Tag: The Classics Club

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

~ Jennifer @ The Relentless Reader ~ 40 Comments
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
First Published in 1818
Categories: Horror, Classic
Source: My own copy

Description:

Mary Shelley began writing Frankenstein when she was only eighteen. At once a Gothic thriller, a passionate romance, and a cautionary tale about the dangers of science, Frankenstein tells the story of committed science student Victor Frankenstein. Obsessed with discovering “the cause of generation and life” and “bestowing animation upon lifeless matter,” Frankenstein assembles a human being from stolen body parts but; upon bringing it to life, he recoils in horror at the creature’s hideousness. Tormented by isolation and loneliness, the once-innocent creature turns to evil and unleashes a campaign of murderous revenge against his creator, Frankenstein. 

Frankenstein, an instant bestseller and an important ancestor of both the horror and science fiction genres, not only tells a terrifying story, but also raises profound disturbing questions about the very nature of life and the place of humankind within the cosmos: What does it mean to be human? What responsibilities do we have to each other? How far can we go in tampering with Nature? 

My Thoughts:

I think I like the story of how this book came to be better than I liked the actual book. With that said, I’m glad that I read this classic novel.
Frankenstein must have been extremely chilling when it was first published. I can see why it was so popular. It’s a  creepy tale that brings up all types of moral questions. To my modern mind it wasn’t terrifying. It was more of a “meh” type of scary.
All the monster really wanted was to love and be loved in return. He begged for friendship. He pleaded with Dr. Frankenstein to create a companion for him. When these things weren’t forthcoming he turned to furious revenge.
“Satan has his companions, fellow-devils, to admire and encourage him; but I am solitary and detested.” 

“I have love in me the likes of which you can scarcely imagine and rage the likes of which you would not believe. If I cannot satisfy the one, I will indulge the other.” 

Frankenstein deserves the classic label for it’s longevity and timelessness. While the tale isn’t as scary as it once was, wonderful writing and fine craftsmanship never go out of style.

The Classics Club

Dangerous Liaisons by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos

~ Jennifer @ The Relentless Reader ~ 20 Comments

Dangerous Liaisons by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos

Pierre Choderlos de Laclos produced “Les Liaisons Dangereuses” in an effort to “write a work which departed from the ordinary, which made a noise, and which would remain on this earth after his death.” He did just that. First published in 1782 in four volumes, “Les Liaisons Dangereuses” was an immediate success, and has since inspired a large number of literary commentaries, plays, and films. The novel is an epistolary piece, written as letters between members of the French noble class. An egotistical battle for control ensues between the Marquise de Merteuil and the Vicomte de Valmont, with the promise of sexual gratification to the victor. The primary victims are Cecile, a naive but pretty young girl, her admirer, the Chavelier Danceny, and Madame de Tourvel, a virtuous (and married) young woman. This scandalous web of sexual desire, intrigue, infidelity, the struggle for power, and the corruption of the French upper class is a masterpiece from one of the most subtle and skillful novelists of the 18th Century.

My Thoughts:

Authentic 1700’s reaction to Dangerous Liaisons. 


Shocking! Scandalous! An outrage to public decency! This book must have caused quite a stir when it was first printed in the late 1700’s. Sexual innuendo leaps from the pages of this beautifully written epistolary novel. De Laclos certainly accomplished what he set out to do, to create a work that would last long after his death. 

Tricking people into losing their virginity?  I disapprove.

The Marquise de Merteuil and the Vicomte de Valmont are two of the most devious minded characters I’ve ever had the pleasure to be disgusted by. Seriously. Still, I had to admire their dedication. They want revenge and will stop at nothing to get it. They know what they are doing and they do it well. 

I thoroughly savored every page of Dangerous Liaisons. Thank you to The Classics Club for spinning this book in my direction. The wit and wickedness will be on my mind for a long time to come.

The Classics Club Spin!