The first book I will be reviewing and discussing is Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. This classic novel was quite surprising in terms of what I was expecting.
Firstly, the book itself is not very scary. I know that what was deemed "outrageous" and "scary" was different to what is nowadays but I was expecting more drama and to feel not exactly terrified but more disturbed. Even whole electrifying "creation scene" was not a landmark feature in the book at all. I was waiting for Dr. Frankenstein to shout, "IT'S ALIVE!" but it never happened. There were certainly parts in the book that were unsettling, but I was expecting to feel that way throughout.
Also, I feel that Shelley's portrayal of the monster and just the characters in general was just a bit fanciful. The monster speaks in full sentences, in English and manages to exclaim lines such as, "This was then the reward of my benevolence!" Yet the creature has only been alive for a short time, picking up words from a family he spies on as he wanders. Granted, the monster was a human- or is composed of human parts- therefore he may still retain pieces of language. Personally, I think it would have been more scary if the monster was a silent stalker.
The story is quite long- the book which is not long- but the story within spans over many years, from Victor Frankenstein's birth to his untimely death, and the characters which weave in and out of the story are very interesting. It really shows us how having the focal point on one character can leave us to discard other characters. We didn't overly care about their fates. It is almost as if we are placed within the story and that we are Frankenstein, focusing on a particular thing until something suddenly happens and we are running again. I did really enjoy it when the monster went out of his mind, killing and destroying. I found myself caring about the miserable side characters less and less and more so finding thrill in reading about the murderous behaviour of the monster. Personally, I think it is peculiar when reading these chapter because we feel torn about the monster. He had been an outcast, despised and feared when all he wanted was love and attention, abandoned and perhaps the somewhat human part of him wanted to be lay down to rest. Yet he does these unforgiving acts and we feel a hatred.
I am glad I have read this novel because it had a) been on my list of books to read and b) it has proven to me how much novels have changed over the years and how the media often exaggerates stories.
Zobo!
