"Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley

"Frankenstein" is a literary masterpiece and, unlike some people think, it was written by a young woman. This strengthens the quality of the book, especially when the characters are young.

"Frankenstein" is generally considered a horror book. I may argue about this classification. This book can't be classified into a genre, like many others. It can also be considered a horror book, but it's primarily a science fiction novel. Victor creates a man similar to us by studying and applying chemistry. So, chemistry is a branch of science, isn't it? I consider it also a bildungsroman, because it describes the evolution of the creature's life.

A great aspect of "Frankenstein" is that its central plot is a story in the story, from which other stories open, for example the creature's memories, or De Lacey, Agatha, Felix's story narrated by the creature. A consequence of Shelley's choice is that there are different points of view, so we can enter directly into the characters' minds. This choice adapts well for this type of book.

I believe that "monster" is an exaggerated term to describe Victor's creature. Just picture this: you're a ugly child, your parents abandoned you, when you meet some human beings you're rejected, you live in the streets, your parents want to kill you... Would you become a good human being? I think you wouldn't. Maybe you would grow wild desires and become a murderer. But will people call you a "monster"? I think they won't. You're a murderer, but still a person. So, do people call the creature a monster basically because of his appearance? Because he's ugly and bigger than us, and because he's done bad things?

This book helps us to become empathic people. We forget how things appear and just focus on how things really are.

"Frankenstein" is based on internal conflicts. Emotions and desires define the characters and lead them to their actions. As a young woman, Shelley was passionate about what she wrote, and we feel what the characters are feeling. A beautifully written novel. We always want to know what will happen next, every page is a world to discover. Suspense can be felt in the atmosphere.

The best way to read this book is to listen to a calm piano song, while it's dark outside and in the room, and the moon or a candle enlightens the page.

Elizabeth Lavenza's speech after Justine Moritz has died is one of the most powerful in literature's history.

"When I reflect, my dear cousin, on the miserable death of Justine Moritz, I no longer see the world and its works as they before appeared to me. Before, I looked upon the accounts of vice and injustice, that I read in books or heard from others, as tales of ancient days, or imaginary evils; at least they were remote, and more familiar to reason than to the imagination; but now misery has come home, and men appear to me as monsters thirsting for each other's blood. Yet I am certainly unjust. Everybody believed that poor girl to be guilty; and if she could have committed the crime for which she suffered, assuredly she would have been the most depraved of human creatures. For the sake of a few jewels, to have murdered the son of her own benefactor and friend, a child whom she had nursed from its birth, and appeared to love as if it had been her own! I could not consent to the death of any human being; but certainly I should have thought such a creature unfit to remain in the society of men. But she was innocent. I know, I feel she was innocent; you are of the same opinion, and that confirms me. Alas! Victor, when falsehood can look so like the truth, who can assure themselves of certain happiness? I feel as if I were walking on the edge of a precipice, towards which thousands are crowding, and endeavouring to plunge me into the abyss. William and Justine were assassinated, and the murderer escapes; he walks about the world free, and perhaps respected. But even if I were condemned to suffer on the scaffold of the same crimes, I would not change places with such a wretch".

Vincent van Gogh was born after "Frankenstein" was published. However, I find some similarities between the two, apart the fact that they're both from the Romantic period. They're both enigmatic and fascinating individuals, even if Vincent van Gogh's a real person and Victor Frankenstein a fictional characters. They're secret and mysterious, considering Victor's secrets and the huge amount of theories about van Gogh's life.

"Frankenstein" ' ending is debatable. I find it a rather happy ending. Both the creator and the creature die at the end. The creature commits suicide, but he wants to. When "my life is a perfect graveyard of buried hopes", quoting Anne of Green Gables, why continue it? In other circumstances, this ending would certainly be sad. But dying is its choice.

"Frankenstein" isn't just a book, it's an adventure. Every detail captures the mind. The creature's surprise when he beholds the moon for the first time isn't just a scene... It's a sensation that holds a special place in the reader's heart. Like every chapter of this unique book.