Discover new books on Goodreads

Meet your next favorite book

371 ratings (3.76 avg)
65 reviews
more photos (2)

Caitlin

Add friend

Caitlin’s Bookshelves

to-read‎ (125)
currently-reading‎ (12)

read‎ (373)
did-not-finish‎ (0)

historical-fiction‎ (23)
non-fiction‎ (19)

Stats | More…

Caitlin is Currently Reading

Caitlin is currently reading

East of Eden

by John Steinbeck

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

progress:

(page 526 of 601)
— Sep 24, 2026 09:39AM

Aug 07, 2026 04:41PM

Caitlin is currently reading

We Want Everything

by Nanni Balestrini

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

progress:

(page 96 of 224)
— Jan 25, 2026 05:49PM

Jan 24, 2026 12:04PM

Caitlin is currently reading

Frankenstein

by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley

bookshelves: currently-reading

Reading for the 2nd time

read in April 2013

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Caitlin said: " I liked this book because of how it sort of addressed how people work through all these various experiences the monster has.Functioning as a nearly completely grown adult within a few months of his creation, the innocence of the monster, and how quic I liked this book because of how it sort of addressed how people work through all these various experiences the monster has.Functioning as a nearly completely grown adult within a few months of his creation, the innocence of the monster, and how quickly this innocence is corrupted demonstrates the evil isolation can wreak on a lonely mind. Without any other interaction, the monster believes that his truth is a global truth which leaves him with a negative view on humanity since it shuns him. Because his interactions are limited, the monster makes generalizations about humankind based on the few encounters he has with them. So basically Shelley is telling the reader that people suck.
The monster’s lack of parentage not only leaves a void in encouragement and support, but it also further degrades the monster’s view of himself. With no one to tell him otherwise, the monster accepts this negative perception of himself as truth. Thus he lacks emotional stability; unable to overcome his self-doubt and gain confidence, he only knows loathing and hate.Through the swift development of the monster’s hostility, Shelley demonstrates how essential a nurturing childhood is in order to mature.
Without support or friend, the monster must result to the animal instinct that lies in all of human kind, to harm those who pose a threat to happiness. Since each person reminds the monster of all he cannot have, the monster spares neither man, woman, nor child from his vengeful outbursts of violence. Shelley reveals the barbarism a blinding emotion such as hate can have, not only on those who are governed by it, but also those who caused such a powerful emotion.
Through blaming his murders on Victor, the monster hopes that his creator will realize a companion is the only cure for his creation’s violent outbursts. However both the man and his monster are so engulfed in their own self-pity that they are unable to be sympathetic towards others. It is only through abandoning mankind that the monster believes he will be able to have a happier life. Such an observation is a sign of resignation, as the monster has lost all faith in humanity’s ability to overcome his physical appearance. By joining humanity, the monster is choosing a life of vengeance and destruction, therefore showing the corruptness of human nature. However the monster is only willing to cast aside this identity if he has someone to share his exile with. This need for a companion stems not from greed or lust, but rather a desperation to feel loved. The monster craves to be valued and mean something the same way all humans do, and threatens to harm Victor should he not comply because that is what man does when they are afraid of not getting their way; they threaten and intimidate. Shelley demonstrates how easily humans will cave in to their moral standards in order to achieve personal satisfaction.
Though the monster is not technically human, Shelley uses him as a vehicle to reveal the faults of society and the human condition. Since the monster intellectually develops quickly, with the ability to express himself within weeks of his creation, yet remains emotionally stinted, he is able to vocalize the effects of an isolated childhood. His loneliness at first manifests itself in waves of grief that the monster experiences when he realizes that his life can never be like that of Felix and his family. However the monster’s behavior soon reflects his interactions with those around him. Since the initial response of those he meets is violence, the monster then results to treating others with the same cruelty shown to him. Though he retains hope for human kind, saving the child from the river and giving Victor a chance to redeem himself, the monster is forced to turn violent. From this, Shelley is demonstrating how actions carry more weight than words; human nature is innately monstrous as people make judgments based on physical actions and appearances, without considering the intellectual and emotional impacts. ...more "

progress:

(page 130 of 273)
— Jan 13, 2026 06:27PM

Sep 09, 2013 09:52AM · see review

See all 12 books that Caitlin is reading…

Caitlin’s Quotes

“What about little microphones? What if everyone swallowed them, and they played the sounds of our hearts through little speakers, which could be in the pouches of our overalls? When you skateboarded down the street at night you could hear everyone's heartbeat, and they could hear yours, sort of like sonar. One weird thing is, I wonder if everyone's hearts would start to beat at the same time, like how women who live together have their menstrual periods at the same time, which I know about, but don't really want to know about. That would be so weird, except that the place in the hospital where babies are born would sound like a crystal chandelier in a houseboat, because the babies wouldn't have had time to match up their heartbeats yet. And at the finish line at the end of the New York City Marathon it would sound like war.”
― Jonathan Safran Foer, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close

tags: heartfelt-vernacular

952 likes

“Is it better for a man to have chosen evil than to have good imposed upon him?”
― Anthony Burgess, A Clockwork Orange

tags: dystopia

1295 likes

“We are all worms, But I do believe that I am a glow worm.”
― Winston S. Churchill, Never Give In! The Best of Winston Churchill's Speeches

tags: inspirational

575 likes

“I'm glad I didn't have to fight in any war. I'm glad I didn't have to pick up a gun. I'm glad I didn't get killed or kill somebody. I hope my kids enjoy the same lack of manhood.”
― Tom Hanks

25 likes