Frankenstein

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Frankenstein
Mary Shelley
1818

The Summary
Frankenstein tells the story of one man's attempt to play God and the tragedies which invariably ensued that would plague him for the rest of his days.

Alternately, Mary Shelley's novel also reveals the tale of the Frankenstein monster and recounts the horrors he is forced to endure as a leper and an outcast from society - a tragedy to which he is doomed from conception, even if he isn't such a bad fellow after all.

The Good
Frankenstein is a highly gratifying horror novel that combines exceptional detail with a close examination of human psychology and philosophy, and crosses it with a memorable narrator of an obscure moral fiber and warped personality.  (And, yes, I do mean Dr. Frankenstein in this instance.)

More importantly, it's a horror story that doesn't pull any punches, because it will challenge everything you have ever known and understood.  Your spine will tingle, and your mind will reel with the implications Mary Shelley makes.

It's terrifying, it's horrific - and it's absolutely wonderful.

The Bad
Despite it's gruesome nature and relatively unimposing stature, Shelley's novel is startlingly deep and philosophically complex.  As a work of literature, it's a hefty piece that will weigh on your conscience and your mind as you push through the pages.

Moreover, Shelley has a remarkable vocabulary - and she's certainly not afraid to put it to use.  More than most books, I would recommend keeping a dictionary within reach and making notes within the margins.

In short, Frankenstein  is difficult to read, but well worth the attempt.

The Ugly
This novel wreaks of moral ambiguity.

It will leave you wondering about the nature of humanity and its proximity to God.  But, more importantly, it will make you question who really deserves the title of "monster" in Shelley's novel:  the creator or the creation?