Frankenstein

Mary Shelley

1818

September, 2023

8.5/10

(the 1818 "uncensored" edition)

The introductory letters paint a beautiful portrait of someone who understands the need for genuine and mutual human interaction and understanding. The beauty of this comes not only from the characters, but from the understanding that this is a relation of Shelley herself — that she is the one with such vivid understanding of the self and the influence of past experiences thereon.

The "start" of the book similarly demonstrates a wide range of human experiences in intimate detail, ranging from the death of a mother to fear of isolation.

Volume I seemed mostly setup. The storytelling itself was "hectic" in a way. While the prose and emotion were strong, it simply had a "feel," like the weight was unevenly distributed throughout. Though this wasn't bad, per say.

Once the monster's story began, however, the book "began." It was beautifully articulate and intelligently crafted with such subtleties — though boastfully-so at times. Shelley's depiction of loneliness and isolation was excellent.

The final chapter is the heart of the book. Everything comes together from the story to the emotion to the true meaning of everything. The ending of the story is as a metaphor for both the story itself and life in general. Above all else, the relationships between the characters truly come to life.

If Stoner is life through another's eyes, then Frankenstein is the life of another. Ultimately, the delivery of the story worked exceptionally well for dialogue and reflection. The between parts were all good, but I prefer the likes of Stoner or Nausea.