Book Review: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Hey Guys!

Welcome to day 5 of spooky week! today it is time for another book spooky review, and it is for another classic (get me! 2 classics in a week!). so, without further ado, here is my review for Frankenstein.

Why am I sill surprised about enjoying the gothic classics? I really liked this book. like with Dracula, Dorian Grey, Jekyll and Hyde ect, I already knew the basic story of this one. I mean, everyone knows the story of Frankenstein and his monster. But I think of all the gothic classics that I have read, this is the one that surprised me the most.

In every depiction of Frankenstein that I have ever been exposed to the monster is a heartless killer, a monstrous beast who rips people limb from limb while being chased down with pitchforks and flaming torches. But that is not what happens in this story. there is so much more to this book then I was expecting. I wasn’t expecting the monster to be so intelligent and calculating. To feel and desire. I was expecting the brainless monster that pop culture conveys. But he is truly a tortured soul. And I ended up not sure who I felt more sorry for, Frankenstein or his monster.

I was also shocked by how detailed this book is. Most gothic classics are really, really short. I mean, I read The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow last year and that is barely 100 pages. And most classics tend to sit at around the 200 pages’ mark (with the expectation of Dracula). And although Frankenstein was only 300 pages, it felt longer. it was much more in-depth and a lot darker than some of the others. In delved deeper into the story and explored the darker elements of it. I can defiantly see why this book has stood the test of time. It is just as engaging to read now as it was when it was first published in 1818. It hasn’t lost its edge.

I will admit that I was a bit surprised by the narrative of this one though. not in a bad way, just a bit surprised. I have noticed that with classics, you tend to get the story through a third party such as a letter to another character, or a secondary character telling the story. but that wasn’t the case with this book. asides from a few letters that purely set up and then closed the story, the bulk of it was told by Victor Frankenstein. Admittedly he was telling it to another character, who in turn was transcribing it in a letter, but, the point still stands. He told his own story. and I really liked that. I always prefer books that are told from a first person narrative. It was just nice to see in a classic. I think this is the first time I have seen it done in one.

All in all, I enjoyed this book. I am really pleased that I am finally making my way through the classics and am finally experiencing the stories that inspired so many others.

4.5 out of 5

And there we have it. have you read Frankenstein? Are there any other gothic classics that you think I should check out? I hope that you have enjoyed todays post and I will see you all again very soon.