Frankenstein by Mary Shelley Book Review

Frankenstein by Mary Shelly is a science fiction novel that dives deep into human emotions, questions existence and examines good versus evil. We all know the story so I thought! But it is nothing like it has been portrayed and nothing like I expected. Frankenstein is the Scientist and his creation is “the monster”. The writing is rich with so much emotion and has so much depth. It is beautifully written and it really captivated me with the tragic storyline and language.

About the story:

Frankenstein creates this monster and the monster learns to read and speak. He reads books and observes humans. He wants to be able to express him self and be a part of the people around him. He feels alone and one day approaches cottagers to ask that he stay with them. Because of his “hideous” appearance they run and scream away from him. The monster questions his own existence. The more he learns about humanity the more he feels alienated. He possesses nothing like the people around him.

“Was I, then, a monster, a blot upon the earth, from which all men fled and whom all men disowned? I cannot describe to you the agony that these reflections inflicted upon me: I tried to dispel them, but sorrow only increased with knowledge.” Pg108

The monster fights with his emotions and his mind. He fights with nature and the elements around him. He feels so alone. He has no family, friends or loved ones. He has no recollection of being held by a mother and a father.

“But where were my friends and relations? No father had watched my infant days, no mother had blessed me with smiles and caresses;” pg.109

The book is written from different perspectives. One from the monster’s perspective and then from Frankenstein’s perspective. We also get dialogue from loved ones and other characters. Frankenstein feels sickened that he has created such a creature. The monster’s self hatred increases and he seeks to find Frankenstein to ask him to create a woman for him. Frankenstein’s discussion with the monster made me feel like I’m listening into their conversation and made me question who’s side I’m on. On one side I feel that creating yet another monster will not be a good idea and on the other hand the monster is so alone and empty inside and needs company. Frankenstein then describes how the monster is so evil and he fears that if he creates another like him it might be double the trouble. He also says that the female monster might find the original monster just as hideous and ugly.

Then the monster threatens Frankenstein. Frankenstein starts the second monster creation but stops. The monster intimidates Frankenstein and tells him that he will be there on his wedding day. Frankenstein feels that this is his doom. A destiny that can’t be avoided because he is the creator of this horrible creature.

By this point I dislike the creature because he has murdered people and now threatens Frankenstein. But then a part of me still feels bad for him because it is not his fault for looking the way he does or even for his existence. Should Frankenstein go through this torture from this monster? They both have their reasons and make decisions that challenge each other and their feelings and words create this dual friction. The monster says that his agony is superior to Frankenstein’s agony.

Mary Shelley creates this environment around each place that is so well balanced with the characters mood and feeling. I really envisioned many parts of story like the second monster laying there half created and specially the physicality of Frankenstein at the end of the book. There are so many beautiful parts to this story. It takes you on a journey and yes I cried at the end. I will not giveaway the ending. You must read this book. I listened to the book as I read along. It made it very enjoyable. This is on my list of favourite books ever!

5/5

Rating: 5 out of 5.

THE SHOE ON THE ROOF BY WILL FERGUSON REVIEW

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the-shoe-on-the-roof-9781501173554_hr
Advanced Reader’s Edition, 371 pages
Book Published October 17th, 2017
by Simon & Schuster

“Thomas is the researcher, and his subjects are three homeless men, all of whom claim to be messiahs—but no three people can be the one and only saviour of the world. Thomas is determined to “cure” the three men of their delusions, and in so doing save his career—and maybe even his love life. But when Thomas’s father intervenes in the experiment, events spin out of control, and Thomas must confront the voices he hears in the labyrinth of his own mind.” -Goodreads

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The Novel starts with a short story about a woman that has an outer body experience and is brought back to life.  For me this short story as a reader establishes many questions. One question is “Is there a God and afterlife?”

“…there will always be an unanswerable question at the core of everything; there will always be a shoe on the roof.” -Pg 283

REVIEW

Thomas Rosanoff is the main character in this Novel. His father raised him in a one way glass confinement for a psychology study. He is known as “The Boy in the Box” to many and this hinders his life. “In this second year of med school, Thomas has altered his identity, dropping his father’s surname, adopting his mother’s instead.”-pg41 In many ways I found this to be so sad and I questioned the father’s parenting skills which lacks considerably. Thomas’s mother passed away when he was younger and he searches for a memory just to feel her close again. He hears a tune in his mind but does this music connect to his mother? Time only tells. The story is simple yet complicated and layered.

Thomas doesn’t attend his classes. He no longer wants to be a doctor. He is in a relationship that doesn’t turn out and he tries to make it better. He begs his professor for a new date on his Thesis which involves three men that believe they are GOD. Thomas feels he can cure them.  One of the men is his ex girlfriends brother. So he hopes to make him better and in return get her back. Each character is very well developed and I really found the “Magician” very wise.

There are some scenes that really stand out for me. Like the three Messiah characters in the Kitchen. I can’t stop laughing about how funny this would be on stage. The Magician Challenges Thomas in this book and he reminds me of the “Trickster Character” or the “Joker” in a Shakespeare Play. Wise and funny. I really like how there is a bond between the men. Like a feeling of understanding each other and a calmness when they are together. The Kitchen scene like I said before really made me laugh and I like how the “Ginsu Knife” is brought back at the end of the novel. Smart and funny!

The novel has a lot of psychological and medical terminology but not too heavy just enough to make the reader understand and also at times make the reader question “is there a God or is it just all behaviour and science?” As you can tell this book made me question many things. There are funny parts and dark parts of this story. A lot of sensitive parts as well. The novel is put together brilliantly and I really enjoyed how identity is analyzed and questioned.

I like that there isn’t’ too many characters and how well developed they are. I also like the names chosen for each character. Very biblical names like Eli and Sebastian. For example: “Eli” is a biblical figure and a Hebrew name. “In Hebrew the meaning of the name Eli is: High, ascended, or ‘my God’. Famous bearer: The Old Testament priest Eli cared for the prophet Samuel when Samuel was a child.”

I find the relationship between Thomas and his father really sad. There are many moments of identity crisis in the novel and one that stands out most is Thomas. He grew up as a study subject which I find upsetting. Thomas revisits his old bedroom he has flashbacks of when he was little. He would come up to the glass and look at it. His father would write down: “Possible narcissistic tendencies?” But Thomas wasn’t looking at himself, he was looking through himself, or trying to. He though he could see movement on the other side of the mirror. Was someone there? He still didn’t know how to answer to that.” Pg. 238

I highly recommend this book. It is funny and sad. It made me think and question a lot. It surprised me and it also had a really hopeful ending.

I give this book a 5/5 Stars!


Lines & Pages I really love

“His apartment was about to get crowded with Christs” pg. 120

“So…Eli. How did you, um, get out of your restraints?” pg. 123

“Ever seen a Ginsu Knife?” Pg. 123

“Do you know what Eli’s problem is?…No one cares about him. Only God…And if you remove that?” Pg. 191


DISLIKE

The only thing I didn’t like is the grandfather because of his beliefs on Pg . 126


Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for the lovely book. I love it!

the shoe on the roof

*Courtesy of Simon & Schuster

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