Reviews with content warning for Medical content - Frankenstein: The 1818 Text

I read this book for the Classics Reading Challenge.

The complexity of Frankenstein's monster is hands down one of the best aspects of this book. I like his development and how he's becoming more human throughout the book. I believe the author did manage to make the reader feel for him. After all, he was just misunderstood and needed love.

Page 52, calm mind.

Spoiler
Dokonalý člověk má vždy zachovat klidnou a pokojnou mysl a nikdy nemá připustit, aby vášeň nebo pomíjivá touha porušily jeho pohodu. Ani vědecké bádání nemá být podle mého názoru výjimkou z tohoto pravidla. Jestliže studium, kterému se člověk věnuje, vede k oslabení přátelských vztahů a prostých radostí, v nichž nemá být ani stopa bolesti, pak je toto studium určitě nesprávné a pro lidskou mysl nevhodné.

I hoped for a happier ending, but it wasn't bad.

I'm glad I read this book.

Content Warnings

leonormsousa's review against another edition

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challenging dark reflective tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

TRIGGER WARNINGS

Spoiler

child death, death, death of parent, murder, xenophobia, abandonment, grief, medical content, self-harm, suicide, and violence

REPRESENTATION

Spoiler

maybe queer MC (?)

REVIEW

Like with most classics, I was pretty afraid of getting into Frankenstein. I knew how much this book means to Cláudia (from @hendrixsbookcorner) and that meant that I was putting extra pressure on myself to enjoy this book that is no less than one of the first science-fiction novels, written by a feminist bisexual women at the age of 18, who also happens to be the daughter of a renowned women’s rights activist (I mean, what a queen! How could I not already love her?!). So yeah… some expectation management had to be done and some courage had to be acquired but it was so freaking worth it!

Frankenstein is one of those books that you don’t love while you’re reading it but that completely takes you once you’ve had the time to process it. It’s pretty slow paced (and a bit confusing) in the beginning (I was fearing for the worse!) but once it picks up, it gets you quite glued to the page as you uncover the story of both Frankenstein and his creation.

It goes around the question of “who is the monster?”, playing with our empathy as we unravel the “creation”’s story. It’s a book on Man’s ambition and desire to “play god”, with no regard for the consequences of its actions nor courage to take responsibility for them. It’s also a book about loneliness and superficiality and obsession.

There’s not really much more that I can say (or at least nothing good enough compared to the book). It’s daunting and haunting and really the absolute perfect choice if you’re looking for a recommendation for this time of the year. Not only does the monster theme perfectly fits the Halloween vibes, you also have a bit of a Dark Academia vibe that matches the fall season.

Content Warnings

angelfireeast24's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? N/A
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Content Warnings

crufts's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Frankenstein is described as a horror story, but it actually has a heavy psychological element to it as well. What were the thoughts (and delusions) of Victor Frankenstein, and those of the Creature? What brilliant heights of triumph and devastating depths of despair did they experience?

Two hundred years and thousands of parodies later, the shock and horror value of Frankenstein may be gone. But the haunting tragedy of a creator and creation who betray each other, set against such fantastical backdrops as the icy wastes of the Arctic Circle, endures.

Content Warnings

veganecurrywurst's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I didn't think that I was going to enjoy this book, but after Frankensteins "Monster" began the story from his perspective, I just could not put the book down.

“There is something at work in my soul, which I do not understand.”

“My spirits were elevated by the enchanting appearance of nature; the past was blotted from my memory, the present was tranquil, and the future gilded by bright rays of hope and anticipations of joy.”

“Remember, that I am thy creature; I ought to be thy Adam; but I am rather a fallen angel, whom thou drivest from joy for no misdeed. Everywhere I see bliss, from which I alone am irrevocably excluded. I was benevolent and good; misery made me a fiend. Make me happy, and I shall be virtuous.”

“The cup of life was poisoned forever, and although the sun shone upon me, as upon the happy and gay of heart, I saw around me nothing but a dense and frightful darkness, penetrated by no light but the glimmer of two eyes that glared upon me.”

Content Warnings

toffishay's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Actually really scared me at points! Men pursue paternalistic, scientific glory and their own goals without thinking of the consequences, ultimately leading to the destruction of all around them.

Content Warnings

chubbypug21's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Content Warnings

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