Frankenstein (Signature Editions)

Think you know the story of Frankenstein's "monster"? Sure, we have seen the movies. Nope, the original is nothing like it, almost a different work, written by a young woman who was informed she could write a frightening story with her male friends, but it would likely be a dud. Hers is the only one that survived. Nice copy, easy to read, well priced.

Thought I knew the story via television depictions. I could not be more wrong. This story is well written and lives in my head. One of my favourite books ever and I am an avid reader.

A good read.

Nice book

If you've never read Frankenstein—you should! It's not the story everyone knows from movies and lore, that of a huge, lumbering, inarticulate monster out to harm people. It is so much more. This is a story of obsession, regret, revenge, loneliness, and morality. Although written over two hundred years ago, the themes are still relevant today. Dr. Frankenstein is so obsessed with the idea of creating life, that he never stops to ask himself if he should. This is human nature, I guess, and can still apply to ideas since the novel was written: nuclear weapons, cloning, AI. Also, the "monster," is a thinking, feeling, articulate being that just wants to be accepted and loved, but of course isn't because of his physical appearance. Dr. Frankenstein is appalled at his creation, instantly regrets it, and flees, leaving the being alone. His creation feels abandoned by his creator, which may also be a metaphor for mankind itself. Read this book! Side note: This is a nice edition of the book. Cool cover, clean interior layout on bright white stock.

Published in 1818, Mary Shelley's best-selling novel Frankenstein has become famed and celebrated annually as thousands of children dress in various monster garb for Halloween, depicting themselves as Dr. Frankenstein's creation. Although Shelley's story is sometimes slow and explicitly focused on minor details, the work presents many issues that are still being analyzed today in literature and society. This is a testament of the timelessness of this great book. Like other authors of the time, Shelley comments on the innocence of childhood when Frankenstein says, "I feel exquisite pleasure in dwelling on the recollections of childhood, before misfortune had tainted my mind, and changed its bright visions of extensive usefulness into gloomy and narrow reflections upon self." Frankenstein's childhood was something that was precious and dear. This thought has remained popular in current literature. For example, in the television show Ed, the main character has this to say about the early days: "Explain to me why we're always so condescending towards our younger selves. We should be looking back in awe of who we were...all that passion, all that fire, all those dreams. And then it all fades and people say, `Oh well, that's just part of growing up.' I think that's tragic." The fascination of the idealism of children is still quite popular, not only in modern sitcoms but in blockbuster movies like Big or classic fairy tales like Peter Pan as well. Although Shelley does not fully explore this matter, she addresses an issue that still gains press today. Another theme of Frankenstein is equivalent of the modern day sociological issue of nature versus nurture. The creature begins his life full of love and cannot even conceive of why someone would murder another person. But as he faces constant abandonment and bitterness, the creature turns to acts that he once could not imagine. Placing the blame on his nurture, or lack thereof, the creature exclaims, "I desired love and fellowship, and I was still spurned. Was there no injustice in this? Am I to be thought the only criminal, when all human kind sinned against me?" Shelley's answer to these questions is not all too clear, although the fate and doom of Frankenstein sends a message that the scientist was partially at fault. But the answers that the creature would get in modern times are lucid and concise. A final issue that is still prevalent in society is mankind's attempt to govern the physical world through science. The results of Frankenstein's experiment indicate that Shelley strongly believes that man should not try to play God. Stephen Hawking is currently trying to unify physics, or combine the theory of relativity with the theory of quantum mechanics. Others try to clone life using DNA. Hawking recently said, ""If we find the answer to [cloning or the unification of physics,] it would be the ultimate triumph of human reason - for then we would know the mind of God." Like Frankenstein, scientists are still trying to discover the mystery of life, and Shelley's commentary on this absorption is appropriate even today. This book is slow at times but in the end worth the read.

The image that most of us have when hearing the name "Frankenstein" is a huge lumbering monster with little or no intelligence. This is the image I had when first reading Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein or the Modern Prometheus." Nothing could have been further from the truth. The story starts with letters between a man and his sister over his choice to explore the artic region. While trapped in ice, this main and the crew of his ship meet with the infamous Mr. Frankenstein. From here, Frankenstein tells the horrid story of how is attempt to play God backfired. His story starts with young Frankenstein first leaving his home and the family and friend he loves so much. He is headed off to a university to study the natural sciences. During his time here, his reputation grows until he is one of the most respected members of the university. It is by chance that he happens to stumble upon the secret of creating life from that which is lifeless. After many months of solitude in his labratory, Frankenstein is able to successfully create a living being. The problem is that his creation is too hideous to behold. Frankenstein immediately shuns his creation as does the rest of society. From here, Frankenstein gives the long account on how the creature came to be his ultimate tormentor, shadowing him wherever he travelled, giving Frankenstein's heart no time for rest. What surprised me most about this story was just how human Frankenstein's creation was. He learned to speak and feel emotions just like a human being. He did not start out as an evil creature wanting to wreak havok on humans. It was society's reaction to him that drove him to vile actions. Even his "God," his creator, Mr. Frankenstein, had forsaken him. A lot of references to "Paradise Lost" by John Milton were thrown into the story which added an interesting parallel between the Judeo-Christian creation of man and Frankenstein's creation. Before reading this book you should try to cast off any preconceived notions you have about Frankenstein. You won't find any dimwitted brutes in this story, only some extremely tormented individuals who are brought to the brink of madness.

Had a great time reading this

A classic and the progenitor of entire genres of fiction to boot. This is a book that everyone should read at least once in a lifetime, and ideally many times over. While the prose is obviously a product of its time, the book remains accessible to all.

Buono, bel libro, facile lettura

1) it came peeling at the bottom (don’t really care but it’s there) 2)the paper’s quite flimsy and sometimes even slightly see through, which makes annotation with anything than a pencil very hard additionally the margins are tiny making annotation almost impossible. for people who read this book for pleasure it’s sufficient, as a student who will need to annotate it, it is inconvenient

Was bought as a gift, had no complaints. Will buy the rest.