Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, Introduction by Diane Johnson

 

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, Introduction by Diane Johnson

Bantam Dell

Published in 1818. Republished in 1967, 1981, and 2003

ISBN 0553212478

216 Pages

PLACES TO BUY FROM:

Amazon (Hardcover)
Barnes & Noble (Hardcover)

CHECKED OUT THE BOOK FROM MY PUBLIC LIBRARY.

APART OF THE GOODREADS 2011 READING CHALLENGE.

Review/Rating:

4 out of 5



While voyaging through unexplored regions of the ocean where only ice dwells, Robert Walton discovers something more than new regions. He finds a man, Victor Frankenstein, on top of an ice raft. Robert finds a friend in Victor, but he finds out that sometimes knowledge is better left alone through Victor's story --- where Victor was in the same pursuit of knowledge and created a "monster" from it.

Okay, not really a good summary, but it will do. I checked out Frankenstein from my library because I wanted to compare it with The Casebook of Victor Frankenstein by Peter Ackroyd, which I will (re) read after I finish this review. :)

Anyways, the version of Frankenstein that I read has an introduction by Diane Johnson, author's introduction and a preface by Marlow before the beginning of the actual story part. I read all those, so I will mention how informative and good they are, of course. However, it is up to you, if you read this version, whether or not you want to read them or not. With the introduction by Diane Johnson, it was very err... informative. She writes information over Mary Shelley's life and how she kind of incorporate it in her story. It also talked about some of the themes that are in the book, so if you want to draw your own conclusions, don't read the introduction all the way. Anyways, I find it interesting, and it saved me some time because I didn't have to research Mary Shelley's life. Anyways, don't read it, read it up to you. ;) Next is the author's introduction. This is where Mary Shelley explains how she got the idea, why she wrote it, and things like that. Not really necessary to read, but it is interesting. Last is the preface by Marlow, where he explains the feelings he had over Frankenstein and makes over comments. Out of all the intro parts, I would say that the preface is the least necessary one, and it is only kind of interesting. However, it is up to you whether or not to read them. :D

Anyways, onto the main part of the novel and what I thought about it. ;) This novel is told by Robert Walton through letters to his sister, Margaret. Through these letters he retells the story of Victor Frankenstein as Victor tells it to him in some sort of lesson format. Why do I say a lesson format? Hmm... Because like Victor, Robert wants to further scientific discovery, and (I think) Victor wants him to learn that with discovery comes some consequences as he found out the hard way. There are other lessons like you shouldn't judge someone by how they look because you never know how good they are on the inside. Also, if you treat them harshly just because of their looks, you don't know how they will react and take it out on someone else. And I guess another one of the lessons is that you shouldn't create something (like life/a child) if you are just going to abandon and hate it. :( Like I said, a lot of lessons about moral compasses and how you should think before you act, and I like how the author makes all these lessons visible and pull your heart to it.

Now for the things that are both good and bad. Another thing I like is how the descriptions just pull you into the book, and you can just imagine how it might look like, but it does kind of get tiring to read all them to the point where you just skip over it. So, the descriptions are both a good thing and bad thing since there are so many of them. And I think that's all the things that are both good and bad. Now, this could be good or bad to you, depending how you are, but I don't think it was really "horror" since I didn't drop the book and run away. I don't like horror since I get scared a little too easily sometimes, so the book being kind of horrorless might appeal to some of you.

While I loved the lessons, descriptions, and emotions the novel tries to surface on you, I didn't like how disappointing it was, and how empty some of the actions were. But then again, I think this book is more a "lesson" one than an action or any other type of book. Though, I was still disappointed on how it ended and the lack of details of the actual experiment and other actions, which is why it is rated 4 out of 5. Though, even though it is sort of disappointing and leaves you wanting more, it leaves enough to make you think about things you normally wouldn't or try not to. Also, the character development doesn't happen that often in Mary Shelley's version, so the book is disappointing on that end as well. However, you feel sorry for both Victor and the monster on both ends --- and feel like they are both stupid in their ways of thinking.

Overall, the disappointment is a little bit overshadowed by how it makes you think how humane you really are. Also, the lessons it teaches and the emotions it shows leaves a strange mark on your heart. I definitely will read it again because of the emotions it brings out, that is, if I ever decide to re-read it. Though, I don't think I will check out the same book because this one is kind of falling apart. :X

Other Reviews/Author Site:

Mary Shelley
Goodreads: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, Introduction by Diane Johnson
Library Thing: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, Introduction by Diane Johnson
The Lost Entwife: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, Introduction by Diane Johnson

The Garden of Eden by Eve Adams

 

The Garden of Eden by Eve Adams

Pseudonym for Stephen Coonts

St. Martin's Press

Published in 2005

ISBN 0312323638

338 Pages

PLACES TO BUY FROM:

Amazon (Paperback)
Barnes & Noble (Paperback)

CHECKED OUT THE BOOK FROM MY PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Review/Rating:

2 out of 5



When Sam Neely graduates from State Police academy, he is assigned to the small village of Eden with the population of 47. He has been thinking that it is just a dull little town with nothing going on, but things suddenly get interesting when Ed Harris finds his wife in bed with his best friend, Hayden Elkins. Afterwords, Ed gives Hayden his wife and tells him that he now has two wives, but it then more things spin out of control. Can the community come together and bring peace back to their little town?

What can I say about this book? Hmmm... it was... ummm... odd --- in the good way, I guess. Though, I really don't know what genre to put on this book. It's mostly about life in the village of Eden, which has a population of 47, and how the community can come together through mostly gossip and trouble. So, I guess, it's mostly a slice of life genre. >.>"

The writing was almost like a diary telling the life of people in the village of Eden --- missing on some details, skipping some parts that would make it more interesting, and a lot of gossip things. ^^; It is told through the point of view of several characters --- Sam Neely, Ed Harris, Anne Harris, Hayden Elkins, Junior Grimes, Diamond Ice, and many more. :| For me, the book would have been better if it was told through the point of view of a couple of them. Though, through telling it through several characters, they were almost like real life people and very believable, and at times, sort of funny. So it has a good point and a bad point --- you got to know the personalities and descriptions through different eyes, but there were so many that it skipped some things that could have made the book better. :(

Also, I like the descriptions and details that the author used, and it seemed liked there was enough, but it could have been more enjoyable. It felt like the author skipped some major scenes that would have made the ending have more sense. It feels like he was trying to write it as a way to understand women since they were pretty much the focus of the books --- but it didn't succeed much. :| Even though some people won't believe that a spouse wouldn't take their other half back after they cheat, I believe it because it happened with my parents. :D Though, I don't think they pretend it never happened --- like the characters do in the book. Though, since I'm their kid (no matter how old I am), they won't discuss things like that with me ;)

So I like how he put the forgiveness in there, despite on how unbelievable it is. The author makes the characters seem human and not hold a grudge, but we all know that isn't likely in real life. Everyone holds a grudge against something --- whether it's another human, country, animal, etc --- sad, but mostly true. So, the no holding grudges and forgiving everything is not like real life, but kind of like utopia. Amazing thought, but with humans being unpredictable, it won't happen anytime soon. :)

Things I didn't like were the fast paced events, which didn't really satisfy you, the off topic things, and kept on adding new problems instead of focusing on just one and build on that (and then add more problems), the amount of God in there --- it's mentioned, then it goes poof, then it appears again (like the author couldn't decide really to add God in the solution of the problems), and how the author made the women's personalities --- gossips, cheaters, nagging, etc.

I will only rate it a two star because it was an enjoyable read, but no higher because of the problems above, which irritate me the most. :| It is pretty much a good summer read since it won't take that much time to finish it.

Oh, just a warning, there are some sex (smut) scenes, but they aren't describe in that much details. ;)

Other Reviews/Author Site:

Stephen Coonts
Goodreads: The Garden of Eden by Eve Adams
Library Thing: The Garden of Eden by Eve Adams

The Casebook of Victor Frankenstein by Peter Ackroyd

 

The Casebook of Victor Frankenstein by Peter Ackroyd

Nan A. Talese/Doubleday

Published in 2008

ISBN 9780385530842

353 Pages

PLACES TO BUY FROM:

Amazon (Paperback)
Barnes & Noble (Paperback)

CHECKED OUT THE BOOK FROM MY PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Review/Rating:

5 out of 5



When Victor Frankenstein goes to London to study at Oxford, he meets Percy Bysse Shelley, and they form a friendship. Will this radical thinker change Victor's musings into creating life. If he succeeds this madness, what will befall him and those around him?

In this retelling of Frankenstein, Peter Ackroyd makes it out so that Victor Frankenstein, a fictional character, actually knows Percy Bysshe Shelley, Godwin, Lord Byron, John Polidori, and even Mary Shelley, historically accurate people. I find that part of this part kind of intriguing, and it also made this book rather interesting than if the author just told it through Victor Frankenstein's and a little bit from his monster's perspective.

The description and characters' personality were all wonderful, but whether it is from solely from this author, borrowed from Mary Shelley, or a combination of his and Mary Shelley's works, I wouldn't know. Reading this retelling has made me want to read the original writing of the novel, so I can compare and see how much is his and how much is from the original. Also, the person who turned out to be the "monster" was someone Victor Frankenstein knew and maybe even friends with. I found that also very interesting and even gave the monster even more of an identity.

Let's see, I don't really know what I didn't like about the book, but the ending may be a little disappointing and unfulfilled for some (most) people. To me, the ending is only a little disappointing and unfinished, but the ending is still a little bit intriguing. Also, I think the ending of this book differs from the original. I'm not sure. :|

Other Reviews/Author Site:

Peter Ackroyd
Goodreads: The Casebook of Victor Frankenstein by Peter Ackroyd
Library Thing: The Casebook of Victor Frankenstein by Peter Ackroyd
New York Times Book Review: The Casebook of Victor Frankenstein
A Study of Reading Habits: Peter Ackroyd - The Casebook of Victor Frankenstein
Everything of Something: The Casebook of Victor Frankenstein by Peter Ackroyd

First Light by Peter Ackroyd

 

First Light by Peter Ackroyd

Grove Press

Published in 1989 (Republished in 1996)

ISBN 0802134815

328 Pages

PLACES TO BUY FROM:

Barnes & Noble (Paperback)
Amazon (Paperback)

CHECKED OUT THE BOOK FROM MY PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Review/Rating:

3 out of 5



With the discovery of an ancient astronomically aligned grave site in Dorset, everyone is excited over it --- well, pretty much everyone. You see, something or someone is doing its best to sabotage and scare the archaeologists, led by Mark Clare, from digging there and Pilgrin Valley. How is it that something as small as a grave site will bring together a group of people, who seem to have nothing in common with each other?

I'll be honest with you. I absolutely hated this book. :| And it isn't because of a lack of descriptions, which I love to have in the novels I read. I'll continue with the reasons why I didn't like the book in another paragraph since there are a lot of them. :( Oh, yeah, there might be some spoilers about the book toward the end of the review. :X

The first thing I didn't like about this book is that it was really redundant, which is one of the reasons why the book was extremely slow-moving. The slow-moving plot is another thing I didn't like about the book. It took about 100 pages just to get the characters digging and for the something/someone to sabotage the dig. Then, it went back to slow-moving until the last couple of chapters. The slow-moving gets kind of annoying, so I suggest just reading 20 pages each time you read, then take a break, and then start reading again. It kind of eases the pain of it. ;) Oh, also, the book kind of jumps from one point to another, which may confuse you if you don't take breaks to think about it.

Another thing, I found the characters rather, umm, boring and depressing. I'm used to reading books where it shows different personalities for each character, like them being happy, sad, etc. In this book, they remain their depressing selves. I can just imagine a frown on all their faces everyday.I think that's also what made it slow-moving because the characters were a little too depressing for me. :(

That's pretty much the only things I didn't like about this novel, now for the things I did like about it. Even though it is very slow-moving, the characters are depressing, and very little action, I liked how the descriptions were always there, no matter how boring it got. I know I say the book is "boring", but in a weird way, it isn't. The author uses poetry, metaphors, descriptions that make it a little less boring, and the author also uses the poetry to bring out a deeper meaning than just having a plot.

I read online that some people might be confused about the ending of the book. I have my own opinions about what it means. Think about it like this the theme mostly is about stars and how everything is connected in some sort of way, it is also about time, change, and death. At the end of the book, the characters realize that even though their find is old, the person's family, still has the right to send them back to the sky to be stars (which you may say God, in some sort of way). Also, that as stars, the souls can still be with their loved ones and watch over them. And that to see every star (soul) in the sky, will be nothing but light, which is what one of the characters sees at the end of the book. Well, I that's what I think what the ending means, whether it is right or not, I don't know.

Also, I know I put "supernatural" and "horror" as the genre, but it isn't really supernatural or horror. I just put that because of the summary on the back of the book. Unless you scare easily or are very superstitious, it won't be those genre for you. :)

I rated it a three mostly because of the deeper meaning... I would have rated it a two, that is, if it didn't have that deeper meaning that I like so much. ;) So don't read, if you don't like slow-moving, redundant novels. Also, you have to figure out the deeper meaning to really enjoy the book, but you have to get through the parts I found annoying first. :D

Other Reviews/Author Site:

Peter Ackroyd
Goodreads: First Light by Peter Ackroyd
Library Thing: First Light by Peter Ackroyd
LA Times Book Review: First Light by Peter Ackroyd

Trust Me by Jeff Abbott

 

Trust Me by Jeff Abbott

Dutton

Published in 2009

ISBN 9780525951216

372 Pages

PLACES TO BUY FROM:

Amazon (Hardcover)
Barnes & Noble (Hardcover)

CHECKED OUT THE BOOK FROM MY PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Review/Rating:

3 out of 5



Working on his stepfather's think tank, Luke Dantry posts on forums and other online communities known for their users being extremists and reports back to his stepfather the users who he thinks are capable of doing terrorists acts. Mostly, Luke thinks the majority of them are just frustrated and aren't capable of doing the things they say they will. However, he is proven wrong when he is kidnapped and taken to a cabin hidden in the woods. What will he do when he finds out this betrayal runs deeper than he thinks?

This time the book review is over a mystery, suspense, action, thriller adult novel. I'm trying to take a break from the young adult books for a little bit. ;)

For an action and thriller novel, the plot and characters are all pretty average. Why average? Because in most action and thriller books I read it usually goes like this: The main character gets in trouble, main character escapes multiple attempts on his/her life, main character meets up with old faces and gets betrayed by someone they know, and then, the main character saves the day. That is pretty much how this book went.

Although there were a lot of details, going through and finishing the book was very tedious and sort of boring. In this case, I found it boring because of how typical it was, not because of too many details and descriptions. I liked how the author described the appearance of most of the characters in the book since not that many authors give those kind of descriptions anymore. Another thing I liked about the book is that it showed that the Internet isn't as safe as you think because people can still find out where you are --- it is something to think over when you do things online.

Those are pretty much the only things I liked about the book. The main things I didn't like about the book are the typical plot for this kind of genre, even though it is enjoyable on some levels in other books, it isn't in this book. Also, the politics in the book are very boring. Anyways, it is an okay read, if you want the typical parts and like descriptions. As for me, it was an average book with a lot of boredom in-between the action parts.

Other Reviews/Author Site:

Jeff Abbott
Goodreads: Trust Me by Jeff Abbott
Library Thing: Trust Me by Jeff Abbott
Diana Page Jordan: Stepfathers, Terrorism on the Web, and Trust Me!
Genre Go Round Reviews: Trust Me - Jeff Abbott
Trust Me by Jeff Abbott (Mystery Book Review)

Midwives: A Novel by Chris Bohjalian

 

Midwives: A Novel by Chris Bohjalian
Vintage Books
Published in 1997
ISBN 0375706771
374 Pages

PLACES TO BUY FROM:

Amazon (Paperback)
Barnes & Noble (Paperback)

CHECKED OUT THE BOOK FROM MY PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Review/Rating:

5 out of 5



Sibyl Danforth, a midwife in rural Vermont, has made the mistake of accidentally killing her patient, one she thought died, in order to save the baby. Now she faces the law, doctors, and her own conscience in order to prove that her patient really was dead before she did the emergency c-section on the mother. What will the jury deciding her fate pick? Guilty? Or, not guilty?

Been awhile since I have read this, so I will try to make a semi-decent review out of it.

The story is told through the eyes of Sibyl's daughter and includes entries from Sibyl's journal. It has a mixture of law, medical, family problems, and other interesting things.Also, the description in this book is very well done, and you can tell that the author did a lot of research before jumping into writing the book.

There are some parts where you want to break down and cry, and a couple of times, where you actually want to read ahead and find out the outcome --- since the court parts were kind of boring and exciting at the same time. ^^;

I definitely recommend this book. It has a little bit of everything for everyone, though, there are some things that children definitely shouldn't read about in it. It is also perfect for any class that is studying ethics or anyone who is planning on going into the medical field.

Other Reviews/Author Site:

Chris Bohjalian
Goodreads: Midwives by Chris Bohjalian
Library Thing: Midwives by Chris Bohjalian
The Lost Entwife: Midwives by Chris Bohjalian
Croak: Midwives by Chris Bohjalian

and Able by Lucy Monroe

MERCENARY SERIES BOOK 03
[LAST BOOK IN MERCENARY]

and Able by Lucy Monroe

Kensington Books

Published in 2006

ISBN 0758211767

352 Pages

PLACES TO BUY FROM: 

Amazon (Paperback)
Barnes & Noble (Paperback)

CHECKED OUT THE BOOK FROM MY PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Review/Rating:

5 out of 5



Claire Sharpe has trouble trusting and relying on others, but after her life is threatened, she must learn how to rely on Brett Adams, an ex-mercenary, to protect her. Though, with this protection, something more might come from it...

Not a supernatural book, but that will change pretty soon. :)

This book is really good, and I can't really review it without giving away some things in the book. So, I'll just tell you to read it and be done with it.

There is nothing I really didn't like about, but I like the book because 1) smut, 2) action without being to gory, 3) it's interesting, and 4) I just like it because it appeals to me. ;)

Warning though, there are sexual themes and maybe themes that are not for sensitive people like people who have been stalk before or something.

This is the last book in this series, however, there are some connected stories. The connected stories are not apart of this series time-line, but they do mention the characters in this series a little bit. The connected stories are here.

Other Reviews/Author Site:

Lucy Monroe
Goodreads: and Able by Lucy Monroe
Library Thing: and Able by Lucy Monroe
Once Upon a Chapter: and Able by Lucy Monroe

Willing by Lucy Monroe

MERCENARY SERIES BOOK 02

Willing by Lucy Monroe
Kensington Books
Published in 2006
ISBN 0758208758
320 Pages

PLACES TO BUY FROM:

Amazon (Paperback)
Barnes & Noble (Paperback V2)

CHECKED OUT THE BOOK FROM MY PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Review/Rating:

5 out of 5



Josie McCall has never really wanted to be a solider, or mercenary, but she was raised as a mercenary by her father. After she leaves the mercenary world and her father's mercenary school, she goes to school for a job in computers. However, now that someone blew up her dad's mercenary school and her dad is missing, she goes back to her mercenary roots to find out who blew up the school and took her dad. And her dad's new partner, Daniel Black Eagle, stays to protect her. However, there is just one little thing that might keep his mind off of his new mission --- Josie. Will they be able to figure out everything before or after their passion ignites?

Not a supernatural book, but that will change pretty soon. :)

This book is really good, and I can't really review it without giving away some things in the book. So, I'll just tell you to read it and be done with it.

There is nothing I really didn't like about, but I like the book because 1) smut, 2) action without being to gory, 3) it's interesting, and 4) I just like it because it appeals to me. ;)

Warning though, there are sexual themes and maybe themes that are not for sensitive people.

This is the second book in this series, however, there are some connected stories. The connected stories are not apart of this series time-line, but they do mention the characters in this series a little bit. The connected stories are here.

Other Reviews/Author Site:

Lucy Monroe
Goodreads: Willing by Lucy Monroe
Library Thing: Willing by Lucy Monroe
Once Upon a Chapter: Willing by Lucy Monroe