Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

[Michelle]

In time for Halloween....

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Obsessed by creating life itself, Victor Frankenstein plunders graveyards for the material to fashion a new being, which he shocks into life by electricity. But his botched creature, rejected by Frankenstein and denied human companionship, sets out to destroy his maker and all that he holds dear. Mary Shelley's chilling gothic tale was conceived when she was only eighteen, living with her lover Percy Shelley near Byron's villa on Lake Geneva. It would become the world's most famous work of horror fiction, and remains a devastating exploration of the limits of human creativity.

[sib]

I've read it before; it's good and genuinely quite spooky.

[Kell]

I read this one when I was just a kid, but I've not re-read it since - I'm looking forward to revisiting it, as I remember enjoying it a lot!

[Lilywhite]

I've started reading this one this afternoon. A bit slow going to start but I got to read the authors notes at the beginning explaining how the whole story came about. Very interesting :)

[Lilywhite]

I posted this in my reading list but thought it would be better in here for discussion.

I finished Frankenstein this afternoon and was quite surprised by how long it actually took me to read it. I think there was a slight language barrier to get through, as with a lot of the classics, oh, and the overuse of the word endeavour, throughout :) The story was not entirely what I expected it to be which made it a more enjoyable read. My idea of Frankenstein was visions of creating his 'wretch' but that was actually only a small part of the story. I also really enjoyed the ambiguity (sp) of the story. Is the real monster Frankenstein himself or is the monster and Frankenstein one and the same person....??
Overall a good story although it does drag in places.

[Gilly]

Rats, I posted a reply then lost it!

Anyway, I read this book a while ago and found it a far more compex story than I first believed. It's interesting how you can feel sympathy for the creature because he is so totally isolated but also be repelled by his actions. He is intelligent and his love of nature is touching but he has no respect for human life.

I found it a very sad book with some harrowing parts.

Gilly

[Kell]

I only just started this tonight, so I'm only a couple of chapters in & I now know for sure that I read an abrisdged version when I was a kid - LOL! That said, i'm enjoying it so far. Looking forward to the rest of it...:readingtwo:

[Angel]

I read this a few years ago. I remember feeling very sorry for the creature - a victim of science. of man's desire to create and be in control.The original story is far from that of Hollywood! The end left me wondering what and where the impact of man's creation will lead us - and this was before the advent of genetic engineering

[dogmatix]

Angel; excellent insight. This book is cerainly prophetic in regards to man as God, genetic engineering, and of course as in all good books man's conceit and shortcommings.

[Kell]

I'm still only a handful of chapters in & although I'm enjoying it, I'm not enjoying it as much as I remembered. :( However, I do like the style & I know I like the story already...

[Lilywhite]

I did find Frankenstein a bit whiny to be honest, he created this 'wretch' but then refused to take responsibilty for it, and then wondered why it turned around and bit him in the... well you know. It does make you think though....

[Kell]

I agree, Kat - the one character that is most diserving of sympathy is the poor creature that was called into existence on a whim & then left to fend for itself because it didn't live up to its creator's ideals immediately, whereas Frankenstein himself doesn't accept that it is his responsibility to help his creation; to teach it; to nurture it, rather than abandoning it to its fate in a cruel world.

It seems to me that the real "monster" in the story is Frankenstein's own ego - believing that he has the right to play God just because he can.

Incidentally, I'm getting more into it now that I'm a few more chapters in...

[Lilywhite]

My only problem was getting over the continual use of the word 'endeavour', she uses it on nearly every page :lol:

[Ronny]

Ah, so, I was reading along and thinking this is exactly like the movie and something seemed not quite right and so I took another look at the book and realized it was the movie tie in book. :blush:

The language and some aspects of the story have been altered to fit the movie and now I'm going to have to track down a copy of the original story. Hopefully the library has one in.

[Sugar]

I hadn't relaised that this was one of October's reads. If I had, I would have retrieved my copy of my Dad when I saw him a couple of weeks ago, and then impressed you all with my insight and intelligence. To clarify, I studied old Frank at uni as part of a "Writing Women" module.

Unfortunately, my addled brain cannot remember any of these insights without the annotated copy in front of me!


Nicky - my copy was one of those £1 Penguin classics - might be worth looking out for as it will certianly not be changed and is also cheap!

[Renniemist]

I have now finished Frankenstein. For me the language was a bit of barrier and I also felt that the book dragged in places.

I did not like Victor very much. As previous posters have commented he seemed to take no responsibility for his creation. In many ways Victor seemed to be more of a monster than the “monster” he created. To bring something to life and then to abandon it seems particularly callous.

Having said all of that I can see that it was a remarkable book to have been written at that time and is relevant today since it makes you think about the responsibilities of scientists.


Also I feel that it really should be read because it is nothing like the film. Indeed I think that it is much better than the film.

I would never have picked this book up if it not been that it was one of “the books of the month”. I am glad that I have read it despite the above grumbles.

[dogmatix]

As you and others noted I really think that Victor IS the monster and the monser IS the victim. However, Victor dosen't see it this way now does he...?

[linda321]

I'm still only a few chapters in. I plan to restart reading now I'm back from holiday. I didn't tkae Frankenstein with me to read on the plane cos I thought a 'chick lit' might be easier to concentrate on!

Be back soon to post my comments

[Ophelia]

I studied this book for an exam a few years ago and found it to be a rattling good yarn! As with previous comments I found my sympathies to be with the 'monster' rather than with his creator. Frankenstein is an arrogant man who assumes the mantle of God with devastating consequences. I remember being amazed to learn that Mary Shelley was only 18 when she wrote this.

[Lilywhite]

I, too, was almost as intrigued with the story behind the story as with Frankenstein itself. It has to be said, she had quite a talent at such a young age.

[Jenna Bayley-Burke]

I read this so long ago...but just snagged it on CD to listen to in the car. What beautiful wording...

[linda321]

I finished reading this a while ago, and bought the film but haven't watched it yet. I too would never have read this without it being a book of the month, so thanks everyone. I haven't followed the bom for a while, so off to have a look at Jans!

I was initially suprised that it is not the monster who is called Frankenstein! However, as I read the book I began to wonder whether or not F and the monster were one and the same thing - like a kind of manic schizophrenia? I know someone else has said this, but does anyone else agree?

[Kell]

It's an interesting thought, Linda - I think you're right in saying that the "Monster£ represents the darker side of Frankenstein that he would rather keep hidden than let it out in the open...

[OnyxAngel]

I read this in English and watched the movie.
It's absolutely brilliant.

[Fiona]

I had to read Frankenstein in comparrison to Dracula. Dracula was horrible Frankenstein was ok but it was just so stocky. Shelley loved the word 'benevolent' and seemed to use it over and over again.

[JudyB]

I always felt that Frankenstein (among other issues) was about creating something and needing to take responsibility for it - the monster became a monster because he was left without direction.

[fireball]

The first real lady writer of horror. And damn was she good.!

Here's apart of was said on unknown rhythm about Mary Shelley and Frankenstein.

Mary Shelley wrote the first draft of Frankenstein when she was eighteen years old after having a vivid nightmare and it was a departure from the usual female writers fare of the 1800's. The first time it was published she did not even claim it as her own work. In fact, many people believed that her lover Percy Shelley wrote the first edition of the story. He did influence Mary's writing style and proof read the work, he also wrote the preface as if from Mary's point of view. See http://unknownrhythm.claremc.co.uk/themodernhorrorstory.html for the full read.! :lurker:;):D

See also http://unknownrhythm.claremc.co.uk/ nice tingly stuff there.:D

[chocolategal]

my mum wont let me read it, its unsuitable apparently!

[Kell]

my mum wont let me read it, its unsuitable apparently!It can be quite hard-going in places, so I can understand your mum's reservations, Chocolategal. I'm sure you'll enjoy it all the more when you're a bit older anyway - and you have it to look forward to, which is always a bonus! ;)

[fireball]

Quite right Kell. chocolategal, I don't know how old you are, and it's none of my business, but as Kell said it's something to lookforward to. It is hard going
AS of sorts, it's seen from the "monsters" point of view, and it's heart breaking in places to. Truly only a woman could have written it, and it's far from been a 'girly' story...ANYTHING but.

I think mum's is right, when your a bit older and can take on something's that really sad, it had me in tears,http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/steelclaw32/08.gif and I read it when I was 14/15 years of age.! It's a hell of a read. And there's not many books that have/done/did that I can tell you.!;)

[Kylie]

It's taken me a little while to get into Frankenstein (nothing against the book - I just wasn't in a reading mood), but I'm really starting to enjoy it now.

I was really surprised that the 'creation' part of the story didn't take very long at all. I'm barely a quarter of the way through and we've already moved on from it. It looks like the story might become more fast-paced from here.

I have to keep reminding myself that Mary Shelley was only 18/19 when she wrote this book. What an amazing achievement!

[Echo]

Well, she definitely had an advantage over other women her age at the time...her parents were William Godwin and Mary Wollstonecraft, and she was married to Percy Bysshe Shelley!

[Kylie]

True. She had good genes! Jeez, wouldn't you feel the pressure to be great if you had grown up with those parents!?

[Kylie]

I thought Frankenstein was terrific! A perfect 10/10 for me, and it goes straight to my 'favourite books' list. :mrgreen: My review here (http://www.bookclubforum.co.uk/forum/showpost.php?p=148054&postcount=112).