I went into this with only a vague cultural understanding of the story from a Simpson's halloween special episode! I also listened via audiobook, which I believe worked very well with the genre (unsettling) and narrative (first person narrator). In the same instance if I were reading a physical book, my eyes would have skipped ahead during particularly tense parts, but the audiobook forced me to listen at pace, which definitely enhanced the horror aspect.

This book ticked all the right boxes for me. Science fiction, philosophical, ethics, jungles, mild horror and intrigue, a concise pace and 'sticking to the storyline' without huge unnecessary tangents. I completely understand why this is considered a classic. You can see the hallmarks of early genre-defining scifi novels, where the writer takes a subject to the very extreme. Here that subject is vivisection, and we are treated to a visceral and cerebral exploration of that subject. One chapter in particular, "Dr Moreau Explains", is laden with scientific theory and moral philosophy questions. What was nice too, was that the Simpson's hadn't ruined it for me, I couldn't guess the ending at all! Although medical science and vivisection has developed dramatically over the last century, there are still lessons to be learnt from the themes explored in the book. [*Note - for those wondering, anaesthesia had been discovered at the time the story is set and was becoming more widely used, but hadn't been perfected. I specifically looked this up to contextualise the exact nature of cruelty Dr Moreau displays when discussing pain and vivisection. In short, anaesthetic options were available.] 

I won't go into the details of all the questions the book raises for fear of spoilers, but I will highlight key themes and questions. If you're interested in any of these, you will certainly find enjoyment in Dr Moreau's Island. It's a book that I'd love to dissect in a book club (pun intended), and discuss individual themes in great detail. 

Themes: the nature of pain and cruelty, moral responsibility, I'd also argue that it can be read through a feminist lens to examine patriarchal control/power and responsibility, human identity, human interference/control over nature, the nature of religion and its relationship to humanity, the nature of shame.