12. Frankenstein (Oxford World's Classics). Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley. 1818/1998. 261 pages. [Source: Library, Audiobook, classic, science fiction, speculative fiction.]
First sentence: You will rejoice to hear that no disaster has accompanied the
commencement of an enterprise which you have regarded with such evil
forebodings.
Premise/plot: Robert Walton is on the adventure of a lifetime; he's
always, always, always wanted to be an arctic explorer. He just wishes
he had a best-good-buddy to share it with. As he's sharing his longing
for a friend with his sister--via letter--he stumbles across a candidate
for the job. He's a strange, odd man with one super-crazy story to
tell. He's also a man full of warnings and woes. His name is Victor Frankenstein. You might have heard of him. Maybe.
Victor Frankenstein understands dreaming big. If asked what he wanted to
be when he grew up, he might have responded oh-so-seriously: GOD. You
see, Victor spends way too much time thinking about how life is created.
Well. Perhaps I should rephrase that. When he's thinking about
creation, he's thinking about how to reanimate DEAD BODIES and RECREATE
life.
Frankenstein becomes more than a little obsessed with his science
project. I personally could never figure out the appeal. He isn't
interested in bringing the dead back to life--as is. That is,
reanimating the life of a specific person. He is interested in piecing
together bits and pieces of dead humans into a new super-human form.
Taller. Stronger. Bigger. And definitely uglier. He isn't interested in
prolonging life or reuniting families. What does he hope to gain by his
creation? Does he see himself as a Creator? What does he owe his
creature--if anything? What does his creature owe him--if anything?
If man is created in the image of God, is the monster created in the
image of Frankenstein? Does the monster share the characteristics of
Victor Frankenstein? Are the two more alike or different? Does the
monster reveal the heart and mind of his Creator?
My thoughts: I've read Frankenstein so many times now. I think I've
really only ever read the 1818 text of the novel. Most of the time I
stick with the same copy I used in college.
I love the book.
© 2026 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews
