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.

Hello September! 🍂 🍁 🍃

Dear Sunflower,

I thought you wouldn’t make it but here you are, opening up your petals and facing the sun. I admire your beauty and elegance.

Sunflower opened its petals
one day to another
facing the sun with love.

I’ve been in a creative mode. Trying to keep busy and creative this month. I’m trying to write as many posts that I can for October. It’s challenging but fun. I’ve been reading, writing and drawing. I’ve been enjoying writing in my journal with a new fountain pen! It’s a lovely gift from my husband and I love it so much. ❤️ We went on a couple of road trips in Ontario. First stop was in Perth.

Perth, Ontario 2020

Perth is a lovely little place and I recommend visiting in the Fall. 🍁 A cute little town with a beautiful park and river and shops. Also really cute Book Stores and a huge vintage shop. I only went for the day and I wish I had stayed for the weekend. A lovely place and the park is so stunning.

I also visited The Big Apple in Colborne Ontario and bought incredible pies and apple bread. We bought pecan pie, apple caramel crumble pie, apple maple pie and apple bread. So delicious! The best pies that I’ve ever tasted. I recommend you go first thing when they open because it gets very very busy at lunch.

I’ve also visited a couple of Vintage shops. Vintage shops make me happy. It’s like an adventure and traveling back in time. One vintage shop in Perth Ontario and the other in Colborne Ontario. If you walk into a small town vintage shop you can tell a lot about the History of the town. Very beautiful in my opinion. So many stories in each piece. In the Perth vintage shop I found this lovely candle stick holder. I was looking for something like this and there it was!

When I was in Colborne Ontario I visited a vintage shop and found a very old book that’s a childhood favourite: Heidi by Johanna Spyri. The cover of the book has fallen off and the book is very fragile. I opened up the book to a random page and this is where it landed…

Sometimes things happen for a reason. I believe it. ❤️ Everything in good time.

The book broke from the spine and broke in half to pg.112-113. The passage speaks to me in so many ways. ❤️ I believe that this is a sign from the Universe. Do you believe in Signs?

I won a bunch of books and popcorn last month. I’m so grateful! The popcorn 🍿 didn’t last long. 😋 Thank you to @bookbrunch and @eatableinc on Instagram for the lovely books and popcorn.

I kindly won the book Heatwave written by Kate Riordan from @ohthebooksshewillread & @GrandcentralPub. Also about 7 weeks ago I won The Lions Den written by Katherine St. John from Jennifer Bairos on IG @jennbairos. I would like to say a HUGE thank you to all these lovely book loving people for the wins. I’m truly blessed and lucky. Thank you.

I bought new reading glasses. They are my favourite. I like a big frame. They are simple and lovely. I do have to go back and have them adjust my prescription though. They made them too strong and I get really bad migraines.

Thank you all so much for reading my post. I hope you have a beautiful September and I wish you all the best. Positivity, kindness and love. God bless!

Offline For 7 Days! DETOX

Hello my lovely friends! I decided to go offline for 7 Days and I documented my journey. I got this ‘offline’ idea through a magazine called ‘Flow’. Have you heard about this lovely magazine?

I’ve been off social media; Facebook, Twitter and IG for 7 days now and I feel refreshed! I could of gone longer but I enjoy blogging and sharing content with you. I wanted to share my experience with you and I hope you give this ‘Offline for 7 Days’ a try. Here is my journey and what I wrote in my journal. Please let me know your thoughts in the comments. Thank you.


May 1, 2020

Today I did my yoga in the morning and I also baked some bread and made soup. I only went on my phone to see my husbands messages. I don’t feel this offline challenge will be hard to do 😜 ha ha ha. Time will tell. I’m happy I had the opportunity to do some creative things like bake and journal. I look forward to this social media detox.


May 2, 2020

Good morning! I automatically reach for my phone in the morning when I sit on the couch but this time I decide to pick up my journal and write. I had more time to bake a cake and I also did some art with Angelina.


May 3, 2020

I thought about picking up the phone and checking it. I thought about Instagram but the thought quickly left me. I’m focusing on things I need to do today instead. I would like to do my yoga, read and some art. I would also like to go outside. The weather is beautiful today. The sun is out. I’m trying to enjoy the journey of being in the moment. To be offline feels freeing. I have more awareness of what’s happening around me. My senses are being heightened. I’m also taking the time to listen more. If feels great to be in the moment. I’ve been enjoying not grabbing my phone and grabbing my journal instead.

May 4, 2020

In the morning I usually go through my phone but since I can’t because of this challenge I’m journaling more. I did well all day. Being a busy mommy helps. I do homework with my girls, laundry and cleaning up around the house. It keeps me so busy I don’t even think about my phone.

May 5, 2020

I’ve noticed that I don’t really go for my phone that often. I’m so busy with #MOMLIFE. I am doing homework with the girls, cleaning and cooking that I don’t even know where my phone is most of the time. So that’s a bonus! The only time I miss using social media is in the morning with my coffee and when I sit down in the afternoon after all the chores.

May 6, 2020

My morning urge to pick up my phone is not in me anymore. I’ve been writing more. I’ve been also reading “Life of Pi” by Yann Martel. I ordered three magazines from “Daphne’s Diary” and I’m OBSESSED with them. I’ve been enjoying junk journaling and art. Feeling really great. I don’t miss being on the phone but I do miss talking and chatting with all my online friends. Yoga is going so well. I’m enjoying stretching and yoga makes me feel so good.

May 7, 2020

Wow! 7 days offline feels great! I didn’t mind this challenge at all. I kept very busy so I didn’t really grab for my phone. I miss chatting with friends. I didn’t go into extreme baking which is surprising. I did yoga which is amazing. I surprised my self with yoga. I used my phone to message my hubby and I also used my phone to watch Youtube. Overall I feel more free and I’m I’m not attached to my phone as much as I thought I was. I enjoyed leaving my phone aside and doing other things. I also used my phone to check the time so I’m going to put my watch back on my arm to avoid reaching for my phone as often. I enjoyed this journey and I feel from now on I’m going to try and balance the time I have online and offline. I feel it’s all about balance.

Thank you so much for reading my post. I appreciate it so much. Have a beautiful week!

Weekly Vlog | Self Care, Mom Chat and Artwork

I hope you are well my friends. I hope you take good care of your self and do some self care. You are important! Thank you all for your comments and support. I appreciate it so much. Thank you for subscribing to my Youtube Channel. It means so much to me. Have a lovely Sunday…

Weekly Vlog | Haul, Hot Chocolate & Biopsy

Hello friends! Hope all is well. I hope March is treating you well. I’ve been busy with keeping the house clean, working out and trying to participate with #The100DayProject. I’ve been trying not to stress for the Biopsy results which I will get next week. Thank you all for following and commenting on my Youtube…

Books 💙 Recipes and Staying Creative

With so much going on in the world I want to focus on the positive. I turned the news off. I’m staying home and doing things that keep me happy. I hope to bring some inspiration and positivity to you my friends. Stay happy and do things you love. You now have the opportunity to read, paint, write and do what ever your heart desires creatively. Keep active as much as you like. You can watch movies, meditate, exercise and get fresh air on your balcony or backyard. Cook, clean, organize and dance. Put the music on and sing or play games. Keep smiling, this too shall pass.


Today I would like to share my TBR list for 2020. I’ve selected ten books and I hope I can get through. What are you reading at the moment?


MY TBR LIST 2020

The Cat’s Table by Michael Ondaatje

The Diviners by Libba Bray

Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter

Beartown by Fredrik Backman

A Man Called OVE by Fredrik Backman

The Black Witch by Laurie Forest

A Little Life by Tanya Yanagihara 

The Lonely Hearts Hotel by Heather O’Neill 

Annabelle by Kathleen Winter 

Life of PI by Yann Martel 


Today I would like to share my lentil soup recipe with you and I hope you make it at home. It’s so easy and delicious. Do you like lentils?

Spicy Lentil Soup

Ingredients

12 Cups of Chicken or Veg Broth

1 Chicken cube or Veg cube

2 Cups of washed lentils

2 Bay Leaves

2 All spice Balls

1 Finely Chopped Onion

3 Finely Chopped garlic cloves

1/4 Cup olive oil

2 Carrots Chopped up

2 tbs of tomato paste

1 tsp Black pepper

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

1 tsp fresh thyme 

Instructions 

Place all the ingredients in pot to boil for 20 min except the tomato paste and olive oil. After 20 min add the olive oil and tomato paste and cook for 10 more min. Enjoy! Let me know if you try this recipe. 


Here is a lovely surprise recipe. I was going to post this at Christmas time but I didn’t or maybe I did and I don’t remember. lol 😆 Here is a banana cranberry muffin recipe.

Banana Cranberry Muffins

2 1/2 Cups of Flour

1 Cup Sugar

2 tsp Baking Powder

1 tsp Baking Soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

2 tsp vanilla

1 1/2 Cups Mashed Bananas

3 cups frozen cranberries

2 eggs

1/4 cup oil

1 cup milk

Instructions

Mix all ingredients and bake at 350F for 30min


Stay home and do art!

I hope you had the opportunity to check out my hula hoop skills in the video! lol 😝 oh to be a kid again! Had my girls do some fun art yesterday. I also did some collage journaling and paintings. Here are the lovely pieces.

First one is Abstract art by my eldest.

This piece is an abstract by my youngest.

Here are my pieces.

Collage

I sometimes draw inspiration from colours, patterns and textures when I create collage work.

This piece is a watercolour with ink. It’s my hubby’s favourite painting.

I’m sending you all my positivity and love. I hope you are all safe and healthy. Don’t forget to have some fun at home and stay positive. This too shall pass.

Much Love

Positivity

Strength

Courage

and kindness.

Painting Away The Blues!

Happy Tuesday! I feel very unorganized and very emotional lately. I’m also feeling tired a lot and the winter blues is not fun to deal with. Yesterday my emotions had a life of their own and my body went into a pain attack in the middle of the night. I’m just happy it’s a new day. I’m trying to stay active and positive…trying. Lately I’m not feeling it. I’m being honest. It’s not easy to stay cheerful and happy and jolly. I feel like an old grumpy lady. *Sigh* The stress of working online and being home all day doesn’t help the situation.

Thank God for my wonderful husband and children who love and support me. They are amazing and I’m truly blessed to have them in my life. They really help bring joy and happiness in my life.

This is Toronto and its winter glory. I wonder why my parents didn’t choose to go to a warmer climate when they first arrived in the 60’s?

To offer comfort to my stress levels and anxiety I’m doing a lot of painting lately. Here are some new paintings I made. Using acrylics on canvas boards and also mini canvases. I need to buy better quality mini canvases for my ETSY store. I bought three mini canvases from Walmart and they are not good at all. The canvas from the edges are coming a part. I glued them in place but it’s not the best quality so I will not be posting these for my store.

I’ve made an order with DeSerres and I’m still waiting for my package to arrive. Why is it when you wait for something it doesn’t come? I ordered some new style of paint. It’s called Gouach paint. I’m really excited to try a new medium. Gouache paint is a watercolour type of paint that is bold and bright. It can be watered down a lot or be used very boldly. I can’t wait to try it. I also want to buy pastels. Love oil pastels and chalk pastels.

I can’t wait for spring to arrive. How about you? I am soooo done with cold and winter. On a positive note here are some lovely PR Samples (GIFTED) items and some lovely winnings as well. I’m truly blessed and lucky to win all these things. ESPIRA vitamins by Avon, Espira Hunger block and metabolism boost by Avon, CRAVE Lipglosses from Avon Canada. They smell so good! They are super shiny so a little goes a long way.

I won a lovely package from Dundurn Press it included a lovely canvas bag and SQUISH candy. So good! Also won a HUGE package from Live Organics which is located in Toronto. All raw organic food and drinks. Also included is VAMS Culture drinks and Tealchemy Tea which is really smooth and silky tea. I also won two products from Age Quencher Vitamins and I am really loving their Hyaluronic Moisturizing Serum and the Hydrate Beauty Electrolyte Powder. So incredible they will definitely be on my favourite list.

Thank you also to PIXI BEAUTY for sending me their new eyeshadows and beautiful brushes! They are very beautiful!

I also received beautiful clothing from FROCKON Clothing. I reached out to the lovely Yana and asked if she would like to work together. I will have the post up as soon as I can get my creative spirit going. Check out her EBAY store. One of the beautiful pieces she sent me is this beautiful Kimono Jacket with geometric patterns. I absolutely love it! I will get a post together soon my friends. I just need to get out of this funk.

A few other *Gifted items from Chickadvisor

Dove Ultra care Milk Gel Moisturizing Conditioner.

Also Dove Apple and White Tea Antiperspirant. It’s my favourite at the moment. So good!

Just today I received a special and thoughtful gift from my lovely friend Julie and It made me smile so much. She is so thoughtful and loving. Have a look at Julie’s Blog. Thank you Julie for always being there and for thinking of me. I hope to meet you one day in person and have a cuppa coffee. This gift is so super special. I might just have to watch the entire series on Netflix again. Thank you Julie!

This just in! Thank you Simon & Schuster Canada for the ARC of “At The Mountain’s Edge” Sounds like a fantastic book! I can’t wait to read it!

Thank you so much for all your love and support. Thank you for all your kind comments and love. Thank you also for the lovely Gifted items.

Overall I feel that things will totally get better. I’m hopeful and look forward to the change of weather. As I am typing this I heard from the TV that we are expecting about 15cm of snow tomorrow. Great! 😂 Well patience and more painting. I will totally read this book and let you know how it goes. Until then have a lovely rest of the week and don’t be afraid to tweet me a hello @bestdayblogger

Much love,

Maria