Frankenstein - No Green Monster necessary

I finished Frankenstein by Mary Shelley a couple of weeks ago but I have going over in my head what I want to discuss with this book. Let's start with the overall book in terms of how the heck I got through it. I will admit, the first 50 pages was torturous for me. I wanted to burn the book, thrown it, put it in a shredder and claw my eyes out. However, I am on this journey of reading 1001 Books (even though this list will probably continue to grow) and I will make it though the book and all of the books, even though I want to shoot myself. However, once I got into the meat and potatos of the novel, I was engrossed (though once or twice I was searching for a gun) and wanted to know what the hell happens at the end! The novel is short, less than 200 pages so just think, after you finally cawl your way through the first 50, you only have 3/4 of the book left!

Okay, so I think I have established my journey through the book. Now, I would love to really post my thoughts on some of my favorite passages of the novel. Firstly, the book actually warned e to forget anything I have ever heard about Frankenstein. Any green monster, stupid monster, bolts through the neck, unintelligent creature that was brought to life by a lightening bolt, I was to immediately to forget and start anew. I was pleasantly surprised that Frankenstein was actually not even the name of the monster, but of the Doctor! Dr. Victor Frankenstein! My thoughts on him later. Well, what to call the creature? Creature? Well, Frankenstein's creature is no green monster nor was he brought to life by a lightening bolt. He was created by the hands of Dr. Frankenstein, who at the time is a young boy in his twenties who is in college. Then one day, the creature wakes up and Frankenstein freaks out and runs away from him.

This is what I don't understand. What did the good doctor expect? He knew he was creating a living thing. However, when he realizes how ugly the creature is and can't believe it is alive, and all he does is run away and act like he doesn't know the thing? It shows how heartless Dr. Frankenstein really is. I mean, the creature is no angel either but society has shun him as a monster. One of my favorite passages is when the monster finds Frankstein and takes him to a cave he is living in, in the Alps. The monster tells his story to Frankenstein and I feel bad for this wretched creature. He has had it hard. He cannot be amongst people because they are afraid of him. He finds a cabin out in the mountains and lives on the side of the house looking on at this happy family and living there for almost a year, he learns how to read and talk. However, he can reveal himself because he knows what will happen, the people will become afraid and he must flee. Against better judgement and thinking this family would be different, the monster reveals himself to the blind father but the family returns and kicks him out.

At this point in the story, the poor monster has lost all hope and hates the man who created him. While I feel bad for him, he decides to murder members of Frankenstein's family, which really does make him a monster. However, it is interesting that in present day, Hollywood has so liberally changed Shelley's original novel where it is not recognizable and they decided to call the nameless creature, Frankenstein. But is the doctor really the monster? The creator of this creature who only wanted to be loved and to love another? The doctor who casted him aside and acted as if he did not exist?

The book raises some excellent questions and I encourage you all to read. Tell me your thoughts if you are reading this.

Also, I only have 300 pages left in the The Count of Monte Cristo. I cannot wait to be done and write one hell of an extensive entry. So much to be said in 1400 pages.

Reading for Class: Things Fall Apart and an update

I have been so busy, but I have been definitely been making some time for my reading. I still am working on the novel that is The Count of Monte Cristo and I only have 400 pages left. That's a whole other novel I could be reading! However, it really is an enjoyable novel and definitely has been one of my favorites that I have read so far. It's hard juggling that massive novel and trying to keep up with my other readings. This book is definitely taking me much longer than any other novel I have read. One of my favorite things that I love about reading is when the book completely engrosses you and you do not want to put it down and The Count of Monte Cristo has done that to me numerous times but because of work/school/other time constraints, I have to stop when I don't want to!

However this blog is not about The Count of Monte Cristo, but I figure I would update everyone on my progress because I was suppose to have finished this book June 30 as was the timeline for my book club, and I still haven't even re-read Pride and Prejudice, but I have been trekking along and trying to keep up with my other readings.

A book I have just finished was Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. I actually had to read this book for my Anthropology class and the subject is based on Southern Nigeria and Igbo culture. I did not have to read this for a book club but I am glad I was reading a book that was on my 1001 Book List. I read this book as we were told to, about 50 pages a day so we could discuss it. I really enjoyed learning about the Igbo culture, but was unsettled by some of the cultural traditions of the Umuofia clan. My professor made a good point as to make us realize that this novel takes place between the years 1890-1910. Not everything is the same as it is today. The main protagonist, Okonkwo, is really a conflicted person who is fearful of becoming his father and also struggling against the new culture that the white people are bringing. Okonkwo to me really is a tragic hero, and reminds me of the greek tragic heros, ala Odepius Rex. It is an easy read and definitely enjoyable.

What is everyone else reading? I would love to hear from you guys. If anyone is out there!

Until next time...

Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There

I have been gone for a couple of weeks, school has been very busy. I've been having a hard time with juggling school and all of my reading for my groups. I have been tacking the Count of Monte Cristo, and I am way past the deadline nor did I read Pride and Prejudice (although I have already read it) so I will have to get through the readings and keep my other ones on time. School and reading 1400 page books does not mix well!

But anyway, I have just finished reading Through The Looking Glass and What Alice Found There by C.S. Lewis. A book of whimsy. It really is a children's book and I really wish I still had the imagination of a child because I wish I could fully understand the book. Youth is wasted on the young. To me, reading the book was like speaking to a young child. There really is no rhyme or reason as to how things come about, it is really lots of action that happens and you have no idea how any of it all came about. It definitely has more of a linear story line than Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, but still very one scene happens, then the next, but really no cohesiveness. I realize it was one of the style of writing of the times so I suppose it would make sense. It is a short story, only 80 or so pages. It really is a whimsical book, I really wish that I was a child so that I could fully appreciate the story. Alice is such a wonderful character, a wonderful child and I really wish I could connect with this character. Definitely read this book to a child, as I am much sure they will appreciate the book much more than I wish I could. On to the next!