jacquilynn's review against another edition
DNF, I've had to read the original Frankenstein so many times for school I was interested to see a revamp of the story. I was willing to give this story a lot of leeway but it abused it and it was like an unfunny clueless meets Frankenstein. Couldn't finish it.
suzannedix's review against another edition
5.0
Victor Frankenstein, the brilliant though haunted scientist who brought to life the "Monster," had two twin daughters. When he realized that the Monster posed a threat to their safety, Victor hid the girls away with family and never interacted with them. Upon Victor's death, the seventeen year old girls are notified that they have inherited his vast fortune and Frankenstein Castle, on a small island off the coast of Scotland. The girls' lives are immediately changed forever. Giselle can become the Baroness she has always dreamed off, restoring the Castle and becoming the talk of society. Ingrid, a brilliant scientist in her own right, now has access to all of her father's notes on his experiments. The twins are truly happy though menace seems to linger in the air. Murders and disappearances of local men start tallying up. At the same time Ingrid begins a romance with a crippled and dying man who agrees to allow her to experiment on him in an attempt to cure him. The dark and brooding imagery of the setting along with the rumor that the Monster is still alive creates a fast-paced story of sisterly devotion, scientific discovery and and the dangers of family secrets.
An exceptionally well written book that alternates chapters between Giselle and Ingrid's writings in their diaries. While not as frightful as it is mysterious, this book will appeal to fans of Gothic era novels and lovers of Frankenstein science fiction lore.
Highly recommended for grades 7 and up. This is a wonderful modern revisiting of a classic story.
An exceptionally well written book that alternates chapters between Giselle and Ingrid's writings in their diaries. While not as frightful as it is mysterious, this book will appeal to fans of Gothic era novels and lovers of Frankenstein science fiction lore.
Highly recommended for grades 7 and up. This is a wonderful modern revisiting of a classic story.
katereads2much's review against another edition
2.0
An acquaintance of mine told me this book was "cute". I really can't say as I would describe this book as "cute" (this is what I get for trusting a person over the description on the back of the book).
This does have an interesting story concept. I also like that someone is writing creepy stories involving death and violence with girls as the main characters because I think all too often girls get fluff stories and boys get the grisly stories. I'm all for fluff. I love fluff. Fluff is my favorite. But, life is not fluffy. Girls need stories that reflect that life is rarely fluffy, even in - perhaps especially in - the science fiction, fantasy, and paranormal genres.
The author writes this book as diary entries mostly of the two sisters which is not my favorite style but does make for an interesting juxtaposition - diary entries which do include issues of daily life, romance, and throwing an epic party to end all parties with situations involving blood, guts, gore, dead bodies, violence, disease, and sexual harassment.
My expectations were incorrect and those expectations set this book up for ... well not failure but not success. I also felt that the book tried to straddle two very different tones and ended up not quite convincing me of either. In the end, my reaction to this book was "meh".
This does have an interesting story concept. I also like that someone is writing creepy stories involving death and violence with girls as the main characters because I think all too often girls get fluff stories and boys get the grisly stories. I'm all for fluff. I love fluff. Fluff is my favorite. But, life is not fluffy. Girls need stories that reflect that life is rarely fluffy, even in - perhaps especially in - the science fiction, fantasy, and paranormal genres.
The author writes this book as diary entries mostly of the two sisters which is not my favorite style but does make for an interesting juxtaposition - diary entries which do include issues of daily life, romance, and throwing an epic party to end all parties with situations involving blood, guts, gore, dead bodies, violence, disease, and sexual harassment.
My expectations were incorrect and those expectations set this book up for ... well not failure but not success. I also felt that the book tried to straddle two very different tones and ended up not quite convincing me of either. In the end, my reaction to this book was "meh".
melissasbookshelf's review against another edition
4.0
This is a great sequel/retelling of the classic Frankenstein. I really enjoyed the gothic feel to the novel and the way the book seamlessly fit into the classic.
This book is about the twin daughters of Dr. Frankenstein whom he hid away so that the monster would not destroy them. His first wife dies giving birth to them and they are sent to live with the mother's family. Sixteen years later, their uncle comes to give them their inheritance which includes an old castle on a forbidden Scottish Island where Dr. Frankenstein in the classic built and then destroyed the wife for the monster. The castle is an old creepy castle and seems haunted.
The story is told through journal entries of the two sisters. The two sisters have very different personalities. Giselle is the more beautiful of the twins and suffers from nightmares and sleepwalking. Ingrid, the other twin is the more intellectual of the two and has a strong curiosity about her father's work. When murders begin to happen around the island and people start to disappear, the book really starts to take off and you begin to wonder who is killing these people? Has the monster returned?
I highly recommend reading the classic before reading this book and I also recommend this for older teens because of a little bit of gore.
This book is about the twin daughters of Dr. Frankenstein whom he hid away so that the monster would not destroy them. His first wife dies giving birth to them and they are sent to live with the mother's family. Sixteen years later, their uncle comes to give them their inheritance which includes an old castle on a forbidden Scottish Island where Dr. Frankenstein in the classic built and then destroyed the wife for the monster. The castle is an old creepy castle and seems haunted.
The story is told through journal entries of the two sisters. The two sisters have very different personalities. Giselle is the more beautiful of the twins and suffers from nightmares and sleepwalking. Ingrid, the other twin is the more intellectual of the two and has a strong curiosity about her father's work. When murders begin to happen around the island and people start to disappear, the book really starts to take off and you begin to wonder who is killing these people? Has the monster returned?
I highly recommend reading the classic before reading this book and I also recommend this for older teens because of a little bit of gore.
heyshay07's review
4.0
This is a book that I think middle school and high school girls would like a lot. Its dark and Gothic without being too over the top. There are some murders with a little bit of surprise twist at the end that might not be great for younger children. There is plenty of romance and at times it goes a little overboard and the main characters just look like stupid, love struck teens which is in contrast to the rest of the book which feels more intelligent than the typical teen romance. I would recommend this book for a middle school or high school library.
thatonecatmom's review
2.0
I honestly very seriously had a problem with the fact that this didn't follow the timeline of Frankenstein exactly. It completely ignored that he only had one wife, though the author did try very hard to write in a first wife, then talked of Elizabeth as a second. I did like seeing some of the characters again, but at what cost? I did like the few twists present, but honestly it was underwhelming.
doodleb58's review
4.0
It was a pretty interesting and unique book. I'm glad the author took actually elements from the real Frankenstein and just added her own spin. I really didn't see the end of this book happening the way it had.
readingcat1228's review
4.0
This book is a good book because there is a lot of suspense and I enjoyed guessing what would happen next. I also enjoyed how the authour included some historical figures such as Percy Shelly and his wife, Mary Shelly and Dr. Jean-Baptiste Salandiere. I do not know if I would read more books like this in the future though.
yogisgirl16's review
2.0
I liked the first part of the story, but found it very easy to put down. The end was lacking, and ended abruptly. Something Im not a fan of. There didnt feel to be a resolution. Due to this I dont know if I would read any of the authors other works.
rubenstein's review
4.0
http://theprettygoodgatsby.wordpress.com/2013/02/19/dr-frankensteins-daughters-by-suzanne-weyn/
Time and time again I've gone on at length about my love of retellings. While Dr. Frankenstein's Daughters isn't technically a retelling, it does expand upon the original work and I couldn't wait to jump right in.
Giselle and Ingrid are 17-year old twins and have grown up not knowing either parent: their mother died in childbirth and their father seemingly abandoned them not long after. Upon learning of a rather large inheritance (complete with castle and Baroness titles!), the girls pack their things and head to the Orkney Islands on the northern coast of Scotland. While there they set about turning the dreary, ancient fortress into a home and discover secrets about their family.
Told through diary entries and a dual narrative, Dr. Frankenstein's Daughters was a quick read perfectly suited for a gloomy rainy afternoon. I easily worked my way through the all-too-short novel, only pausing to refill my tea mug. Ingrid Von Frankenstein was the twin I felt more of a connection with: she was quiet and more interested in reading and learning about anatomy than frequent lavish parties. In the guise of a boy, Ingrid attended lectures at the medical university with her friend and I would have loved to hear about them in greater detail. Perhaps it's my fascination with the macabre, but her brief descriptions of classes devoted entirely to intestines and organs made my 9th grade Biology class dissections pale in comparison. Shortly after arriving at the castle Ingrid discovered her father's old journals and pored over them with fervor, combing through his meticulously drawn anatomical diagrams and painstaking process of creating life.
Giselle on the other hand was far more qualified for life as a young socialite. Even with her frail composition, Giselle practically threw herself into decorating the castle, having dresses custom-designed, and planning a grand party complete with a Who's Who guest list. Giselle didn't understand why her sister took to their father's dingy old laboratory, nor why Ingrid spent all her time fawning over Walter Hammersmith, the young lieutenant who was horribly wounded in battle and now lives in a tiny cottage in the village. She's haughty and shallow and felt her sister too good for a mere commoner, even though Giselle herself had been in love with a local boy, only to have him reject her.
Surprisingly, for a novel about Victor Frankenstein's daughters, there was very little monster talk. While I was terribly letdown by the lack of monsters in A. E. Rought's Broken, I must admit I enjoyed the quiet nature of Dr. Frankenstein's Daughters. It had a gloomy feel that perfectly captured the setting and period, but it also felt very sleepy and I enjoyed that quite a bit. Throughout the novel - and in the wonderful prologue told through one of Victor's diary entries - there were mentions and brief glimpses and the monster and his attacks, but it wasn't until the end that things really got rolling.
Another thing I liked was the name-dropping. Multiple celebrities of the day, including Percy Bysshe Shelley & Mary (!), were in attendance at Giselle's bash and I thought those scenes were wonderful!
While reading Dr. Frankenstein's Daughters, I couldn't help but be reminded of my Scholastic roots. The writing style was fantastic and really hit home for me. This is definitely a novel I could picture myself picking up at a Book Fair back in elementary school.
When all is said and done, Dr. Frankenstein's Daughters is a lovely novel that brings to mind the late 90s in such a good way. I'm positive my 10-year old self would have enjoyed this novel just as much as (if not more than!) the 24-year old me.
When one is a twin, it is more than merely having a sibling. Other sisters might be affectionate but they can never know the feeling of being one with another human that twins enjoy.
Time and time again I've gone on at length about my love of retellings. While Dr. Frankenstein's Daughters isn't technically a retelling, it does expand upon the original work and I couldn't wait to jump right in.
Giselle and Ingrid are 17-year old twins and have grown up not knowing either parent: their mother died in childbirth and their father seemingly abandoned them not long after. Upon learning of a rather large inheritance (complete with castle and Baroness titles!), the girls pack their things and head to the Orkney Islands on the northern coast of Scotland. While there they set about turning the dreary, ancient fortress into a home and discover secrets about their family.
Seventeen years have passed since my father attempted his first experiment. Tremendous strides have been made in science. With his notes and drawings to guide me, I can take his work further than he ever dreamed.
Told through diary entries and a dual narrative, Dr. Frankenstein's Daughters was a quick read perfectly suited for a gloomy rainy afternoon. I easily worked my way through the all-too-short novel, only pausing to refill my tea mug. Ingrid Von Frankenstein was the twin I felt more of a connection with: she was quiet and more interested in reading and learning about anatomy than frequent lavish parties. In the guise of a boy, Ingrid attended lectures at the medical university with her friend and I would have loved to hear about them in greater detail. Perhaps it's my fascination with the macabre, but her brief descriptions of classes devoted entirely to intestines and organs made my 9th grade Biology class dissections pale in comparison. Shortly after arriving at the castle Ingrid discovered her father's old journals and pored over them with fervor, combing through his meticulously drawn anatomical diagrams and painstaking process of creating life.
Giselle on the other hand was far more qualified for life as a young socialite. Even with her frail composition, Giselle practically threw herself into decorating the castle, having dresses custom-designed, and planning a grand party complete with a Who's Who guest list. Giselle didn't understand why her sister took to their father's dingy old laboratory, nor why Ingrid spent all her time fawning over Walter Hammersmith, the young lieutenant who was horribly wounded in battle and now lives in a tiny cottage in the village. She's haughty and shallow and felt her sister too good for a mere commoner, even though Giselle herself had been in love with a local boy, only to have him reject her.
Surprisingly, for a novel about Victor Frankenstein's daughters, there was very little monster talk. While I was terribly letdown by the lack of monsters in A. E. Rought's Broken, I must admit I enjoyed the quiet nature of Dr. Frankenstein's Daughters. It had a gloomy feel that perfectly captured the setting and period, but it also felt very sleepy and I enjoyed that quite a bit. Throughout the novel - and in the wonderful prologue told through one of Victor's diary entries - there were mentions and brief glimpses and the monster and his attacks, but it wasn't until the end that things really got rolling.
I wonder if scholars in general are really the best people to have at a party - who really understands what they're talking about? - but there are enough of them that they can talk amongst themselves.
Another thing I liked was the name-dropping. Multiple celebrities of the day, including Percy Bysshe Shelley & Mary (!), were in attendance at Giselle's bash and I thought those scenes were wonderful!
While reading Dr. Frankenstein's Daughters, I couldn't help but be reminded of my Scholastic roots. The writing style was fantastic and really hit home for me. This is definitely a novel I could picture myself picking up at a Book Fair back in elementary school.
When all is said and done, Dr. Frankenstein's Daughters is a lovely novel that brings to mind the late 90s in such a good way. I'm positive my 10-year old self would have enjoyed this novel just as much as (if not more than!) the 24-year old me.