Patty's Reviews > Frankenstein: Library Edition

“I do know that for the sympathy of one living being, I would make peace with all. I have love in me the likes of which you can scarcely imagine and rage the likes of which you would not believe. If I cannot satisfy the one, I will indulge the other.”

What do you know about Frankenstein? Is your knowledge based the novel or one of the movies? Do you think Frankenstein is the name of the creator or the created? I have to admit that I just thought I knew what Mary Shelley wrote about. It turns out I really knew nothing about this story.

When my book group decided this would be a good choice, I had mixed feelings. This is one of those classic books that I felt I should read, but I had never gotten around to it. Looking at the first chapter, I was wondering what I had gotten into. Shelley has written a fascinating story, but she uses a lot of description. This is not contemporary writing that has to compete with TV, computers, movies, etc. This was written in 1818, when there was time to write and read long sentences and detailed narratives.

Fortunately, someone from my book group suggested that I listen to this rather than read it. Also, I was able to find an annotated version that helped me visualize the world that Shelley lived in. Both of these made all the difference and I managed to both read and enjoy Frankenstein. I am so glad that I didn’t give up.

I relearned that Frankenstein is the creator, not the monster. I also learned that Frankenstein was not a particularly nice guy, although many loved him. I wonder if I view the monster with more sympathy than readers of the 19th century. We have had more time to get acquainted with monsters of various types. I don’t think Shelley could have imagined our 21st century world.

If you haven’t read this novel, I recommend it. Shelley certainly could write, the story is very different than you might think and I believe it still speaks to us 200 years later.