Frankenstein
84 Installments—Entirely free
(Preview)
Members' Rating:
from 53 Ratings and 6 Reviews
Tags: Banned Books, Classics, Horror, Novel, Science Fiction
ISBN:0679409998
Description
Dr. Frankenstein's dark alchemy brings a monster to life one fateful day. His form is a hulking mass of dead body parts, his appearance wild and ghoulish. This is a nightmarish creature, frightening and bizarre. He is capable of violent and merciless acts. And yet, the creature's deepest desire is all too human: to be loved. He asks the Doctor for a companion, but Frankenstein dashes his hopes for a mate. The creature goes on a murderous rampage, his pain propelling a passionate quest for vengeance. One after another, Dr. Frankenstein's family and friends are attacked and ruthlessly killed. More lives are endangered and the creature is at large, nowhere to be found. No one but the Doctor knows what a horrifying menace is lurking. No one but the Doctor knows what it really wants.
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Opening Lines (Experimental)
You will rejoice to hear that no disaster has accompanied the commencement of an enterprise which you have regarded with such evil forebodings. I arrived here yesterday, and my first task is to assure my dear sister of my welfare and increasing confidence in the success of my undertaking.
I am ...
Member reviews
2/5
Reviewed by turtle7761 on Jul 25, 2012
Not what expected.
This seemed to be more a book about a mad-man than a monster. Definitely not what expected after Hollywood's versions.
1/5 
Reviewed by rexkatwa on Aug 31, 2011
Boring
Sorry, this may have been intriguing reading at the time it was written, but it's a terrible bore today, in my opinion. And, also, unfortunately, the subsequent movies and other derivations have so elaborated the story that the original is no longer recognizable as the same story -- and the orginal has very little to recommend it, other than as literary history, I guess.
4/5 
Reviewed by roslyn on Dec 25, 2010
Bleak and terrifying
This novel takes a single thread - the relationship between creator and creation - and ties it into a ghastly, believable knot.
While I longed for some deeper characterisation, perhaps a scene or two of relief from the relentless unhappiness of Frankenstein's tale - these changes would have detracted from the crisp, believable tone and relentless pace.
Frankenstein is not a doctor - merely a young man driven by ambition and, later, love for his family. His monster is one of the most ambivalent beings I have encountered in fiction. It was impossible to know whether to pity or revile him. Their fates entwined in the arctic sea, I felt relief for the end of their miseries, rather than sorrow at their passing.
This novel is remarkable for its chilling plausibility, and for the mood of hopeless melancholy it captures. The real monster, perhaps, is the depression that haunted its author, Mary Shelley, and which pervades every page of this classic.
3/5 
Reviewed by drreuzit on Mar 15, 2010
Better Than Expected!
Havig seen Frankenstein movies over the years, the book's main plot was an actual surprise, and included more subtle depth than expected. Writing style was slow at times, but ended up looking forward to each new increment, especially during the last 10 or so. Glad I read it.
1/5
Reviewed by doo1019 on Nov 5, 2009
Another classic bites the dust
Another book I've always wanted to read, but couldn't get past the first quarter. I'm pretty patient, but just couldn't manage with this one.
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Ratings for 'Frankenstein' by Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft
| airasothis | | 2008-10-11 | |
| amcatia |  | 2011-05-24 | |
| anessuh | | 2010-12-09 | |
| angelicmobster8 | | 2009-12-07 | |
| aprilbd | | 2008-10-14 | |
| bhmoney | | 2010-06-29 | |
| Blindboy84 | | 2011-04-11 | |
| blondierocket | | 2008-08-20 | |
| bren0230 | | 2012-08-15 | |
| butterflybaisers87 | | 2009-03-07 | |
| cati | | 2009-08-08 | |
| charlottevalle | | 2008-10-01 | |
| CherylsPearls | | 2009-02-09 | |
| christinethebean88 | | 2010-06-16 | |
| CleanMan | | 2009-06-09 | |
| darkmoonman | | 2012-06-05 | |
| doo1019 | | Read review | 2009-11-05 |
| drreuzit | | Read review | 2010-03-15 |
| eagad | | 2009-06-01 | |
| ENFIELDBOYN | | 2011-04-26 | |
| ErinK | | 2012-11-11 | |
| FaileGaidin | | 2009-03-23 | |
| Faustess | | 2010-06-29 | |
| holytoastr | | 2010-09-02 | |
| icarusholmes | | 2011-10-12 |
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