"Frankenstein" First Impressions *No Spoilers*

[Kim]

Written almost 200 years ago and widely considered the first science fiction novel, somehow I have never actually read it. What I know of it comes from movies and other references. And it's about time I read it. Who else has never read it?

[Maggie]

I just finished it. I 'thought' I had read it before, but when I got into it, I realized I never had and that I too was just following the movie hype. It's so different!

[Marie]

I have never read it either. Excited to finally do. As you others said, it feels like you have read it even though you have not.I hade the same experience with Dracula which I read awhile back. It turned out to be an awsome book and I have a feeling Frankenstein will too. Orderd a copy of the book from my online bookstore today and should be starting reading it next weekend :)

[Traci]

I just read it for the first time this year after seeing a lot of adaptations of it and thought it was wonderful. No matter how much you think you know the story, I think you'll be surprised. I was anyway. As to what genre it belongs to...it certainly has themes still present in science fiction today so yeah I say it's science fiction. But also horror.

[Kim]

Everitt wrote: "I want to bait a question here: is this book sci-fi? I read a lot of science fiction and have waivered back and forth with the book as sci-fi over the years."

I might branch that off into its own discussion for those who've read it.

[[deleted user]]

Everitt wrote: "If you have Netflix there are several "Frankenstein" movies showing..."

I recently saw the film version of Danny Boyle's production for the NT with Benedict Cumberbatch as Frankenstein and Jonny Lee Miller as The Creature.
It was stunning and I'd certainly recommend it to anyone who is reading the book.

[Jon]

I read this four years ago (see my review here). Many people forget that there's a subtitle to this book: Frankenstein; or the Modern Prometheus.

And, yes, I would consider this science fiction because, well, it based on science, or a scientist's experiment.

[Travis]

The philosophical questions she deals within this book are amazing, especially considering the time she lived in. Look how much her theme has had an impact through later books and movies. After I took my kids to see Prometheus I made them come read this so they understood more what the movie was about and it spawned several days of good discussion about how they spotted the same theme inside the games and movies they liked.

[Mark]

And she was only 21 when she wrote it ...

(Its become such a famous story that most people know, but only from the movies ... the book is truly excellent).

[Aga]

Ahhhh, so many books I want to read this month! Frankenstein has to wait till the end of the month for me. But I think it will be perfect end of summer read.

[Cheryl]

Excellent book. I envy those of you reading it for the first time.

[Malissa]

I loved it when I first read it and loved it again when I read it again. It is not the same as everything that has been adapted from it. It is a classic that will stand the test of time imo and has for 200 years.

[Aga]

Actually, I’ve read the translation in high school, so I’m going to read the original this time.

[Cynda]

I have read it before, but this time I am better prepared. I have read/reread some Romantic literature early in year, including a very tiny bit 18th philosophy, including some of Mary Wollstonecraft, mother of Mary Shelley. I am looking forward to reading with. . . .Since a reread, I may just audiobook it.