Book Review: Must Reads For Youth

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (Ages 15+):

Most think Frankenstein was the monster, but he was its creator: Victor Frankenstein. The infamous story of Frankenstein was written by Mary Shelley in 1816 to follow a scientist animating a creature and being horrified by his creation. To create the monster, Victor practises galvanism – the science of animating life with electricity.

Frankenstein is the first tragically romantic Gothic science-fiction novel, all wrapped up in 225 pages. Shelley wrote Frankenstein in Geneva when telling ghost stories with her husband and friends to pass the time during bad weather. The ideas for both Frankenstein, and The Vampyre, which was published in 1819, were born that day.

There are three separate narrators in Frankenstein: Walton, an explorer, and his letters to his sister on his quest for the Arctic, the main character of Victor Frankenstein, and the monster’s point of view. This diversity in perspective allowed me to experience the same story from various angles, making the introduction of new characters and ideas more interesting.

Victor tends to be a very emotional character, his intensity and unexpected consequences made me enjoy his perspective the most. His tone is mysterious and sophisticated, attempting to convey his complex emotional experiences. I was not expecting the monster to have its own narrative, yet it was eye-opening: the same creature that Victor had antagonised throughout the novel was intelligent and sensitive? Tell me more!

Frankenstein details the unexpected consequences of letting new science enter the world unchecked. In a day and age where technology is constantly advancing, Frankenstein is especially important. This novel has many themes, such as alienation from society, humans versus nature, dangerous knowledge, and ambition. I recommend Frankenstein to anyone who wants to explore any of these themes, has an interest in the Gothic, and/or who enjoys an ornate writing style.