Book review: Frankenstein

Author: Mary Shelley

Pages: 156

Year of publishing: 1818

Rating: ★★★★✩

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Synopsis: “I saw the pale student of unhallowed arts kneeling beside the thing he had put together. I saw the hideous phantasm of a man stretched out, & then, on the working of some powerful engine, show signs of life & stir with an uneasy, half-vital motion.” A summer evening’s ghost stories, lonely insomnia in a moonlit Alpine’s room & a runaway imagination–fired by philosophical discussions with Lord Byron & Percy Bysshe Shelley about science, galvanism & the origins of life–conspired to produce for Mary Shelley this haunting night specter. By morning, it had become the germ of her Romantic masterpiece,Frankenstein. 
Written in 1816 when she was only 19, Shelley’s novel of “The Modern Prometheus” chillingly dramatized the dangerous potential of life begotten upon a laboratory table. A frightening creation myth for our own time, Frankenstein remains one of the greatest horror stories ever written & is an undisputed classic of its kind.

Review: Most certainly when you hear Frankenstein you probably remember Boris Karloff while walking strangely with two screws in the head. But only a few know that Frankenstein is the scientist and not the ‘monster’. I self, a few years ago, thought this.

There are four main characters in Frankenstein:

-The ‘monster’ hasn’t name. To me it seemed a sentient being (this was a surprise to me), very innocent and good-hearted. But he becomes a negative being rejected by the people, including the rejection of Frankenstein. After the rejection of they, he only want kill he’s creator.

-Frankenstein. He is from a rich family and loves acquire new knowledge, this is why he want creating a new life from dead matter. He is not an old crazy as many people believe. He spends most of his time to his new project, until he discover the final result.

-Elizabeth, cousin of Frankenstein. She marries him and always supports her husband because she is very sweet and kind.

-Robert Walton. He is a explorer that searching the North Pole and he reaches to the Arctic. There he found a great story that her sister tells in letters.

” I appreciate life, if only a succession of fears and anxieties” – Frankenstein.

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Pros:

-In all pages are a new surprises given the rapid rate of the book.

-Final Touching. All feelings towards his creator come to light in the last moments of the book. And in those moments Frankenstein won my heart.

-It’s a very short book, you can read in an afternoon. I sometimes read books when I have exams to relax and this book is perfect for those situations.

-Supposedly is a horror book but I would recommend it suitable for all audiences. I am a person who easily have scary and if not scared me, I honestly don’t think anyone would be scared.

Cons:

-The beginning of the book is confused, is difficult to adapt to the rhythm because the book is short but have many plots. Once you adapt you can fully enjoy every page.

-The scenes about Victor’s family are very boring and is difficult the read. Mary Shelley just describes a perfect group and I seemed a loss of pages.

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This book surprised me by several things. First because it speaks of a still unknown topic: cloning. Can man play God? I question this reflexion to myself throughout the book. The final answer is no. There are some things in which that humans should not interfere still, such as the creation of someone in this way.

Somehow I found a small criticism of parents who do not act as parents. They don’t protect them from their fears, of people who can hurt, sometimes they do more harm with their rejection.

Hay muchas adaptaciones cinematográficas, aunque no he visto ninguna. I think the most famous film is where ‘the monster’ is Boris Karloff as I quoted above, but perhaps not is the best fit. If you know which is the best film adaptation, please tell me.

What’s your valuation for this book? I hope your opinion in the comments box and if you like this post, share it in your social networks. Thank you so much!

See you!

Written by: Ana