Frankenstein in Around the World

Sep 02, 2008 Fee rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I can’t imagine there’s much left to say about Frankenstein that hasn’t already been said elsewhere, so I won’t go on too much.

When I first read Frankenstein as a teenager I thought the language was quite stilted, and though I appreciated the story at the heart of the book I found the text difficult to concentrate on. In contrast, on this read through, I was blown away by how beautifully written this book is and I wanted Shelley’s prose to go on forever. Such is the difference between adult and ...more

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Jun 12, 2009 Yrinsyde rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 1001-books-challenge, borrowed-from-a-friend

This reads like a travelogue and I wasn't surprised to find out that Mary Shelly was a travel writer by trade. I thought it had a lot of padding - it would have worked out better as a short story, which she intended it to be in the first place. A very moving story - everyone has experienced some sort of rejection in their lifetime. But what is not much mentioned about this novel is the Ancient Greek hubris - be careful of what you seek to know, sometimes it is better not to know and be ignorant. ...more

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Sep 01, 2011 Kathleen Valentine rated it really liked it

The book, written by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, the young wife of the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, is incredibly different from the movies made over a century later. The writing style is typically old-fashioned but tends to be a bit over-burdened at times which is why I give it 4-stars instead of 5, but the story is heart-breaking.

Young Victor Frankenstein is a son of privilege. He has a loving father, two charming brothers, and a beautiful cousin that the family hopes he will one day marry. Whi The book, written by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, the young wife of the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, is incredibly different from the movies made over a century later. The writing style is typically old-fashioned but tends to be a bit over-burdened at times which is why I give it 4-stars instead of 5, but the story is heart-breaking.

Young Victor Frankenstein is a son of privilege. He has a loving father, two charming brothers, and a beautiful cousin that the family hopes he will one day marry. While studying medicine, Victor becomes obsessed with the concept of creating life and he begins a series of experiments which result in his creation of a "monster" but the minute the monster comes to life Victor is horrified and repulsed by his creation and promptly rejects it. He casts his creation out in to the world with no preparation for life whatsoever and tries to distance himself as far as possible from what he has brought into being. This, of course, does not work.

Victor returns to his studies and to his life but, soon after he finishes his studies, he is called home because his younger brother has been murdered and the foster child his father raised, a lovely but fragile young woman, has been accused and is about to stand trial. Victor hurries home but to no avail. Justine is convicted of murdering the son of the family that raised her and is hanged. Victor, of course, knows she could not have done this and suspects it is the work of his own creation. He sets off into the snow-bound secrets of the Alps and there is met by his creation who tells him his tale.

His is an incredibly sad story. The monster, cast out into the world knows nothing -- he cannot speak or communicate, he does not know how to care for himself, he is utterly alone in the world with no skills at all. The only thing he knows is that he is much bigger and more powerful than other men and that his appearance terrifies them. He eventually finds himself in proximity to a family -- a blind old man and his two grandchildren who care for him. By living hidden but close to them and eavesdropping on their life, the monster learns to speak and also learns about the world. He is the most pitiful of beings, leading a lonely, hidden life. He tries to help the family he lives near by gathering firewood he leaves outside their door along with nuts and berries but he is completely alone. When ultimately he tries to contact the family he is met with hatred, fear and terror and runs away again.

The monster begs Victor to make him a companion. He cannot bear being alone in the world and promises that, if only Victor will create a partner for him, he will go as far away a possible and that they will never be seen again. Victor agrees and goes to an island in the Orkneys with the intention of creating an "Eve" for his "Adam" but is so repulsed by the process, even though he did it once before, that he gathers up his work and deposits it in a lake. The monster, who has followed him, observes this and begins a series of murders out of rage.

This is an incredibly sad story. Victor comes across as an obnoxious, spoiled, insensitive brat who is constantly falling into illness because of his own rash and imprudent behavior. And the monster is the saddest of creations -- alone with nothing in the world to support himself except his incredible strength. By the end of the story one cannot help but ask "who is the real monster here?" The answer is pretty apparent. ...more

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Oct 24, 2011 Allison rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: sci-fi, 2011

The concept is powerful and the writing beautiful, but the pace is tedious even for such a short book. For a more cogent and affecting rendition, see Danny Boyle's 'Frankenstein' put on by London’s National Theatre (http://www.sharmillfilms.com.au/?p=828). ...more

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