Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Rating: ★★★★

Firstly, this book held up as a much easier read than I expected. The prose had just enough of that old school flower and specificity to be charming, without loosing me in the weeds.

The themes were well chosen and skillfully explored. Chosing and self and becoming it-- from Clerval's chivalry, to Victor and Walton's fame and discovery, to the creature's evil. They all juxtaposed so well, neatly illustrating Shelley's argument without her having the spell it out.

It was especially fun to see the lightning motif, knowing how it has evolved not just in Frankenstein adaptations but horror media as a whole.

Lastly, Shelley is an author who is not afraid to treat us to a long damn speech. And I loved every one. The contrast and paralells between Frankenstein and the creature had me breaking out a highlighter and new stack of sticky tabs; two enemies who think so similarly, and regard themselves so similarly, yet can never reach an agreement. Also, all of these pretentious characters having unabashedly grandious voices was equally charming and hilarious.

The pacing is definitely unusual, and would be out of place in a modern novel, but in Frankenstein, it is part of the charm. Yes, you're three layers deep in a story of someone telling a story of someone telling a story. But you'll love it! Overall, this is one of my favorite classic novels I've ever read.

Recommendations:

Dracula by Bram Stoker: The obvious pick for a reason. If you loved that special drama you can only get in classic lit, Dracula is a must read. Every character has a moral code and moral failing; good fights against evil. The main difference between Dracula and Frankenstein is that Dracula is a much more optimistic book, and yet it never feels overly positive or sticky sweet. It's one of my favorites for a reason, and if you enjoyed Frankenstein, you should definitely give it a spin.

Feet of Clay by Terry Pratchett: Here's a hot take. But if what you loved about Frankenstein was the thematic exploration of what it takes to be human, and you're alright with a pretty drastic tone change, Feet of Clay should be your next stop. Yes, it's part of a larger series (Discworld), but it works as a standalone novel. The tone is much lighter than Frankenstein, but one of the fundamental themes of the book is the meaning of life; however, Pratchett pushes further into exploring those intricacies in a society that pushes that the the only true purpose is to work.