The Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge discussion

Our discussion for Frankenstein will begin on October 1 and run through the end of the month (31st)). I'm hoping we'll get a lot of participation in our discussion this month as this was a highly requested book.

Patri is going to be our group leader for this book, and as we wait for the discussion to begin feel free to share your thoughts, hopes, expectations, etc. for this book. Here's a few points to get us started:

Have you previously read Frankenstein?
Did you see the movie?
Did you like the book or movie better?
If you only saw the movie, what did you think and what do you think will be different in the book?
If you haven't seen the movie but read the book- were you interested in watching the movie? How do you think it will compare?

I’ve never read it or seen the movie. I really don’t know anything about the storyline, all I know is there is a scientist and a monster hahaha

I'd never read this, but I've seen several movie versions (my favorite is Young Frankenstein). It was a surprising read for me in that there is so much more to the story. I really enjoyed it and didn't want to put it down! Now I want to read more of her work.

Hey guys! I'm patri the group leader this month! I'm very excited to read, what about you guys? It's the perfect book for Halloween!

Frankenstein is one of my favorite classics! I first read it in school and absolutely loved it! I've seen several adaptations of it and I always end up enjoying them. I guess I just love the story and will take it in any form. I'm really excited to read it again during Halloween time.

Hey everyone! Has anyone started with the book? If yes, how far have you read?
And if you haven't what are you waiting for?!
How do you feel about the writing? At the time they used to talk so beautifully.
And how do you feel about the main character? Victor?

I'm half way done with it. I might have to go back and reread some parts cause I think I missed something lol I think the writing style is really different, but I'm now used to it cause I've been reading a lot of classics.
What's the best version if this movie?

Just order Frankenstein ! Ready for my first participation to this challenge ;)
Kisses from France xx

I've never read or seen the movie. I'm actually excited about starting this book.

Tonight, the 1931 Frankenstein movie and the sequel, Bride of Frankenstein, are on TCM in the US starting at 7 pm central time.

So excited about this one. I actually wanted to read it anyway so this fits perfectly....

I have started reading, but I haven't started the actual book yet. In my edition there's an introduction and some letters first. But reading the short author's bio made me want to read a real biography of Mary Shelley - her life must have been very unusual and interesting.

So far I have watched "I Frankenstein", but I don't know how true it's to the book. Not very I think.

Anyway, I think Frankenstein is one of those books everyone "knows", whithout actually having read them. Like the three musketeers.

I finally got my copy of Frankenstein today from the library. I'm excited to read this book and cross another book off my lists.

I am excited to read Frankenstein this month. I am not really sure if I really know the story and hope I will "understand" it properly. I'm going to read it in english and hope I will be aware of the different writing style and beautiful language you mentioned.

Okay, so by now I realised the letters I mentioned before are part of the book :D

Apart from that: I hate Frankenstein!!! (Not the book - the character.) I have just finished Chapter 5 and he is (view spoiler)[ just so immature, conceited, rash, stupid, mean, and I don't know what else. I mean first he's like: "I want to find out how to bestow animation upon lifeless matter - I found out how to do it, so let's do it! - I did it! - Let's just leave this newly "made" creature here, all alone, probably very confused and frightened, and pretend nothing ever happened - yeah, that sounds good." You know? That's just so cruel! Instead of explaining to his creation how he came to life, maybe offering him something to eat or to drink, some clothes and a place to sleep. What is the "monster" (I'll call him that because I don't know if he ever gets a name, or what else to call him) supposed to do? He has no idea what he is supposed to do, where to go, how to live etc. Argh! And if Frankenstein thinks that "No mortal could support the horror of that countenance.", he should have thought of that sooner! (hide spoiler)]

What do you think?

I didn't hate Frankenstein, I hated the monster 🤷🏽‍♀️ lol

Asiyah wrote: "I didn't hate Frankenstein, I hated the monster 🤷🏽‍♀️ lol"

Maybe my opinion will change when the monster has more appearances, but as of yet it hasn't done anything. How far along are you in the book?

I just can't get into this book :(

I finished this book last week... and I did NOT like it :( I wanted to like it so badly, but Dr. Frankenstein was just annoying and frustrating to me! He just seemed so careless and clueless during the entire story. The only part of the book I really enjoyed was the section from the monster's point of view.

Frankenstein is a first time read for me. So much better than the movie version because in the book there is the monster's point of view. It was intelligent and taught himself to read and language. He seemed so lonely and heartbroken to be cast aside by his creator. Good choice for October.

I read the book a few years ago, and saw the movie with DeNiro a few years before that. I actually don't remember the movie that well, so can't really compare. I just remember a scene where a blind man is nice to li'l ol' Frankenstein jr, and how this illustrated that it is wrong to judge by appearances. The blind man's family came home and panicked at the sight of said Monster.

Creating life and then abandonning it – serves him right that it came back to bite him. Most newly alive creatures are cute and vulnerable and appeal to instincts of some sort. Not so much if the newly alive person already has the body of an adult and no idea what's going on.

I call him Frankenstein junior because "the Monster" is dehumanizing, and I just can't think of him the way his very neglectful father does. But Victor is his father for all intents and purposes. So junior it is.

I finally finished this book yesterday, I absolutely loved it! I think it is now one of my favorites! (view spoiler)[ I personally couldn't stand Frankenstein, I thought it was cruel and selfish to create the "monster" and just leave him knowing nothing of the world and the world not knowing of him. I also rolled my eyes every time Victor tried to play the victim, when he was the one who did this! I felt so bad for the "monster", he just wanted to be loved and wanted, which is what his father/creator should have done. I do think Victor got it right in not creating another though, because who knows what her thoughts and behaviors would have been. I think that Victor, being the one that put the "monster" in this situation, should have left his family and spent his life with the "monster" and figure it out together on how to go through life and maybe he could have made people see that he could be good. (hide spoiler)]

I have some catching up to do on my reading😔 This is one I’m looking forward to, though.

Still plugging away at this one. I just can’t get into it and I’m finding it rather dull. I’m hoping it picks up.

I always have a hard time putting my thoughts into words. I loved this book. I remember loving the language. I loved the social justice aspect regarding the death penalty, or at least it felt that way to me. I loved the how some parts hard me seeing, as an author, she can inspire one can ponder god or lack thereof. Nature versus nurture or lack thereof as seemed to be a theme. I adored this book and hope I was able to put some of into words here.
I have not seen any Frankenstein movies.