In October we will be reading Frankenstein by Mary Shelley.
Please post your comments and questions here.
Online copy.
In October we will be reading Frankenstein by Mary Shelley.
Please post your comments and questions here.
Online copy.
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"It is not that I am mad; it is only that my head is different from yours.”
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For once I am the first one to vote. I read this book twice now and I always recommend it to my friends. I think it's a great read. It really keeps ones attention throughout and even though written by a young woman, it's amazing how wonderfully talented she was with such a vivid imagination. Our culture, by this century, has been infiltrated with Hollywood images of the creature and these are so unlike the actual creature encountered in Mary Shelley's exquisitely written novel. Also, we forget how creative this novel was at the time it was written, since we now have tons of creative and fantastic tales and books along the same lines. Still I think this book is unique....the modern Prometheus..and to imagine it was written and conceived by a 18 yr old woman; finished only when she reached 19 yrs of age.
Frankenstein;
or, the Modern Prometheus
Illustration from the frontispiece of the 1831 edition by Theodor von Holst[1]
Draft of Frankenstein ("It was on a dreary night of November that I beheld my man completed ..."
I always think book illustrations/etchings and photos of the actual manuscripts are interesting. Hope you do, too.
Last edited by Janine; 10-01-2009 at 03:11 PM.
"It's so mysterious, the land of tears."
Chapter 7, The Little Prince ~ Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
i wanted to read this, so will read it now, and then join the discussion
Touched by Genius. Cursed by Madness. Blinded by Love.
I already got my copy and I'm quite excited to join the Book Club for the first time ..
Jan, I find "original" manuscript pictures interesting as well. Nice to see the posted part of Frankenstein.
Anyways, I'll just be here with my copy if anyone's willing to discuss.
"The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function. One should, for example, be able to see that things are hopeless and yet be determined to make them otherwise."
-- F. Scott Fitzgerald
I actually just reread this novel in September. I try to read it every year. I find it such a timely piece. How far is too far in the things we create? How far is too far in the name of science? Cloning, experiments on fetuses, etc. Where do we finally draw the line and put humanity back into it? When do we take full responsibility for our actions and the things we create or the objects we experiment with? It is amazing that out of a stormy weekend and a haunting dream this very young lady created a masterpiece for all times. It boggles the mind!
My favourite part is actually when the monster is hiding out in the hovel attached to the cottage and learning. You feel so much more for him than anyone else in the novel. Wonderful, wonderful book.
I wrote a paper on this book for a mythology class, however I never finished the book. I remember getting an A but now I'm wondering how good could it have been?? Anyways, I'm hoping to finish this time around.
Do, or do not. There is no try. - Yoda
Does Victor take any?Originally Posted by Lady19thC
Its a fascinating novel, and especially relevant today!
The background to the book is also interesting. The Shelleys and Byron´s little holiday by Lake Geneva and Byron´s idea one wet night that they should all write a supernatural story.
I read the book last year and found it quite different from the classic horror stories and for this reason more exciting. Where's the difference? It's probably in the way Mary Shelley manages to give life to a character like that of the monster, so human in passion, understanding and cruelty. He is the real innovative character in the novel, the only who allows the modern reader to discover his/her inner true self.
I found myself asking, "Who is human, and who the monster?"
hahaha...sorry to go off topic, but your new avy is a riot and a half! OMG!!!
Yes, Frankenstein does pose that question, Gladys, and it's what makes the book a true masterpiece in this genre. Personally, I keep being newly fascinated with the characters. I don't think I could read this one enough times and not feel incredibly pensive after; always questioning that aspect of the novel.
Chapter 7, The Little Prince ~ Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Having just read Frakenstein for my A Level English Literature course, i would like to add my opinion. The structure of the novel itself allows the reader to become lost in the differing imaginations and thoughts of the characters through the use of the embedded text. This is the first book that i have read in a while that managed to keep me engaged throughout. It has given me a new found love for the gothic genre. The dark surroundings that Shelley gives along with supposed brutality of the monster was interesting. It really makes you assess human nature and our obsession with beauty over character. The real hero of the novel for me was the monster itself. I found myself able to empathise with it more than any other character.
I agree. I don't think Victor ever takes responsibility, except maybe at the end when he is trying to catch and kill him. But how on earth did he expect to do that? His creation was too strong, fast and large for him to handle. If they reached the Arctic they probably would have gone round the world, over and over again, until Frankenstein perished.
Isn't this ironic, though, that a "creator" does not know/realise what he has actually created until it is too late and his only solution to the problem is trying to kill his "creation".
Very irresponsible of him, I think, which diminishes his power and status as a "creator".
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"It is not that I am mad; it is only that my head is different from yours.”
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