A classic that had long been on my list that I really enjoyed finally getting to. Like many I was only familiar with the modern Hollywood version of the Frankenstein tale— knowing just enough to know to snark “Frankenstein was the doctor, that’s Frankenstein’s monster”

But I didn’t realize just how much my understanding of the take deviated from Shelley’s terrific source story. I found myself disappointed and confused when the beginning started with a third party seemingly unrelated to Frankenstein or his monster, and again when the story of the initial build and animation of the monster seemed so quick and non-monumental. But by the time midway through the story when we got to hear directly from the monster himself I was hooked!

It’s been a while since I’ve really read a classic work of fiction from long ago so I definitely had to adjust to feel like I was in high school English class again, but reading the Penguin Classics version with great intro to help with that process. Really set up to drink in the themes of revenge, obsession, regret, and more. 

I loved learning the background of how after many disappointing nights this narrative was borne of Shelley finally coming up with her own ‘ghost story,’ one that led her to become more renowned than her cohorts and really setting the stage for the modern horror genre. The writing was clear, concise, but painted a vivid scenery— at the end I really felt myself in the icy wilderness with all the characters!