"If I cannot inspire love, I will cause fear."

There were many reasons why I was eager to read this classic: the philosophical questions this book poses, what this book has done for the Gothic Literature and Sci-Fi genres, and the fact that this book was written by the Gothic idol herself, Mary Shelley. Although there were a lot of elements that I appreciated, this novel did fall a little flat for me. There were parts of the book that were so painfully boring. I've heard SO MANY TIMES about how advanced this plot is, and maybe in the past that was true, but I've found that the storyline wasn't as exciting as modern-day readers make it out to be.

I did like how we got multiple different POV's, including Frankenstein's monster. It's clear this book would've been quite polarising during the 19th century, and I enjoyed reading the different perspectives and attitudes towards Frankenstein's creation. The writing style was stunning. The description of the landscapes, and the way Shelley portrayed human emotions were masterful. Frankenstein demands questions of mortality and morality, isolation, evil, religion etc. that are very interesting to consider and reflect upon.

Overall I enjoyed it, but I don't think it's as good as many of the Gothic Literature classics I've read. I did have to read this for University, which is probably why I read it under a much more critical eye than I usually would have. I am glad I've finally gotten round to reading this book, but in all honesty, I think I'm much more intrigued by the origins of this book and Mary Shelley herself rather than the story of Frankenstein and his monster.