Reviews

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

lylacpip's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

meelie's review against another edition

dark sad slow-paced

• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

2.0

This book was well written, its just not my cup of tea. I’m glad that I can at least say I’ve read the story of Frankenstein, but it is honestly really depressing. Also there aren’t really very many characters involved in the story besides the monster and Frankenstein, so it was hard to find a character that I liked. It was interesting to see both povs though.

adeelif's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective 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? Yes

5.0

more_books_needed's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious slow-paced

3.5

betharoni's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

A classic for a reason. Shocked to discover that the creation of the creature takes less than a paragraph of the book. Is this because of the storytelling format, as Frankenstein is our narrator for a lot of it and he wishes not to share what/how he bought a creature to life? Or does it reflect sensibilities of the time, that interests of the time would be not in the mechanics of the creation but of the consequences? Is it because of the influence of Greek tragedies, its alternative title as the Modern Prometheus linking it to that tradition- in which all major scenes of death and horror take place off stage like in Greek tragedies and like in this book? Someone find me an English teacher I have so many questions!!! 

bearbutch's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

bareehakazmi's review

challenging dark reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

lilo23's review against another edition

2.0

Honestly, I have no idea where to start because I have to so much to say about this. After reading it for the first time, I genuinely despised the book. But as I reread it in class, I guess I can understand it a little better?

First of, Victor Frankenstein is such an awful and weak character. I understand that the "hero" being weak is an element of Gothic literature but Victor is absolutely PATHETIC. Falling ill for months because of the sight of the monster. He spent months working on it head to toe hoping that it would move and when it did, all memories of what he previously worked on just vanished.

Secondly, the monster being the monster because it was too ugly is so shallow. It was outcasted and shunned by society just for being a little too ugly. Is there really no other characteristics that could've been added to give the monster move depth?

However, for how shallow everything was, I'm impressed with all the themes it covers. Science vs nature, whether we're innately good or evil etc. Interesting read but never again.

ljeffbooks's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

My main takeaway is about human nature. Humans have been creating since the dawn of time, and creating things that have unintended, far reaching consequences. This has been accelerated in recent times with nuclear technology and AI to name a couple of examples. 

In the book, we see two sides of human nature- the desire to create, push boundaries, to do the impossible (on Frankenstein's part), and the initial naivety and then reckoning and coming to terms with the real world on the monster's part. In my interpretation it's somewhat a coming of age story for both of them, and they eventually destroy each other out of revenge.

I'm really glad I read this book. It felt particularly poignant in the current atmosphere and state of the world, and I am happy to have the full context and understanding of a book which has been in the cultural psyche for a very long time.

leeasho's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective slow-paced

• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

Over a month to read 200 pages. I just couldn't read more than a couple pages in a sitting. The themes and such were good, but it was so absurdly long winded at times. Monologues stretching over 4 whole pages, repetitive whining from Frankenstein. At least I can say I've read it. There was more to the story than you get from the generic Frankenstein retellings all over the place, and definitely more nuance and thought put into it. Puuuurple prose. Though I've heard that may have been the doing of Mary's dear husband.