Frankenstein

or, The Modern Prometheus

By: Mary Wolstonecraft Shelley

Narrated by: B. J. Harrison

In the frozen wastes north of Russia, a lone seaward vessel seeks the elusive Northwest Passage. Suddenly they sight a dog sled with a gargantuan figure in the shape of a man, driving the dogs northward to sure oblivion. The following day, they find another sled. This sled is filled with a European near death, and when asked what he is chasing, he simply replies, "to seek one who fled from me."

Public Domain (P)2010 B.J. Harrison

Happy 200th Anniversary!

It is the 200th anniversary of Frankenstein! It also October and I decided to read some ghoulish stories.

I first read Frankenstein almost 20 years ago when I was in high school.

So back then I was a bit bored by the writing. I still was at times because Shelly would go on a bit with some descriptions, and listening to Harrison's soothing voice would allow me to doze off.

I do think this time around though that I appreciated the prose more and found some passages quite poetic. I do love that Mary Shelly was a woman ahead of her time to write such a deep, philosophical, science fiction story.

I am so used to the adaptations of Frankenstein that I forgot that in the original story it is never outright said how he makes the Creature. It's not the digging up bodies and using lightening method we're used to. It's implied that Frankenstein made the body from scratch. Also, and maybe I fell asleep during that part, he is also never called Doctor Victor Frankenstein. Did he get his P.H.D.?

The reason that this story still stands today is because the philosophy and themes in the story are timeless. We're a blank slate and what shapes us is nature and nurture together. Also, take responsibility for your actions. I am looking at you, Victor.

4 out of 5 Lightening Bolts

I just want to give a shout out to my two favorite adaptations:
- Mel Brook's Young Frankenstein, which is still hysterically funny.
- Danny Boyle's Frankenstein, where Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller alternated their roles each night as Frankenstein and the Creature.

#Frankenstein #classic #sciencefiction #philosophical #thoughtprovoking #tagsgiving #sweepstakes

The real story

The story was good though Dr. Frankenstein seriously got on my nerves with all of his whining; I mean good grief.

But it was an interesting read, I picked it up when my Mom told me she had read it and that Frankenstein wasn't the "monster" WHAT?!?!?! My whole life I had been lied to by cartoons that stated the "monster's" name was Frankenstein. So I had to read the book to find out what else I had been told falsely concerning this story.

At the end though the "monster" was bad, to me Dr. Frankenstein was so much worse.

I would have given it more stars but it was a little slow for me.

Love!

I love to read and surprisingly enough had never read Frankenstein, I found it eerie and interesting!