Customer Reviews: Read 29 more reviews...
 Think you know Frankenstein? Probably not. November 26, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I know many other reviews have probably pointed this out, but Frankenstein is usually the subject of a common misconception, in that Frankenstein is not the creature's name, it is his creators surname. The creature does not in fact have a name (I call him creature for lack of a better word), and throughout the novel is de-humanised and debased as he is refered to as a monster. He is the unknown and the misunderstood and is therefore shunned from society and everything that is considered normal.
This is the classic novel of one man, and his quest for knowledge. This quest leads to him bestowing life upon an inanimate being; something which he deeply regrets as soon as he has accomplished it. It is the product of Victor Frankenstein's own creation that eats away at him and ultimately destroys him.
The novel reads as a warning against the accomplishments of scientific experimentation, which, in Shelley's day, would have been deeply shocking to the reader. Nowadays, it is much more difficult to shock, but this novel remains a classic. It is unfortunate that the 'legend' of Frankenstein has been so altered by many different adaptations over the years, as the original story is one that forces the reader to consider the moral aspect and the humanity of the 'monster.' It is not just another horror story.
 Not what I was expecting September 26, 2008
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
Anyone who thought that Frankenstein was the tall, slow, bolt-headed monster from the films will be very surprised by this gothic/horror story.
But, hopefully, like me, you will be pleasantly surprised. The story is about a young scientist named Frankenstein who becomes interested in creating life. He attempts to make a man out of acquired body parts. The result is a large, disfigured man. This "monster" is actually a sensitive and real human being. It is only after rejection by his creator that he starts to become more of a monster figure. 'Am I to be thought the only criminal, when all human kind sinned against me? I, the miserable and the abandoned, am an abortion, to be spurned, and kicked, and trampled on.' This is the thought process that comes from rejection leads to the monstrous image. Although, I will not elaborate on this as it would spoil the story.
However, I will say that the key ideas in the book are definitely to do with how much power man should have and the problems caused by man's egotistical nature. If you do decide to read this book I am sure you will find that it is far more than a gothic tale or a horror story. It is infact more again to a heartbreaking tragedy.
 False Advertising by Penguin? August 22, 2008
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
Don't make the same mistake as me, and think the book shown in the 'Search Inside' facility is the book you get. It turns out this shows a more expensive penguin edition, the rather scruffy one I got didn't have the first 58 pages shown in the contents.
Poor show Penguin - 3 stars only, for cheating!
Focus on Emotional Tragedy and The Personal Responsibility of The Scientist August 4, 2008
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
This book is a "must read" for all science fiction / horror lovers, as you will be able to, as previously pointed out by other reviewers, trace the roots and themes of the genre back to its beginnings.
The depth of the book, however, lies in the poignant questions Shelley raises about scientific discovery and creation. These issues are as valid today as they were at the time and have been literary motifs ever since. Shelley's discussion of these themes makes this book a classic, and as such it should be understood.
If you are only familiar with Frankenstein's monster through film adaptations, you will discover an entirely different story, depicting the monster as a tragic and unloved hero, who turns into a brute following the betrayal by his creator, Victor Frankienstein.
Shelley's story centres around the emotional tragedy endured by the monster rather than on the depiction of his crimes or his outward appearance. In this context, we have to mention that the reader does not even find out how Frankenstein assembled his monster or how he infused him with life. This aspect of the story is entirely left to the reader's imagination.
Interesting April 20, 2008
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
I don't know why I put off reading this book for so long, in my mind I imagined this to be some standard gothic horror with a monster chasing civilians but the reality was much different. The book is far more complex, the characters more complicated and the idea of creation rebelling against creator throwing up various allegories. The book does admittedly take some getting into, but it is worth persevering with as it rapidly gets better.
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