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Frankenstein's Aunt
When Aunt Frankenstein arrives at the castle of her nephew, who created the monster, to restore that place to order and clear the family's blackened name, she encounters both Dracula and the werewolf and attempts to solve their problems too.
132 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1978
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
October 23, 2016
Hanna Frankenstein, disappointed in her nephew's antics, decides to restore the Frankenstein name by sprucing up the castle. The task gets easier when she finds something from the cellar, but the villagers become increasingly alarmed when they start seeing signs of activity in the crumbled castle. Can Aunt Frankenstein really make up for her nephew's past mistakes?
Monster mashes can sometimes be problematic, because introducing several classic horror characters in one story can seem overwhelming. Pettersson keeps it fairly well together, though, and the characters don't come across as glued on despite not having that much use in the story overall. The lack of a major plot, where each of the character would have a more sensible part, is the one weakness of Frankenstein's Aunt.
However, Pettersson's vivid use of language and sense of humour are a delight, the latter which is most evident in the suggestive scene between Aunt Frankenstein and Dracula. Dracula would rather stand because of his circulation, and Aunt comments how she's the type of old lady who doesn't have much money in the bank. Dracula's bloody toy boy aspirations quickly come to an end, though.
Frankenstein's Aunt is the type of novel I imagine wouldn't be published today, and not just because of Aunt's addiction to cigars and sherry. It's easy to make monsters caricatures in novels aimed at a young audience. Pettersson avoids that trap and doesn't treat the monsters like clichés, but comes up with something at least a little bit new for each without them coming across like out of character. Like in the very best monster mashes, it's enjoyable to see the creatures interacting. The Fearless Vampire Killers ending is pretty great as well.
Monster mashes can sometimes be problematic, because introducing several classic horror characters in one story can seem overwhelming. Pettersson keeps it fairly well together, though, and the characters don't come across as glued on despite not having that much use in the story overall. The lack of a major plot, where each of the character would have a more sensible part, is the one weakness of Frankenstein's Aunt.
However, Pettersson's vivid use of language and sense of humour are a delight, the latter which is most evident in the suggestive scene between Aunt Frankenstein and Dracula. Dracula would rather stand because of his circulation, and Aunt comments how she's the type of old lady who doesn't have much money in the bank. Dracula's bloody toy boy aspirations quickly come to an end, though.
Frankenstein's Aunt is the type of novel I imagine wouldn't be published today, and not just because of Aunt's addiction to cigars and sherry. It's easy to make monsters caricatures in novels aimed at a young audience. Pettersson avoids that trap and doesn't treat the monsters like clichés, but comes up with something at least a little bit new for each without them coming across like out of character. Like in the very best monster mashes, it's enjoyable to see the creatures interacting. The Fearless Vampire Killers ending is pretty great as well.
March 14, 2021
This was one of my favorite books to check out at the school library when I was a kid, and I found an old school library copy of it online so I had to get it and read it again.
It holds up surprisingly well. Aunt Frankenstein is a hilarious character who smokes cigars, drinks sherry, and has a droll wit. She arrives at the ruins of Frankenstein castle with the purpose of cleaning up her nephews mess and restoring the good name of the family.
The book is really an homage to old Hollywood monster movies, with not only Frankensteins monster but also the Wolfman and Dracula making appearances. The pacing is well done, the setting well established, and the humor is brilliant. It tells an excellent story that is also a story about outcasts from society.
I also like that Aunt Frankenstein had no patience or interest in her irresponsible nephew.
It holds up surprisingly well. Aunt Frankenstein is a hilarious character who smokes cigars, drinks sherry, and has a droll wit. She arrives at the ruins of Frankenstein castle with the purpose of cleaning up her nephews mess and restoring the good name of the family.
The book is really an homage to old Hollywood monster movies, with not only Frankensteins monster but also the Wolfman and Dracula making appearances. The pacing is well done, the setting well established, and the humor is brilliant. It tells an excellent story that is also a story about outcasts from society.
I also like that Aunt Frankenstein had no patience or interest in her irresponsible nephew.
January 11, 2021
The premise sounded very promising, and while being a very compelling and a spooky cozy read it didn't quite live up to my expectations. Would like to read the next book and hopefully enjoy it more.
October 27, 2017
3 - 4 stars. I really enjoyed it the first time I read it but wasn't as enthused this time around.
May 14, 2018
In Frankenstein's Aunt by Alan Rune Petterson, Hanna Frankenstein is trying to cleanup the Frankensteins name, by redoing the house and cleaning up their look, but while doing that she meets the beast himself, Frankenstein. He is expected to be this terrible monster, but really after all he is human, right? At least that is what Hanna thought in this wild, action packed book of excitement. "She had an unpleasant feeling of being on her way to her own execution" metaphor "but she waved the thought away as imaginative nonsense, put up her umbrella and lit a cigar." Simile. " On no account must he be let out of the castle. The torches are on the march again." Simile.
In my opinion this book was good because of how it portrays everything different than other people would, and he still gets it to make sense, and it also portrays Frankenstein not as a monster, but a understood scared creature. Overall this book was good and I would recomend it to many people.
In my opinion this book was good because of how it portrays everything different than other people would, and he still gets it to make sense, and it also portrays Frankenstein not as a monster, but a understood scared creature. Overall this book was good and I would recomend it to many people.
July 14, 2023
I remember this book as the only book that I found interesting in my old school library. It has been twenty years since I read it last time and it turns out my tastes haven’t changed much.
The best way to describe Frankenstein's Aunt is as Frankenstein fanfiction. It offers a humorous take on the old school horror villains, kinda like Hotel Transylvania only in the form of an 80's pulp novel.
The best way to describe Frankenstein's Aunt is as Frankenstein fanfiction. It offers a humorous take on the old school horror villains, kinda like Hotel Transylvania only in the form of an 80's pulp novel.
December 24, 2018
This brief novel started fast and promising but loses its headway in the middle sections - the ‘Monster Mash’ plot overbearing on developments.
It begins with a nice ‘Rocky Horror’ tone and has language well-suited to progressing 11-13 year olds: minor characters (Larry Talbot, Count Dracula, the guard, etc.) are well characterised in brief sketches, and consistent pathetic fallacy creates a quick, relevant atmosphere for proceedings.
The nuances of the Aunt character may be missed by many kids (a lot may depend on who is aware of Cruella de Vil and such like), and there is not a huge depth to any of them.
Not to ruin things, but the ending may leave many questioning...
The highlight for me was the moment of the Monster’s recital. With one stroke of the brush, depth was given to a completely lifeless character (previously). But this all takes place over a mere handful of pages, so could never trump the sum of parts.
It begins with a nice ‘Rocky Horror’ tone and has language well-suited to progressing 11-13 year olds: minor characters (Larry Talbot, Count Dracula, the guard, etc.) are well characterised in brief sketches, and consistent pathetic fallacy creates a quick, relevant atmosphere for proceedings.
The nuances of the Aunt character may be missed by many kids (a lot may depend on who is aware of Cruella de Vil and such like), and there is not a huge depth to any of them.
Not to ruin things, but the ending may leave many questioning...
The highlight for me was the moment of the Monster’s recital. With one stroke of the brush, depth was given to a completely lifeless character (previously). But this all takes place over a mere handful of pages, so could never trump the sum of parts.
December 3, 2017
Gorgeous wee kids book, and with some clever references to the original Frankenstein literary history for the adults. Loved it.
March 16, 2019
I loved this book as a child. I really want to do a reread soon to see if it holds up
February 14, 2021
Tengo buenos recuerdos de la serie de television, sin embargo el libro me ha supuesto una pequeña decepción.
August 11, 2021
(5/10) Una novela corta que parodia el género gótico y algunos de sus personajes más emblemáticos pero que termina en un final absurdo que estropea el buen sabor de boca del primer tercio.
September 7, 2023
Frankenstein boka ga faktisk mer mening etter denne:) Jeg er veldig glad i retellings🕺🏽 så denne var bare koselig å lese og forventa ikke det som skjedde
July 11, 2017
Story that I tend to read time to time. It's interesting story and version of Frankenstein with the humor that Scandinavians are infamous of having. This is one of the best horror comedies in written form that I have ever red. It's interesting how story opened differently than it did when I was child and teen. Book indeed is meant for all ages, not just for teens as it notes at the back cover summary. Unfortunately, in Finland this book is seen as children's/young teens story only. That isn't the case however.
March 4, 2017
Ruotsalaisten Allan Rune Petterssonin "Frankensteinin täti" (Kirjateos, 1985) on humoristinen lastenromaani, jossa tomera täti-ihminen Hanna Frankenstein saapuu sukulinnaansa. Hulttiomainen veljenpoika on päästänyt linnan rapistumaan, mutta kaikkein pahiten on rapistunut kai suvun maine. Ainakin kyläläiset suhtautuvat Frankensteinin nimeen aika nuivasti.
Hanna ei kuitenkaan anna pikkujuttujen estää itseään, vaan päättää apulaisensa Franzin ja huonohampaisen Igorin kanssa pistää hihat heilumaan. Hirviö herätetään uudestaan henkiin, onhan se riittävän voimakas huolehtimaan linnan remontoinnista. Se herättää kyläläisten epäluulot, eivätkä ne ainakaan hälvene, kun paikalle saapuvat myös kuuhun neuroottisesti suhtautuvat Larry Talbot -niminen miekkonen ja itse kreivi Dracula.
Täti päättää voittaa ihmisten sydämet puolelleen järjestämällä kulttuuri-iltamat Frankensteinin linnassa - mutta miten ne mahtavat sujua, etenkin kun ne järjestetään perjantaina 13. päivä täysikuun aikaan?
Vuonna 1978 ilmestynyt "Frankensteinin täti" osoittautui varsin hauskaksi ja sopivan jännittäväksi alakoululaisten romaaniksi. Luullakseni voisin edelleen vinkata sitä nelos-viitosille, etenkin kun kauhugenren klassiset hahmot lienevät heillekin tuttuja erilaisten kirjojen ja elokuvien myötä. Lastenkirjojen maailmankuva on sinänsä muuttunut neljässäkymmenessä vuodessa: vaikea olisi enää kuvitella, että alakoululaisten romaanissa juotaisiin sherryä ja poltettaisiin ketjussa, puhumattakaan siitä, että käytännössä kaikki henkilöhahmot ovat täysikäisiä!
Hanna ei kuitenkaan anna pikkujuttujen estää itseään, vaan päättää apulaisensa Franzin ja huonohampaisen Igorin kanssa pistää hihat heilumaan. Hirviö herätetään uudestaan henkiin, onhan se riittävän voimakas huolehtimaan linnan remontoinnista. Se herättää kyläläisten epäluulot, eivätkä ne ainakaan hälvene, kun paikalle saapuvat myös kuuhun neuroottisesti suhtautuvat Larry Talbot -niminen miekkonen ja itse kreivi Dracula.
Täti päättää voittaa ihmisten sydämet puolelleen järjestämällä kulttuuri-iltamat Frankensteinin linnassa - mutta miten ne mahtavat sujua, etenkin kun ne järjestetään perjantaina 13. päivä täysikuun aikaan?
Vuonna 1978 ilmestynyt "Frankensteinin täti" osoittautui varsin hauskaksi ja sopivan jännittäväksi alakoululaisten romaaniksi. Luullakseni voisin edelleen vinkata sitä nelos-viitosille, etenkin kun kauhugenren klassiset hahmot lienevät heillekin tuttuja erilaisten kirjojen ja elokuvien myötä. Lastenkirjojen maailmankuva on sinänsä muuttunut neljässäkymmenessä vuodessa: vaikea olisi enää kuvitella, että alakoululaisten romaanissa juotaisiin sherryä ja poltettaisiin ketjussa, puhumattakaan siitä, että käytännössä kaikki henkilöhahmot ovat täysikäisiä!
August 30, 2021
Novela escrita por Allan Rune Petterson en 1978, dirigida al público infantil/juvenil y cuya adaptación televisiva fue muy conocida en nuestro país allá por 1987. El libro es un homenaje a las películas que la productora Universal dedicara en los años 30 y 40 a los personajes de Frankenstein, el conde Drácula y el hombre lobo. De esta manera, el doctor Frankenstein se llama Henry, como en la película de James Whale, y no Víctor, como en la novela original de Mary Shelley. Concretamente, la historia nos remite de manera especial a las simpáticas películas de reuniones de monstruos del tipo La zíngara y los monstruos o La mansión de Drácula, si bien el cómico personaje de Igor parece haber salido directamente de El jovencito Frankenstein.
Un libro lleno de referencias donde el autor, en un curioso ejercicio de metaliteratura, hace que la tía de Frankenstein se permita el lujo de enseñarle al monstruo algunos versos de la propia Mary Shelley, y hasta se menciona que ésta y Lord Byron pasaron la noche en el castillo de Frankenstein en su camino a Suiza. Aquella noche en Villa Diodati cobra un nuevo sentido.
Un libro lleno de referencias donde el autor, en un curioso ejercicio de metaliteratura, hace que la tía de Frankenstein se permita el lujo de enseñarle al monstruo algunos versos de la propia Mary Shelley, y hasta se menciona que ésta y Lord Byron pasaron la noche en el castillo de Frankenstein en su camino a Suiza. Aquella noche en Villa Diodati cobra un nuevo sentido.
March 26, 2014
2014 reread: Holds up very well to the fondness of memory - plus, added benefit of having seen the movies/monsters referenced (Bride of Frankenstein, especially; but also, Fearless Vampire Killers and Mad Monster Party play a part in this monster mash) made this revisitation doubly so an absolute joy. And, librarians and teachers take note, the vocabulary of this "juvenile" novel probably clobbers most present-day YA.
Original review:
High demand book in fourth or fifth grade.
I mean, it was the allure of this lone book versus about two dozen copies of Where the Red Fern Grows .
Original review:
High demand book in fourth or fifth grade.
I mean, it was the allure of this lone book versus about two dozen copies of Where the Red Fern Grows .
April 23, 2012
I'd have given this book less than one star if I could (can I do that??) I thought it was dreadful, full of cliché, and the story was so badly thought out. The only interesting bit was wondering how she'd get out of being chased by the mob at the end, and it was SUCH a cop out of a an ending, I genuinely felt angry for my time having been wasted, which i've never ever felt about a book before or since. I now it's a pastiche, but..urg, no no no
October 15, 2016
I remember loving this book when I read it in 4th or 5th grade. I regret that I cannot give it 5 stars as the ending just doesn't hold up to the rest of the story. I guess the charm of this book for me as always been the references to old classic monsters and the atmosphere that the author sets up. Though this book is marked juvenile I agree with other reviews definitely YA.
January 9, 2008
i like this book because he invents stuff with potions
August 6, 2008
...I remember reading this one way back in high school, all I remember is that I really enjoyed it...
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March 3, 2018I was on the phone with Ardath Mayhar the other night and she mentioned that she was trying to find her copy of this book. So, I thought I'd order a copy and see what gives... We'll see, huh?
October 7, 2012
Kepeästi kirjoitettu nuorten kirja Draculasta, Frankensteinin hirviöstä ym...
tosiaankin kepeä oli ja äkkiä luettu - ei paljon mitään sanottavaa, tarina oli tylsä.
tosiaankin kepeä oli ja äkkiä luettu - ei paljon mitään sanottavaa, tarina oli tylsä.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews