Frankenstein and Related Readings

by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley

The novel Frankenstein along with related short stories and reviews by other authors.

Frankenstein / Mary Shelley --
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (movie review) / Roger Ebert --
A Frankenstein monster ended up being a lamb (book review) / Roger Ebert --
A new life (short story) / Ramsey Campbell --
The Golem (short story) / Isaac Bashevis Singer --
That thou art mindful of Him (short story) / Isaac Asimov

Genres: Classics

227 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 1999

About the author

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.

Reviews

[madds · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book proves that men (or monsters) are not born evil but made evil.

Bro the creature deserved so much better than what he got. Reading his perspective and hearing how he learned empathy, human emotions, and the art of languages was beautiful. It hurt my heart every time he called himself a wretch, like he just wanted a friend.

This whole book was filled with self-deprecating moodiness and I was honestly here for it. I had to read this for school but I would definitely reread it. Mary Shelly is my goat for this.

[Dallin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly, this book kept me wanting to read it, I kept wanting to know what was going to happen. But in the end this is just a very sad book, it does not end well for anyone and there are some pretty gruesome depictions. Poor Frankenstein, Poor creature. But as usual with most older novels, it seemed to drag on and on, unless you are required to read, or you really really want to, I would recommend just reading a detailed summary.

[Cristi Julsrud · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly even better to read this with my AP Lit class. I love this book!

[Tove Fröjd · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was not what I was expecting, did I think it was going to be Victor digging up graves and sewing together the monster? Yes, yes I did. Like they depict in movies. The book was not that but it was good. Like that the book start at the end and we the read through a re telling from Victor to Robert was an interesting story telling way. I was not expecting to get the monsters pov at any point in the book but we did and it was interesting. And by the way the monster deserved better. Like I don’t know a name and he did deserve to get a friend which he did not. And he deserves compensation for getting abandoned by Victor. And by the way was I supposed to ship Victor with Elizabeth? His cousin? Yeah I will stick with him and Henry. But back to the monster, He. Deserved. Better. But I would re read this book.

[Realini Ionescu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley has an astounding for me 41st place on The Greatest Books of All Time, which means that I should be more careful in the future with this site, it may reflect importance, value and more, but it does put at the bottom magnum opera that I venerate – the other day I have found a masterpiece by my absolute favorite Magister Ludi Kingsley Amis somewhere at ten thousand or worse – and here we have this horror feature that I do not see much to enthuse about, right at the top…however, you find more than five thousand reviews of books from this list and others, along with notes on films from The New York Times’ Best 1,000 Movies Ever Made compilation and others on my blog and YouTube channel https://realinibarzoi.blogspot.com/20... if you care to visit
Frankenstein vs Orange Woland



7 out of 10

Spoiler alert: whatever I had to say about Frankenstein is already up there, in the headline, not much, if anything, seeing that I do not find the characters attractive, it seems that they have warmed the same old soup too many times already, the latest is the much-vaunted Guillermo del Toro adaptation, which I tried to see, but then abandoned

Another ‘review’ of mine is here https://realinibarzoi.blogspot.com/20... although I do not see how I could have had kinder words to say about this back then, it could be, but then what does it matter, as I say at the start of the old note, more than million had a view on Goodreads
Let us take a little step back here, and say that I am not that dumb (well, who knows, but in this matter, I mean) and I can understand that Frankenstein is not just about this monster, who comes and haunts this ship at the beginning, throwing men around, sad, angry really that his creator has made him and he is so unfortunate

It does have a complexity, subtlety – here we can see an issue, if I am not sophisticated enough, then how can I be expected to delve into these Fifty Shades of Grey https://realinibarzoi.blogspot.com/20... - but it is not for me
We could detect themes that are so important today, and in general such as the Demiurge, man who creates monsters, indeed, who is the vile creature, what about the suffering of the poor fellow, created by this doctor, and sent loose into the world, we could think of the destruction that is in the nature of humans

It is just that to follow all that nonsense really, if you ask me, about how this doctor Victor Frnakenstein packs this energy into corpses – again, yes, we have the unknown unknowns, to quote that defense secretary, what a bright mind when compared with this idiot Hegseth, and the whole pack of the Orange Woland team, but then still, to claim that he gets those body parts, glues them together and voila, the creature is absurd, even when considering the allegories involved – the details of the cadavers and all that…
I will now get to my leit motif and make the association with…Orange Woland, leader of the (former) free world, and the Ultimate Monster in my book, the parallel with Frankenstein is this: the electorate aka the MAGA part has played the role of Victor Frankenstein and what they have put together, what with their foolishness is…

This abominable monster is the real thing: the poor thing made up by Mary Shelley is adorable when placed next to this Orange Vader, who is responsible for a multitude of deaths, what with cutting AID, blowing up those boats near Venezuela

Now for my standard closing of the note with a question, and invitation – I am on Goodreads as Realini Ionescu, at least for the moment, if I keep on expressing my views on Orange Woland aka TACO, it may be a short-lived presence
Also, maybe you have a good idea on how we could make more than a million dollars with this https://realinibarzoi.blogspot.com/20... – as it is, this is a unique technique, which we could promote, sell, open the Oscars show with or something and then make lots of money together, if you have the how, I have the product, I just do not know how to get the benefits from it, other than the exercise per se

There is also the small matter of working for AT&T – this huge company asked me to be its Representative for Romania and Bulgaria, on the Calling Card side, which meant sailing into the Black Sea wo meet the US Navy ships, travelling to Sofia, a lot of activity, using my mother’s two bedrooms flat as office and warehouse, all for the grand total of $250, raised after a lot of persuasion to the staggering $400…with retirement ahead, there are no benefits, nothing…it is a longer story, but if you can help get the mastodont to pay some dues, or have an idea how it can happen, let me know

As for my role in the Revolution that killed Ceausescu, a smaller Mao, there it is http://realini.blogspot.com/2022/03/r...

Some favorite quotes from To The Hermitage and other works

‘Fiction is infinitely preferable to real life...As long as you avoid the books of Kafka or Beckett, the everlasting plot of fiction has fewer futile experiences than the careless plot of reality...Fiction's people are fuller, deeper, cleverer, more moving than those in real life…Its actions are more intricate, illuminating, noble, profound…There are many more dramas, climaxes, romantic fulfillment, twists, turns, gratified resolutions…Unlike reality, all of this you can experience without leaving the house or even getting out of bed…What's more, books are a form of intelligent human greatness, as stories are a higher order of sense…As random life is to destiny, so stories are to great authors, who provided us with some of the highest pleasures and the most wonderful mystifications we can find…Few stories are greater than Anna Karenina, that wise epic by an often foolish author…’

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review is for Frankenstein only. I read a different publication version. Last year I read a simplified version by Pearson for English language acquisition, but for some reason Goodreads keeps confusing it with the original as another version. It won't allow me to amend and attach my review to the correct version. Therefore, I'm including it here.

I actually read the original this time. Last year I started it for two book clubs, didn't care much for it, read a biography of the author and then two or three children's chapter book versions because my son liked them. I had had enough Frankenstein. A lot to discuss, but not a very happy story.

Imagine my dismay when Frankenstein was chosen again this year, in a different book club. (How did all three pick the same book over two years???) I determined that I would actually read the original and not cheat. Because I wasn't looking forward to it, I thought, I'll just read a page a day and I'll be done by October. I ended up reading more than a page a day, obviously, and I ended up enjoying it much more than I thought I would. I have pages of notes and quotes (too many to include here). I loved examining Frankenstein's motive behind creating his monster. I found it intellectually stimulating to examine the relationship between creator and creation, analogous also to society and its relationship to the classes of people it creates. I thought deeply about society's treatment of the outcast, a theme recurrent in many many great books of literature. I also examined the role of unhealthy obsession in people's lives (Frankenstein's for creating and then for revenge, Walton's, the creature's, etc.).

I guess I don't dislike Frankenstein as much anymore. It's still not a happy story.

[Jason D · Rating 5 out of 5]

In all my life, hearing different versions of the Frankenstein story, and seeing different movie adaptations, I have to admit this is the first time I have ever read the original work by Mary Shelley. It was much different than how Hollywood promoted Frankenstein's monster over the years. For the time it was written in (1816), this would have been very gritty and pushing the envelope. It's a complex combination of horror, tragedy, and reflection.

For it's time, I thought it was very innovative how you got the story from Victor's point of view as well as the monster's. In the end, I felt bad for Victor and the monster. They both were miserable and had regrets. It also can remind us how we need to be careful about trying to play God. Doing so can end up compounding misery and problems for everyone. We shouldn't just ask if "we could", we should also ask if "we should". Our society is faced with the same choice in many matters these days.

I find it very interesting that Mary Shelley's monster was articulate, verbose, and extremely intelligent, as well as super powerful, like a super villain. Contrasted with the Hollywood portrayal of a dumb oaf that is strong but lacks intelligence.

This is a classic that everyone should read. I just wish that I heard read it sooner in my lifetime.

[Crystal Gao · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very elegantly written. Such powerful language and emotion. Despite the atrocious crimes the monster committed I still feel sympathy for him. The tragedy of man trying to play God. As for Frankenstein, I give the utmost respect and sympathy, his curiosity and amazing ability brought sorrow to his family and friends, his strong will to pursue a goal is incredible even unhuman.

[Mauve and Moss · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this after seeing the multitude of movies based around it, it is almost a completely new story. Which was pleasantly surprising. A story about human nature and connection. Leave any ideas you had about Frankenstein's monster at the door when reading the original.

[Dawn Still · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took a bit to get into this book. Once the dialog between the monster and Victor became part of the story it became much better, but still not great. For the time it was written I applaud Mary Shelley, she definitely was a woman who held a great mind for science fiction.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book for school and while the book itself wasn't bad, if anything it opened many interesting conversations to talk abt. But after writing 2 essays on it and many analysis paragraphs I never want to see this book agian.

[c. · Rating 5 out of 5]

frankenstein is just like me fr

the way someone acts is a reflection of how life has treated them

he was called ugly, but all he ever wanted was love, but they didn't care enough to find that out, didn't they?

[Haeyoon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re-read this through the audiobook! Victor is just as extra the second time around.

Renaming this "Dr. Frankenstein Fucks Around and Finds Out".

[aliyah johnson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn’t really like the writing style much, but the ending was good.

[Sara Ramirez · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think my first mistake was watching the newest adaption by Guillermo del Toro before reading the book.

I knew Victor was annoying per the movie, but he was insufferable in the book. I refer to him as Frankenweenie.

My favorite parts of the book were when the Creature was present/speaking. It just seemed that, as toddler to the world, he was more emotionally mature and aware than Victor was, or ever could be.

For the time it was published, the book is great. The imagination and knowledge needed/required to come up with this story is just...enviable.

Would not read again, didn't completely enjoy it, but I'm glad I read it.

[Alejandra Morales · Rating 5 out of 5]

The novel Frankesntein is a suspenseful book. One of the main characters Victor Frankesntein is extremely in love with natural philosophy and science. His desires to take it beyond it aspire victor to aspire to recreate life. Mary Shelley makes the reader enjoy the suspense and horror. Throughout the book Victor fights against his creation the monster. The monster gets Victor where it will hurt him the most. Want to find out the end? Go ahead and read it. I recommend this book because it's suspenseful and very advance for the period of time it was written in.

[K.L. Morrill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very powerful writing but it seemed to drag on for a little too long. Her character development was superb.

[Aakansha · Rating 5 out of 5]

it was so interesting novel. i like it.

[Donna McWhorter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book that makes you question who is the real monster.