hollywood. I also did not know that he died rather mysteriously.
The book creates a fictional tale of intrigue that the director has over his pool boy. He also creates a story that the director dwells upon Frankenstein constantly and has a lot of inner self-hatred and thoughts about the monster and society, comparative to him.
Again, this book read so well that I really enjoyed the blending of the two together. It made me want to re-watch the original Frankenstein film and Bride of Frankenstein. Since there was alluding that the studio had a lot of issues with the sequel and meddled with it and the film.
randalm's review against another edition
5.0
This book, the basis for the film "Gods and Monsters," was a delightful read. I found it engaging with good character development that was complex but not overly so. I saw the movie before I read the book and was impressed at how true the former was to the latter.
kristendom's review against another edition
5.0
I had seen this movie several years ago and loved it, so when I stumbled across the book, I immediately picked it up. I was not disappointed. It is just a beautiful book that had me in tears at the end, even though I already knew the ending. The relationship that springs up between Whale and Boone is both surprising and ultimately inevitable. The glimpses of early Hollywood are glamorous, and reading this book has made me want to watch not only this movie again, but Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein. Just incredible writing.