I read this book for the first time in the fifth grade as part of a project on the author Mary Shelley. I admit, back then I really didn’t want to do anyone else. I had never read her work but heard of her and her work in classes. I never knew that this author would become one of my favorites as I grew up. To this day, she along with Poe, Lovecraft, and Rice have become beloved writers to me.
This book, specifically, took me into a world of darkness that I could relate. The character of the monster spoke to me. He was an outsider, and I often felt that way. Misunderstood, the monster, and never accepted. These were all things I could relate to as a young girl new to the area and from a different part of the country. It taught me that ‘the monster’ wasn’t a monster, the true monster was how we treat people different from ourselves. It’s a life lesson I’ve always carried with me and seen, sadly, repeated. The true monster is how cruel people can be and how judgmental people can be.
Shelley’s words were dark and romantic and this style, over time, became one style I favored and cherished most in a book. I love words, the romantic way they can flow; perhaps I can consider her one of my earliest influences on molding me into a writer.
Not wanting to be a book snob here, but there has never been a movie or television version that has captured me the same way as this book has. If you only know this book because of a movie I highly recommend reading the book. Sometimes, I admit, a movie or show can give a book justice, but I have not come across one on this title.
This review is a part of my 2020 yearlong self-challenge to read and review. I have reread some books for the purpose of reviewing them on my website whereas I have read others for the first time. Check out Book Reviews and Recommendations to find other book reviews, book recommendations, and more information about the books I’m reading, have read, or are sharing.
Have you read this book? What were your thoughts? Do you agree with me? Do you disagree? Let’s have a conversation about it.
The Official Website of L. Bachman 
I read this and reviewed it on my blog a couple of years ago. From what I recall of Frankenstein, I didn’t really “get into it”, and struggled to see it as Gothic, which a lot of people argue it is (rightly or wrongly). It was a bit too Romantic and philosophical for my tastes; I think I had been expecting something darker and scarier – probably due to various adaptations I’d already seen before reading the book.
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I completely understand that. Sorry people argued with you on what was right and what was wrong. It seems people forget opinions are opinions. I have other book reviews coming out, getting them going up on Fridays. Next is Roald Dahl’s Ghost Stories. Some of the adaptations have been darker and more frightening so I can see how the impression going into the book could be that way. I’m a romantic at heart, so the whole gothic story really rings with me. There are many books that have been adapted for tv and movies, some I didn’t even find out were books until after, for example, A Stir of Echoes by Richard Matheson. I loved the movie but had a hard time getting the same feeling going into the book. He’s a wonderful writer. Thanks so much for commenting, for having this conversation start with me. 🙂
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