Frankenstein

By Mary Shelley

Nominated as one of America’s best-loved novels by PBS’s The Great American Read

At the age of eighteen, Mary Shelley, while staying in the Swiss Alps with her lover Percy Shelley, Lord Byron, and others, conceived the tale of Dr. Victor Frankenstein and the monster he brings to life. The resulting book, Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus, is a dark parable warning against the risks of scientific and creative endeavor, the corrupting influence of technology and progress, and the dangers of knowledge without understanding. Frankenstein was an instant bestseller on publication in 1818 and has long been regarded as a masterpiece of suspense, a classic of nineteenth-century Romanticism and Gothic horror, and the prototype of the science fiction novel. Though it has spawned countless imitations and adaptations, it remains the most powerful story of its kind.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
• Release date: Sep 30, 2003
• ISBN: 9780553898033

Mary Shelley

Mary Shelley (1797–1851) was the only daughter of the political philosopher William Godwin and Mary Wollstonecraft, celebrated author of A Vindication of the Rights of Woman. At the age of sixteen, Shelley (then Mary Godwin) scandalized English society by eloping with the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, who was married. Best known for the genre-defining Frankenstein (1818), she was a prolific writer of fiction, travelogues, and biographies during her lifetime, and was instrumental in securing the literary reputation of Percy Shelley after his tragic death.

Reviews for Frankenstein

[aschrader_8 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I've been meaning to read this book for decades. I'm especially fascinated with the circumstances of when/why it was written: 1816, when "incessant rainfall" during that "wet, ungenial summer" forced Mary Shelley and her friends to stay indoors for much of their Swiss holiday. They decided to have a contest, seeing who could write the scariest story. And of course, many have already heard about the nightmare that gave Shelley the framework for the narrative.This book blew me away. It's thought-provoking and heartbreaking. The landscape and events truly match the Romantic ideal of "sublime" (terror/awe). And I'll be mulling over the relationships and responsibilities of self/other and creator/creation for a long while. Plus, it was a true "page-turner". I stayed up way past my bedtime several nights in a row because I couldn't put it down.

[samuelw_56895 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

The tale of Victor Frankenstein may be nearly two hundred years old, but as science continues to advance, its material only becomes more relevant. As a biblical and philosophical thought experiment, the essence of this novel makes for fascinating reading. What better way to experience it than to return to the original text? If only the writing lived up to the material . . .Shelley opens in epistolary format; a sure-fire way to begin a plot-driven novel on the back foot. The letters from Walton to his sister require a not-inconsiderable measure of padding to maintain their authenticity, which nonetheless remains punctured by unrealistic exposition of obvious information. Readers should be able to plough through to the start of the real story without too much trouble, and will be relieved to find the plot moving along more quickly – until the idyllic perfection of Frankenstein’s childhood begins to wear irritatingly thin. The writing style, while always eloquent, is incredibly overblown, and careers without rest from nauseating utopia to risible melodrama.It is in the dialogue of the creature itself that the novel reveals its strongest writing; not only thought provoking, but deliciously quotable as well. When the book switches to the creature’s point of view, we dare to hope that his more tempered narration may do his fascinating and emotive tale justice – and for a while, it does. Before long, however, Shelley’s melodramatic routine is re-established: one paragraph of substance is followed by three paragraphs of Victor’s feelings about it, and perhaps a description or two of the weather, which, infuriatingly, commands enough attention to be considered a minor character. Since there are only so many ways one can feel morose or woebegone or depressed, we find ourselves treading the same ground over and over, while the parts of the story that might make for the most interesting narrative meat – the creature’s construction, the saving of a drowning girl, Victor and Elizabeth’s wedding – are reduced to a few lines each. The realism, though thin in places, manages to stay intact, until Victor, out of the blue, decides to take a nap in his sailboat four miles off the Scottish coast at three in the morning when the breeze is rising, and winds up in Ireland.Why has this story been adapted so endlessly? Because if you unwrap the essence of Frankenstein and throw away the prose, you are left with something truly special. In its original form, however, this story is bearable at best. Read at your own peril.

[666omega666 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

There is a LOT to say about Frankenstein. First off, and I'm going to say this rather bluntly: Mary Shelley is trying very, very hard to be a good writer, and makes her writing worse in the process. She uses big words for no other reason than to make herself sound smarter, and it quite honestly becomes incredibly annoying in very short a time. She also seems to be having an affair with the words "endeavor" and "environs": they are used about as often as the word "the".Her writing style - specifically, cramming a bunch of huge words into a sentence - obscures the meanings she is trying to shove down our throats. Her sentences also seem to last an eternity: every other sentence is a run on. It's confusing and unnecessary.On to the plot: I must say, plot wise, this book is enjoyable. Not exciting in any way - at least not any more, everyone already knows the entire plot - but interesting. It manages to keep you entertained, as long as you can comprehend what is happening through the mighty shield that is Shelley's writing style. The only real problem I had with the plot was that, even in the parts of the story that aren't as well known, the events are completely predictable. Too much foreshadowing, not enough plot twists.The characters are completely offputting, although i cede that emphasizing with Elizabeth is easy. Victor, however, I would happily shoot: he is incredibly effeminate, overexcitable, over-the-top, and mentally unstable. He seems to faint at the slightest provocation, and is made ill for months by the slightest harms. While this is a gothic novel and the characters are supposed to be over-the-top, couldn't Victor be like... incredibly violent or something? At least make it fun to read, rather than just somewhat depressing.I really liked the character of the Monster, or the Creature, which is actually the intention of the novel, and Shelley succeeded fully in that respect. Simply put, the Creature is a pretty awesome guy and I would have totally given him that hug he wanted in chapter 5.I also enjoyed the story-within-a-story model of the book, and there are many levels of this throughout. I just have one further complaint, and many people who have read the book will probably groan with me when I say those two simple words: Chapter 19. Chapter 19 must be one of the most boring and pointless chapters I have ever read in my entire life. It pretty much expands the words "England is awesome and really really beautiful, go there" into several pages, and then tacks on "Oh, by the way, Victor found this cottage on this desolate island and he's gonna do some stuff there."Final verdict? Frankenstein is a classic and I suggest that you read it, but skip Chapter 19 except for the last page, and imagining yourself killing Victor in various ways will make you happy afterward, I promise.

[wilsonknut · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I somehow missed this one in school. I knew it was different than the famous Frankenstein movie with Boris Karloff, but I didn't realize it was this different. Lots of "man's ambitions out of control" and "the dangers of obsessions" themes, but not as much "the dangers of science" as I thought would be in the book. Much of what was high suspense in Shelley's day is very ho hum today.

[elenaestrada_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This classical story of a mad scientist illustrates the tragedies that can happen when science or technology go too far. The basic story line is that a bright but demented scientist uses his talent to create another human being, but in the process he creates a monster. Ironically the monster is child-like, innocent, and full of wisdom and kindness. Yet, he is feared and hated by humanity because of the way he looks. The themes are deep since they beg the question, “When has science gone too far?” and “Why is humanity so shallow and quick to judge another human being when they are different?” I think this book can be used for excellent class discussion.

[ntenenbaum_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Frankenstein, Frankenstein, Frankenstein!!! Such a surprise for me! I thought I knew everything about it even before reading it. Likely because of this popular story of a monster created in a castle by night and during a heavy lightening storm. But no, I was totally wrong and the story isn’t about how to create a monster, it is about how this monster could evolve in human society. It really makes the story interesting, especially because we don’t what to think of the monster. Is he good, bad, both??? Sometimes, this monster reminds me some thoughts I had, like, “if I was born twenty years old and had to figure everything by myself”? Moreover, the monster has the bad luck to be also very repulsive. This book is a classic that everyone needs to read, not to stay on wrong ideas that many people have. Plus, the feelings I felt while reading were very unique and therefore, kind of new. I had never been torn that much about a character, and I liked it a lot. However, I don’t share this feeling about Victor (who is the actual Frankenstein, the creature don’t have a name), I totally dislike him. His first idea to play with life was irresponsible and then he didn’t even take care of what he did. Also, I think that everyone should search in which context this book has been written. It may add some suspense.

[bookfairie · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

I had to read this for my high school humanities class. This book is overrated. Just because it's a classic doesn't make it good. Neither does the fact that it was by a woman. I won't blasphemize by saying that movies are better (actually, I will), but they are. The dialouge is lengthy and not realistic, even for the times. It is obvious that Mary Shelly does not feel any sympathy for the monster at all, which makes the novel six hundred percent less interesting. She says nothing of the actual horror, only the reactions to such. Save yourself some time and skip this.

[soniaandree_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The critical edition includes the 1818 edition of Frankenstein, plus annotations and critical articles (primary sources and secondary sources). In general, it is aimed at undergraduate students of English and Literature. Also, it is highly useful for writing essais and for writing thematic index cards.

[ranger1_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A classic tale. It's a very good story.

[ougirl · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Another I have read but will read again! Despite its age, deals with some surprisingly modern themes - i.e. how society judges others based on the way that they look and how this can affect the individual concerned.

[quoddy_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It is morally outstanding, but the book does not give your heart a race for the next page; but it moves you to tears.

[snat_3 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

While I did not enjoy this book, I am glad that I read it because it was interesting to see how different Frankenstein's monster has become after Hollywood and pop culture reinvented Shelley's creation. If you were to watch the film version of the movie and then read the book, you might be shocked to find that they're supposedly the same story. Despite this, I did not enjoy the book for the following reasons:A) Ugh, Romanticism. Yes, yes. The trees, the mountains, the flowers are beautiful, but I don't need redundant reminders of the glory that is nature.B) Not only did Frankenstein create a monster, but apparently an intellectual prodigy as well. Despite being dead gray matter, the monster's brain sure is remarkably intact and capable of learning at a rapid rate.C) Didactic in the utmost. I could practically hear Shelley dragging out her soapbox everytime the monster appeared on the page to speak about the injustice done to him, man is the real monster, etc., etc., etc.

[wolfsong_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Realizing there are some books I am just never going to get around to, I've decided to at least have the experience of having them read to me via audiobook. I don't consider this a substitution for the reading process, but it ranks as number two when it comes to experiencing a work of literature. I chose FRANKENSTEIN first.I'm glad to finally have experienced this story in its original form. Great story, but it left me sad and angry. I have grown to really despise Victor Frankenstein, a creator who abandoned his creation at the onset, merely because he was ugly. No one in the book affords the Creature any lasting sympathy, this is left only for the readers, if they are so inclined. Even the explorer from the book's framing sequence seems to side with Victor and he supposedly hear the tale exactly as I did. As the book drew to a close I was astounded that he felt admiration for Victor after the man's own tale exposed him as self-pitying, sniveling and often stupid coward. I suppose Mary Shelley must have been commenting on the society she lived in. Strangely, it makes me appreciate the character of Frederick Frankenstein in the comedy YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN more, as he is practically the antithesis of Victor, showing care and compassion for his creation despite his appearance.

[clif_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This book is generally credited with being the first science fiction novel. (That's assuming that The Odyssey doesn't count.) It's interesting to speculate what it was like for a typical 19th Century person to read science fiction for the first time. It was a time when science (they called it natural philosophy) was beginning to explain many things that previously had been unexplained. A 19th Century reader could have easily thought that some of what was being described in Frankenstein could become reality some day. The limitations of science are more widely understood today, and most of us have become somewhat jaded from frequent exposures to science fiction. Nevertheless, Frankenstein continues to be an interesting story for the modern reader. Frankenstein is a story of creation with unintended consequences. The story is inspired by and refers to the earlier stories of Adam and Eve, Prometheus, Divine Comedy and Paradise Lost. The book Frankenstein contains four different narrative-levels nested within each other, each exploring faltering efforts at creating something good.Narrative Level 1:Letters from seafarer Robert Walton to his sister Margaret Walton Saville forms the outer-frame for its particular story as well as for the other narratives. Robert Walton hopes to explore the polar regions and contribute to the human knowledge but ends up failing and nearly losing his ship. Narrative Level 2: The scientist Victor Frankenstein's tells his version of the story of the history of his creation, abandonment, and death struggle with the Creature. Victor Frankenstein strives to harness science to create new human life but in the end rejects his creation. Narrative Level 3: The Creature's version of his life gets told within Frankenstein's narration and describes the Creature's feeling of desperate loneliness and transformation from goodness to evil. The Creature wants to learn about his new world and fit in, but ends up taking revenge on those who mistreat him. Narrative Level 4: The Felix and Safie tale of heroism, injustice and love is told within the Creature's narration. Felix and Safie fight injustice, but in the end they are unjust in their treatment of the Creature.It could be supposed that the above nesting of narratives within each other could make the story hard to follow. But that is not the case. The story unfolds in a natural way that is easy to follow. This is 19th Century writing where the author makes things clear; none of that obfuscation that 20th Century authors are sometimes guilty of.It will come as a surprise to those familiar with movie versions of Frankenstein's monster that the Creature in Shelley's book can run faster, learn quicker and live off the land better than any human. The creature talks clearly and at length about his experience of feeling hurt and lonely. I see a parallel here with many of the inventions of the industrial revolution. Modern technology has made cars go faster, planes fly higher, and computers calculate faster than any human. But none of these modern inventions come close to being human. Dr. Frankenstein appears to have done a better job than God because his creation exceeds normal human capacities in many ways. It appears that the Creature's only shortcoming is his appearance. He's ugly. So ugly that he scares the daylights out of anyone who sees him. According to the Creature's narrative, he wanted to be a caring, loving and sensitive person. But he was so mistreated that he instead became a violent avenger. Could this be a lesson in the effect that the environment has on the making of the criminal mind?

[cecilturtle · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

For anyone who only knows Frankenstein through pop culture, I highly recommend a peek at the original. Roles are reversed as the scientist appears selfish and irresponsible while the monster is a victim of circumstance with a willingness to integrate into human society! The theological, philosophical and social themes are very well brought to light especially by one so young as 18 year-old Shelley. There are many aspects that will make the modern reader roll her eyes (much suspended disbelief) but as an example of scientific ethics at the dawn of modern science, this is definitely a worthwhile read.

[g33kgrrl · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I am a mathematically-inclined person so after I finished this book I sat down and counted out the pages. So for this book my review is that it contains: 16 pages of action10 pages of framing device / expedition17 pages of what seemed like really intense sexy longings by framing-device-man towards Victor25 pages of natural philosophy and European placenames43 pages of just plain emo, 19 pages of emo plus European placenames, and 26 pages of emo plus idiocy 56 pages of monster goodnessClearly the book is incredibly well-written but Victor drove me nuts. At one point I started yelling at him in English and when that didn't work, I switched to yelling at him in German. If I knew any French I would have tried that as well. The fact that he took no action throughout most of the story was maddening.When I looked at what I actually liked in the story I realized I would rather have read a book written from the creation's point-of-view. Has anyone written that?

[coralsiren · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I thought I knew quite a bit about this story, but it wasn't really what I expected after all (which was a pleasant surprise). Overall, I thought the book was okay, but it was hard to keep moving forward at times. Also, sometimes it seems like main events are barely even mentioned, while descriptions of 'less important' things and details go on forever.Glad I read it once, but probably won't re-read.

[cathymoore_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Although the change in pace and language from my usual diet of modern fiction took a bit of getting used to, I really enjoyed this. Shelley's descriptions of Frankenstein's descent into miserable madness and also that of the wretched and lonely existence of his creation are incredibly emotive. From the beginning I was sucked into the tale of Frankenstein's journey from naive young student through to the raving and hysterical individual he is towards the end of the book. When the story-telling his handed over to the monster itself, is when it becomes truly heart-breaking. The idea of an indivdual rejected by society purely because of his appearance has, I think great relevance still today. This is a true cautionary tale - perhaps we should all be careful what we wish for, and mindful of our selfish desires.

[bruneau_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Thanks to a string of Hollywood’s idiotic executives focused on cheap thrills, decades of bonehead movies have used Frankenstein in their title, but have kept nothing of the original story. As a result, readers that grab this title seeking a horror story (gory or not) stand to be disappointed. Mary Shelley’s story, which must be read in full appreciation of the style and sensibilities of the 19th century, is actually the sad story of a creature rejected by its creator. Love and love denied, revenge and forgiveness, rejection and acceptance, right and wrong – and how human judgment is tainted by appearances. In a century where image is all and beauty is mistaken for intelligence, Frankenstein’s story is all too contemporary.

[robnw · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I found this worth reading, not great, but worth reading given that it's such a well known story. I was very much surprised to find how different the actual story is from the typical telling one hears of while growing up.

[paperdust · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

This is the dullest most miserable classic I've ever read. I was bored out of my wits but determined to finish it. 90% of the book is devoted to the wonders of the snowy alpines. Then when it comes to the juicy parts, eg1: Victor changes his mind about creating a female companion for the Monster and destroys her - Shelley dedicates one paragraph on this important turn of events! Eg2: Victor was acquitted on charges of causing the death of Clerval - I was really looking forward to a long drawn out court scene and arguments leading to Victor's acquittal but no - Shelley wraps it up in one paragraph. All suspense, dashed.There are many tragic but likeable characters in classical literature but Victor Frankinstein comes across as an extremely sad and hapless figure, who spends the whole novel crying, indulging in self-pity, reflecting morosely on his 'evil' creation, and his thoughts volley recklessly from horror to empathy for the creature. The tale about the comings and goings of the de Lacey family was melodramatic at best. Victor's failure to warn his family about the Monster's murderous streak and that their lives were in danger, was selfish and negligent. And as for the Monster - I can hardly sympathize with anyone who has murdered a child and innocent women and men, regardless of how badly he was treated because of his ugly face. It's like saying all criminals on Death Row today were born innocent, so let's be lenient on them too. You just have to take responsibilty for your own criminal actions.I tried to find a reason to like this book, sparknotes quote: "The pursuit of knowledge is at the heart of Frankenstein, as Victor attempts to surge beyond accepted human limits and access the secret of life." If this is really the heart of Frankenstein then I'm sorry but it totally bypassed me. Perhaps it's because Shelley spent only 2 pages (somewhere in Chapters 4 and 5) on describing the night the Monster attained the spark of life.I was more interested in Shelley's biography, written in the Introduction by herself and Karen Karbiener. Ideas for her story germinates from discussions with other literary and philosophical intellectuals, of which Shelley was often in the company of, (her parents were reknowned radical literary figures during the Romanticism era). Their discussions included Columbus, Darwin and Galvani, the latter developed "the idea that an 'electric fluid' ran through the veins and animated animals". Powerful images of human engineering gone disastrously wrong haunted Shelley one night and she decided to use what she had envisioned as the basis for her story. Shelley had a lot of burden to shoulder in her young life: there were numerous deaths in her family: her mother (died giving birth to her), her stepsister, husband, close friends, several of her own children did not survive infancy. "Invention, it must be humbly admitted, does not consist in creating out of void, but out of chaos". Shelley must've suffered tremendous grief - did she ever recover from bereavement? Did she "feel like a fiend....desperately craves the attention and affection of the remaining parent; and ultimately ..responsible for the death of the one who gave it life." Was Shelley "conscious of how much of herself and her experience she was using to create Frankenstein?"5* for the movie. Sorry, 1 for the novel. 10+ for women's lib.

[boundtogetherforgood · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I am on a quest to read classic literature. Frankenstein wasn't at the top of my list, or even near the top probably, but my best friend continued to encourage me to read it as it is one of her very favorite books.Frankenstein: Or, The Modern Prometheus (Penguin Classics)This classic book has inspired no fewer than fifty films. It definitely has a firm place in classic literature and in culture. I had no idea that Mary Shelley was the wife of Percy Bysshe Shelley. They married when she was age 18/19 years old, in 1816. It was upon a dare, by Lord Byron, to write a ghost story, that Mary Shelley wrote the novel. I like that she didnt just write a "ghost story" and developed a plot-line like no other before.The review I am in the midst of writing, here, is going to be a mixed bag. I must say that I was quite surprised that the story was written in such a way that it was not difficult for me to finish; not a drudgery as I read it. I somehow felt compelled to read it. I suppose I would say that her writing style is very agreeable. The story is written in the form of a person retelling the story he has been told, in letter form, to a far-off loved one. Writing a story in this manner required an additional back-story. Shelley gave this story the same attention to depth as she gave the main one. I like that; so many of today's authors just do not write in this manner.Overall, however, I do have issues with the story. The premise of the story is that Dr. Victor Frankenstein is on a quest to create life. I think that in order to indulge the story one must suspend reality and choose to believe that man can create life, even in the late 1700s. Done. I do, however take great issue with the fact that in the story Dr. Frankenstein has finally succeeded in creating life when, all of a sudden, he looks at the creature he has created and, aghast, decides he has created something too hideous to allow it to be. Does he destroy it though? Nope; that would end the story. He allows it to remain "alive" and falls asleep. This of course, comes back to haunt him. The monster leaves, unhindered.Frankenstein learns language and the ability to read through watching a small family without their knowledge. I enjoyed this part of the story. He views them with great longing. His only wish is for communion. Human communtion? Why, he isn't human. But at the very least, human communion would provide him with some form of relationship, his deepest desire. Even his own creator chose not to commune with him. One of the characters from this portion of the book is blind and that gives the "monster" an opprotunity to speak with him, hoping that he can gain favor with him and then with the rest of his family. This character quickly recognizes the "monster's" true circumstances and it is summed up well in his words here:"Heaven forbid! Even if you were really criminal, for that can only drive you to desperation, and not instigate you to virtue." Pg 91The next part of the story with which I take issue is that Frankenstein sets off on a long trek and somehow ends up in Geneva and on the property of the Frankensteins without any stated assistance in finding it. That's a bit neat, isn't it? Pretty unbelieavable; there again, it allows for the progression of the story.When the "monster" finally has an opportunity to speak with Frankenstein he says this:"God, in pity, made man beautiful and alluring, after his own image' but my form is a filthy type of yours, more horrid even from the very resemblance. Satan had his companions, fellow devils, to admire and encourage him, but I am slitary and abhorred." Pg 88He pleads with Frankenstein to create a female for him, one as equally hideous as he, as a mate with whom he can share love and life. He wants only to be accepted and have a person whom he can accept. Love...isn't that the desire of all people? And wasn't he created in the image of humanity? He offers that they will go live in the farthest reaches of the north where they will bother and be bothered by no one."It is true, we shall be monsters, cut off from all the world; but on that account we shall be more attached to one another." Ppg 98"Let me see that I excite the of some existing thing; do not deny me my request!" Pg 99Frankenstein's monster is so adamant of his need for a mate that he threatens to take vengeance upon Frankenstein if he does not concede to his request/demand. At once Frankenstein agrees that he will create a mate for him; the story progresses a bit, and, voila, Frankenstein rethinks his impulsive decision and determines he will not create another being. Queue the scary music. The monster vowed vengeance if a mate is not created for him; he followed him from Ingolstadt to Geneva; can engeance not be imagined by Frankenstein at this point?Vengeance...it arrives. There is death, and more death. Eventually, Frankenstein ends up chasing the monster to far reaches of the north. Did I say "vengeance". It doesn't take a lot to figure out what happens next does it?It's easy for me to pick away at the threads of a story. I am not a writer, am I? And so, I feel it would be unfair for me to do so without also finding praise where it is worthy. As I said, the story was compellingly written. I did not avoid or put off reading it once I began. I am glad I read it. And the premise...the creation of life by man. What a premise! It is one that only has greater implications today; perhaps moreso than Shelley could have ever even imagined. She wrote this stunningly well for it to have been written in the early 1800s. What if man could create life? Just because one can do something it does not mean it is something that should be done. Truly, I only believe that God can create life, eternal life, life with a soul. Science has been used by man, to do many things that have direct connections to life. Transplants are just one of those things; there is also research in the lab, on the cellular level. Scary stuff. Yes, the result of some of these things can be great good; it can also be great devastation, as this novel, in great foresight, warns.My husband and I had an interesting conversation with regard to all of this. Frankenstein initially was only sorry he created the "monster" because of its hideousness. Really? Isn't that fantastic?! He was sorry he created something so ugly! That begs the question that my husband raised: "If you could create aesthetically pleasing, beautiful life, would it then be okay to do so?" I hardly think so. And that is wherein lies much of the inherent beauty of this novel; it causes great thought.Some of my favorite lines from the book are:"A human being in perfection ought always to preserve a calm and peaceful mind and never to allow passion or a tranistory desire to disturb his tranquillity. I do not think that the pursuit of knowledge is an exception to this rule. If the study to which you apply yourself has a tendency to weaken your affections and to destroy your taste for those simple pleasures in which no alloy can possibly mix, then that study is certainly unlawful, that is to say, not befitting the human mind. If this rule were always observed; if no man allowed any pursuit whatsoever to interfere with the tranquillity of his domestic affections, Greece had not be enslaed, Caesar would have spared his country, America would have been discovered more gradually, and the empires of Mexico and Peru had not been destroyed." Pg 32"Heavy misfortunes have befallen us, but let us only cling closer to what remains and transfer our love for those whom we have lost to those who yet live." Pg 133It's only been days since I finished reading the novel. While it was still very fresh in my mind I wished to watch a well acclaimed movie version of it. I watched 1994's release "Mary Shelley's Frankenstein" starring: Robert DeNiro, Kenneth Branagh, Tom Hulce, Helena Bonham Carter. A bit of artistic license was taken with the story but not so much that the essence of the story was changed. In fact, I feel that it played out quite well. I was afriad it would be way too gory for me. It had its moments but I think it was handled well given the subject and necessity of including a certain amount of gore. The cultural significance of Frankenstein does not end with the questions it brings up. Immediately after watching the film our children and I were turned on an episode of The Dick Van Dyke Show and who was mentioned? Frankenstein.

[gma2lana · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I finished it, wow, that was a goal for me. I almost quit in the beginning of the book, but stuck it out. It was very slow for me in the beginning, but then picked up. I felt sorry for the monster. It's unfair someone has the capability to create life and then walk away because of the horrible sight before him. Not at all like I thought it would be as I was expecting more of the movies aspecty, I know, lame thinking, but I can say that I have read this classic.

[es135_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is one of the original monster stories. What works so well for this novel is the human side to the monster. Shelley makes the readers sympathize with the monster which is no small feat. This is one novel everyone should read in their lifetime.

[mausergem_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Victor Frankenstein is a precocious kid. In his library he comes across many Greek authors and their works which in the 18th century is obsolete. With these ideas in his mind when he goes to university, he proceeds to create a living thing in the image of man. When this creature comes to life Victor is frightened by its ugliness and abandons it. The story proceed henceforward depicting the struggle between the creature and it's creator and ends in their demise.The beauty of the book is that we come to understand and sympathize with both of them. The antihero is born!

[stefany_6 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Written in the early 19th century, Frankenstein is a novel that is fairly easy to read and find entertainment value in even by today's standards. The rich language and Shelley's authorial style create an environment that allows the reader to totally submerse themselves into Victor's world. The story itself is presented as a story within a story within a story (an sometimes even a level or two deeper than that) as a ship captain named Walton writes letters to his sister in England about his voyage across the top of the world and the strange tale of the man (Victor Frankenstein) that he encounters there. It is Victor's story that occupies most of the novel, and though most modern readers are aware of the Hollywood version of the famous Frankenstein monster, those unfamiliar with the actual novel version are in for a great surprise in the way that the creature is depicted in the novel. Hollywood has taken so many liberties with this tale and the depictions of the characters that reading the original is almost like opening one's mind to entirely new material. Shelley presents us with an incredibly thought provoking and fleshed out tale requiring the reader to put some serious thought into the morality of intense scientific research in the area of the creation of life.With this novel, Shelley opened the door to the later development of the Science Fiction genre. In a move that is almost pure genius, Shelley avoids the need for the reader to have to suspend belief in the scientific method used to create another living being from dead tissue by allowing Victor to keep his methods undisclosed for fear that another scientist will follow his direction and make the same mistakes that he did in creating his monster.All in all a very good novel!

[mmillet_7 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I have been trying to read this book for months, but that doesn't mean that I didn't enjoy it. It's a great scary story with plenty of misery and death to satisfy the best scary story lovers. Shelly's writing is incredible, some of her passages really stuck with me and I am amazed at how young she was when she wrote it. Really enjoyed it, but don't think I'll pick it up again anytime soon.

[composertp_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Frankenstein is a well-worded exploration of human nature. Shelley delivers a thought-provoking look at the deep sea of human emotions, as well as morality and character.The first-person perspective pulls you closely into the minds of the various narrators, immersing you in their experiences.Being written in the early 1800s, I would have expected it to be somewhat slow or unfamiliar in its language, but it actually sped along quite rapidly. Rarely did I have to stop and go back to make sense of anything. Shelley uses just the right wording for each idea. (It helped that I was reading it on a Kindle, and could instantly get definitions on unfamiliar words. But, once I knew the meanings of those words, I realized how well-chosen they were.)The story contains elements of horror and offers some pleasant thrills, but never becomes disturbing. Shelley writes implicitly rather than explicitly, which I found very satisfying in contrast to the modern popularity of gritty, raw story-telling.Fans of the gothic will also appreciate this book with its dark, cold, and angst-heavy atmosphere. It also classifies as science fiction on account of the speculative proposal it offers.It was a difficult book to put down. The momentum is continuous, and every sentence seems carefully crafted to be important. I wanted to make sure I didn't miss anything. I'm astonished that Shelley managed to write it at the age of 21. Brilliant!Recommended audience: Adults over 30. The older the better, because your life experience will affect your reflections on the content, making it richer.

[ombwarrior47 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

I really did not like this book.I thought that it was just way too depressing and blown out of proportion and I hated the style of writing, with the story within a story within a story deal. I just didn't think it was all that great. I think that there were other ways that that could've been done. Mary Shelley must not have had a happy life to write a story like this.

[zsms_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent book. Not at all like the common image of frankenstein's monster. Getting literary, frankenstein and the monster represent the transition into modernity fabulously. The writing is beautiful.