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Frankenstein

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232 pages, Paperback

Published March 15, 2022

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About the author

Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley

2,464 books9,149 followers
Mary Shelley (née Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin, often known as Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley) was an English novelist, short story writer, dramatist, essayist, biographer, travel writer, and editor of the works of her husband, Romantic poet and philosopher Percy Bysshe Shelley. She was the daughter of the political philosopher William Godwin and the writer, philosopher, and feminist Mary Wollstonecraft.

Mary Shelley was taken seriously as a writer in her own lifetime, though reviewers often missed the political edge to her novels. After her death, however, she was chiefly remembered only as the wife of Percy Bysshe Shelley and as the author of Frankenstein. It was not until 1989, when Emily Sunstein published her prizewinning biography Mary Shelley: Romance and Reality, that a full-length scholarly biography analyzing all of Shelley's letters, journals, and works within their historical context was published.

The well-meaning attempts of Mary Shelley's son and daughter-in-law to "Victorianise" her memory through the censoring of letters and biographical material contributed to a perception of Mary Shelley as a more conventional, less reformist figure than her works suggest. Her own timid omissions from Percy Shelley's works and her quiet avoidance of public controversy in the later years of her life added to this impression.

The eclipse of Mary Shelley's reputation as a novelist and biographer meant that, until the last thirty years, most of her works remained out of print, obstructing a larger view of her achievement. She was seen as a one-novel author, if that. In recent decades, however, the republication of almost all her writings has stimulated a new recognition of its value. Her voracious reading habits and intensive study, revealed in her journals and letters and reflected in her works, is now better appreciated. Shelley's recognition of herself as an author has also been recognized; after Percy's death, she wrote about her authorial ambitions: "I think that I can maintain myself, and there is something inspiriting in the idea". Scholars now consider Mary Shelley to be a major Romantic figure, significant for her literary achievement and her political voice as a woman and a liberal.

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5 stars
340 (49%)
4 stars
248 (35%)
3 stars
83 (11%)
2 stars
19 (2%)
1 star
3 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews
Profile Image for Faye &#x1fac0;.
791 reviews46 followers
November 8, 2025
Mary Shelley you are just everything to me….. what an impeccable re-reading experience with such a lovely edition <3

I stand by the 1818 text is the utmost best version of this novel to exist & it’s agonizingly devastating to me that the overwhelming majority of Frankenstein readers only read the revised text. I did love my reading experience though & personally still loved this version
Profile Image for aneesa✩.
59 reviews45 followers
November 27, 2025
i don’t even know what to say.
i wish i could have a conversation with mary shelley. to know what her brain was thinking when she wrote this would be immensely cool.
this book is such a classic, everyone should read it once in their lives.
Profile Image for brittany:).
298 reviews125 followers
Want to Read
November 19, 2025
I want to hurry and try and get this done today, so I can watch the new movie!!🧌
Profile Image for Mathilde.
137 reviews
November 17, 2025
Frankenstein was not what I expected, as it was much more poetic. The language surprised me with how emotional and thoughtful it was. I kept wondering who the real monster was. Maybe the creature is frightening, but Frankenstein himself feels like the true villain because of his choices and his refusal to take responsibility. A powerful and memorable read.
Profile Image for Sandra L.G.
22 reviews16 followers
May 25, 2026
Al final, Frankenstein no era terror, era un ensayo filosófico convertido en una novela bellísima. Reflexiona sobre si el ser humano es bueno por naturaleza, sobre el peligro de jugar a ser dios y te hace pensar quién es realmente el monstruo de la historia.
”Somos criaturas imperfectas, a medio hacer; si alguien más sabio, mejor y más querido que nosotros —como debería ser un amigo— no presta su ayuda para perfeccionar nuestras débiles y defectuosas naturalezas…”


Cómo se puede hacer un análisis tan profundo de la naturaleza humana y, a la vez, contar una historia sobre el amor —o sobre la necesidad de ser amado— tan poética y fácil de leer.

Y pensar que Mary Shelley empezó a escribirla con 18 años (vaya reina). También es increíble ver hasta qué punto la obra se ha desvirtuado y convertido en un cliché que, en mi caso, no he terminado de romper hasta leer la novela original.

Frankenstein se ha ganado un hueco entre mis favoritos (y he disfrutado muchísimo leyéndolo con las ilustraciones de MinaLima).
Profile Image for Anne.
Author 15 books74 followers
February 16, 2026
I wanted a special collector’s edition of Frankenstein to display, and I couldn’t be more thrilled with this. It’s gorgeous in every way, turning the story into vivid illustrations and delightful interactive art. The popups are really fun and intricate. The cover, the cardstock quality, the lettering, and the designs all complement this classic story in a way that pays reverent tribute. It’s a fun way to reread a beloved text.
Profile Image for Laura.
142 reviews3 followers
November 26, 2025
(rereading dopo ANNI)
Anyway, che la trasposizione di del Toro (no shade al regista, che apprezzo cmq) non abbia apportato nessuna aggiunta e anzi, deprivi il classico di alcuni suoi aspetti fondamentali, qua sopra, lo posso dire o qualcuno si offende? No perchè se devo leggere l'ennesimo tweet di qualcuno che esplica di quanto poco la Creatura sia mai stata capita nel corso della sua breve vita "cinematografica", forse mi esplode la vena.

Talmente capita e compresa che hanno tolto il Frankenstein pischello che pecca di hybris e lo hanno dovuto sostituire a un più didascalico disney villain. Già, già. Riaprire le scuole!!
Profile Image for Sofia Freitas.
157 reviews4 followers
April 15, 2026
Mary Shelley, what a genius 🫶🏻

Third time reading Frankenstein, and it still holds its place as one of my all-time favorites. There’s something really comforting to me about returning to this story.

This particular edition by MinaLima is absolutely stunning and it really makes the reading experience feel more immersive and special.
Profile Image for Elle.
177 reviews
November 25, 2025
3.75⭐️

The writing was much more poetically written than I thought it would be

When focusing on the science I think the book was really good and engaging however The book doesn’t focus on the creation of the monster as much as I think it should have. It focuses more on the actions of the monster, which was interesting however the book really shone when it focused on the science/ more macabre elements.

the interactions between people no matter the relationship felt odd and very unrealistic that may be due to the time period it was written tho

So we all agree that victor was in love with Henry right

The choice to tell the story through victors recall works really well to tell the story
Profile Image for jassehassenöt.
16 reviews
February 8, 2026
Typ inte så bra som folk sa att den skulle va?? Shelley verkar ha rätt långa beskrivningar som jag kan tycka är lite för långa, tappade fokus rätt snabbt så det va lite svårt att hänga med. Det påverkade liksom min overall experience av boken. Tyckte dock väldigt mycket om konceptet, undrar hur man kommer på nåt sånt. Inte min typ av bok bara men en klassiker som alla borde ha läst ändå
Profile Image for Dunja Brala.
684 reviews69 followers
November 27, 2025
Es gibt so Werke da können alle irgendwie mitreden. Nur ich hab das Gefühl, dass ich unbedingt mal ran muss, weil ich weder das Buch gelesen, noch den Film gesehen habe. Eins davon ist Frankenstein.

Natürlich wusste ich, dass es hier einen Wissenschaftler gibt, der aus toten Körperteilen eine Kreatur erschaffen hat, die sich nachher gegen ihn wendet. Aber wie das im Einzelnen zusammen hängt, lag außerhalb meiner intellektuellen Reichweite.

Dass das Monster in Ingolstadt zum Leben erweckt wurde, war für mich eine der ersten Überraschungen. Auch, dass es aus dem Gefühl der Einsamkeit heraus Frankensteins komplette Familie direkt oder indirekt vernichtet hat, wusste ich nicht. Und das beinah sogar eine Frau „Monster“ entstanden wär, war mir ebenfalls neu. Am interessantesten fand ich aber doch, dass es Anfang des 18. Jahrhunderts spielt, so früh hatte ich das nicht angesiedelt.

Sprachlich ist der Roman, der Horror und philosophische Gesellschaftskritik vereint, aus unterschiedlichen Perspektiven geschrieben. Er ist als Rahmen- und Binnenerzählung aufgebaut. Es kommen sowohl Viktor Frankenstein als auch das Monster zu Wort. Robert Walton ist der eigentliche Erzähler, da er die Briefe schreibt, in denen Victor Frankensteins Geschichte und die des Monsters wiedergegeben wird.

Aus der Sicht der Epoche, in der Frankenstein 1818 erschien wurde das Buch als hochaktuelles, provokantes Werk wahrgenommen, das mitten in die großen Debatten traf.
Wissenschaftlicher Fortschritt wurde nicht nur als Bereicherung, sondern auch als Gefahr wahrgenommen. Zu Shelleys Zeit boomten neue naturwissenschaftliche Erkenntnisse, die oft auf Experimenten mit Elektrizität oder Möglichkeiten von Wiederbelebung basierten. Vieles war geprägt vom Optimismus der Aufklärung, alles schien auf einmal erklär- und kontrollierbar. Frankenstein wurde daher als Warnung vor grenzenlosem Fortschrittsglauben gelesen. Und Gott soll niemand spielen.
Für mich hatte die Lektüre durchaus gruselige Momente. Die wunderschöne Ausgabe des Coppenrath Verlags unter der Federführung von Minalima hat das Lesen zu einer Augenweide gemacht. Schöner kann für mich ein Klassiker nicht sein und im Endeeffekt hat dieses so künstlerisch gestaltete Werk mich dazu verführt, einen weiteren Teil meiner Klassiker Challenge zu lesen, den ich euch sehr gerne empfehle.
1,204 reviews19 followers
January 20, 2026
An I the only one that didn't enjoy this book?

I get that it's a classic and i.get that Mary Shelley was a genius writing this when she was only eighteen and I also get that the concept is pure genius. But.................... Can we not agree that the language is quite outdated with all the "thee's and thou"s then there's the dramatic dialogue e.g. At the end Frankenstein is berating the ship's crew because they want to turn back if they manage to get the ship out of the ice, after they've been Stuck for months and theres been multiple deaths. Does Frankenstein emphasise with these men for wanting a chance of surviving..... No he rounds on them as cowards for attempting to abandon their duties. Now it's selfish of Frankenstein for at least two reasons one he does not want to turn back, he cannot for he knows what follows him, two he's dying and everyone knows it so to or stay makes no matter to him. So what should take a few words goes on and on and surprise surprise he ends up.shaming the men in staying. Now that's just one segment and I have to say the book is full of them but for me the question that's never answered by Frankenstein in his long tale is that while we know he was making his monster from parts why did he have to make him so horrific surely at some point he.just have stopped to think of what his "creation" would look like animated and what he expected the creatures "life" to be like?
Profile Image for Isaac Juan.
36 reviews2 followers
April 5, 2026
Reconozco que, más allá de unas pocas referencias provenientes de la cultura popular, no conocía esta obra maestra. Tenía entendido que había un monstruo, creación de Víctor Frankenstein, y literalmente, nada más.

O sea, guau.

Mary Shelley inventó la ciencia ficción con esta maravilla, pero de ciencia ficción diria que no hay más que ese detalle: que hay un monstruo, creación de un humano.
Todo el resto es jodidamente humano: el temor, el delirio, la ira, la angustia, la resignación, los remordimientos, la ambición, las expectativas de felicidad, la necesidad de amor...

Y la prosa de Shelley...😍
Sin llegar a ser rimbombante ni lo suficientemente difícil de seguir —como la de otros—, es riquísima emocional y descriptivamente. ¡Qué belleza!

La naturaleza, la geografía y sus paisajes son casi un personaje principal más. Es impresionante cómo los pinta con sus palabras.

A través de las mentes de sus personajes, Mary Shelley nos propone unos valores altos y profundos —a la vez que muy naturales, por lo que plantea—, obstaculizados, claro, por las ambiciones y las decisiones propias y ajenas.

Lectura obligatoria. Punto final.
Profile Image for minna.
1 review
December 28, 2025
4.25 ⭐️

The writing was very poetic, which I liked, though it also felt a bit long-winded at times. The characters were hard to like, Victor especially annoyed the F out of me, but I think that’s part of the point of the book. Overall, I found the social critique I took from it very interesting, and I thought the feminist undertones and social commentary felt surprisingly modern.

The illustrations by MinaLima were a nice touch and supported the dark and eerie atmosphere of the book.

All in all, not the most gripping read for me, but a thought-provoking one that sticks with you. Definitely a classic I’m glad I read.
Profile Image for Lizzy C.
8 reviews
January 22, 2026
This book is so much better than any of the movies based on it. It makes you feel sorry for both Victor and his monster, while also completely understanding why one hates the other. I wish the movies would’ve showed more of his loving relationship with his family to really show how much their deaths all scarred him.

I don’t like how the new movie made it seem like he had a hard childhood and a strict dad. In the book he even says he had a great childhood that he couldn’t complain about, and his dad was constantly supportive throughout the book.

His relationship with Elizabeth was definitely weird though.

Next: The Copper Beech (Maeve Binchy)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Jesse Summers.
Author 1 book6 followers
Read
January 9, 2026
Two suggested edits:

1. Fight Club twist: the monster is literally Frankenstein. Rewrite the last couple of pages. Explains why the monster is always coincidentally near Frankenstein and why Frankenstein spends half the book insane and sometimes forgets entire months of his life.

2. The monster is real and leaves the boat to head further north across the ice as he says, where he then uses Frankenstein’s life-creation technology to build a race of elves that he uses to repay his debt for the murders, by giving children around the world presents once a year.
Profile Image for Aurelie Marion.
30 reviews
January 26, 2026
Il semblerait que nous connaissions tous vaguement l’histoire de Frankenstein comme ce classique a tellement été vu et revu dans la culture populaire. Mais je me rends compte que connaissais en réalité peu de choses de l’histoire. Et j’ai donc découvert cette œuvre de Marie Shelley qui marque le début du roman fantastique. Ce roman m’a surprise par sa richesse : ce n’est pas simplement un récit de monstre, c’est une œuvre profondément humaine, tragique, philosophique.
Profile Image for Kajsa Johansson.
57 reviews1 follower
March 15, 2026
Här kommer en lista med mina (kanske inte så unika) åsikter om boken:

• Frankenstein är odräglig hela boken.
• Den bästa delen i boken är när vi får ta del av monstrets historia.
• Slutet på boken var väldigt utdraget, vilket skapar rätt känsla men jag var också ganska uttråkad.
• Boken får mig att tänka mycket kring ont och gott samt om varje enskild människas ansvar.
• Jag ger denna speciella utgåva en hel extra stjärna för alla otroliga bilder och flertalet tre-dimesionella dekorationer(i brist på bättre ord).
Profile Image for The bookish life .
334 reviews
February 10, 2026
La primer parte del libro la verdad no me gustó esperaba más descripción de cómo creo al “monstruo”

Pero pasando esa parte me gustó mucho , el cómo el monstruo describe como va conociendo todo por primera vez .

Tengo sentimientos encontrados hacia estos dos personajes .

La vdd lo disfruté mucho .
Profile Image for OliveTheOlive.
40 reviews
July 19, 2026
Maybe the true ghost story was our untempered foolishness, unfettered vengeance, and unfulfilled empathy we were haunted by along the way. (how’s that for an alliterative triad, fellow presbyterians)

It probably deserves 5 stars but it made me sad and not in a fun way. >:(

Probably maybe everyone should read this at least once in their lives.
Profile Image for Angelique.
75 reviews
December 7, 2025
Onwijs goed verhaal, maar zo moeilijk om mijn concentratie erbij te houden door het taalgebruik. Je merkt dat dit in 1818 geschreven. 
Profile Image for Rebecca Bandiera.
18 reviews
December 25, 2025
Una storia senza tempo, un viaggio tumultuoso pervaso dalla vendetta, una Creatura orrenda nell'aspetto e corrosa dall'odio, sola al mondo, un finale tragico e stupendo. ❤️
Profile Image for Violet.
25 reviews
January 20, 2026
La creatura, el monstruo, Adán, es la muestra irrefutable de como el dolor, el aislamiento y el rechazo condiciona en los sentimientos y las decisiones.
Profile Image for Mari Edwards.
611 reviews2 followers
November 5, 2025
This is a classic and timeless story for a reason, the birth of sci fi and the Minalima version with gorgeous illustrations and interactive elements is inspired.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews