Frankenstein

By: Mary Shelley

Narrated by: Jamie Bell

In trying to create life, the young student Victor Frankenstein unleashes forces beyond his control, setting into motion a long and tragic chain of events that brings Victor to the very brink of madness. How he tries to destroy his creation, as it destroys everything Victor loves, is a powerful story of love, friendship, scientific hubris and horror.

Jamie Bell (Billy Elliot, Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool) delivers a haunting performance of Mary Shelley's timeless gothic novel.

If you’re in the mood for more gothic classics, check out Dracula performed by Himesh Patel, Patricia Alilson, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Theo James and Jason Watkins and The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde performed by Paapa Essiedu.

Public Domain (P)2012 Audible, Ltd

Misery Contest between Creator & Monster

This is the definition of a tragedy narrated excellently by Jamie Bell. Much sadder than I anticipated but still a story I understand why it’s been adapted and retold many times over the generations.

Classic in a slightly overzealous rendition

I loved the book. Since childhood, I mistakenly associated the name "Frankenstein" with a generic monster-vampire entertainment story, and I was glad to discover that the story is much more nuanced than I expected.

The narration is a bit too dramatic at times, for my taste, but overall it's a great performance.

Back to the book itself. It is a classic for a reason, it is beautifully written and is highly engaging. The story is of great historical significance too, as, essentially, the first book in the science fiction genre.

I have found a few story elements a bit contrived, however. Some of the protagonist's decisions, unfortunately, felt like stemming the need to move the plot forward, rather than being a natural consequence of the character himself.

Examples of that (with mild spoilers) below.

One such example is when the protagonist does not reveal his discovery to anyone out of fear of being ridiculed as a madman, even when such reveal could have saved a person. He could have clearly demonstrated the truthfulness of his words by replicating his result on small, harmless scale (the book states that he's done so many times in the past).

Secondly, the fact that the protagonist could not see through the meaning behind the monster's main threat is incomprehensible.


**Slightly stronger spoiler below**


Lastly, the line of reasoning for refusing the monster's demand is flawed on many levels. Most obviously, he could have easily prevented the danger of monsters overtaking the earth by making them infertile.

Overall, the story is a work of great imagination, but there are a few rough spots in the plot & in maintaining the tension, at times.

Spellbinding performance

The narration brought out the fragility and longing in every line. A haunting meditation on creation, abandonment, and the ache of wanting to belong. I will carry this one for a long time. Mary Shelley sends the rest of time.

Heartbreaking

So much more than a story about monsters. This is a classic in every sense. Beautiful, heartbreaking, and full of wisdom.

Outstanding narration

Frankenstein is the third book I have read in 2022. I had put off reading it because I thought it would take a lot of focus to ascertain the meaning. I have read about the book. Many have stated that they feel sorry for the monster. Many have called Frankenstein a gothic novel. This story is so much more. It has relevance to our world, our prejudices, our human frailties even today. The story is at once beautiful in setting and prose while demonstrating the ugliness in the worst of society. To me, Frankenstein is not only a gothic story, but is also a science fiction thriller and a tragic love story. The love in Victor's heart for his Elizabeth is only a part of this story. His friends, his brother, the governess and his father are all benefactors of deep love and respect from Victor. Science fiction thriller? Yes! The protagonist creates life in a laboratory then is agonized by what he has unleashed on the world. I could have read this book on my own but chose the recorded version. Since listening to audiobooks for years, this is the absolute best narration I have yet heard. He is quite the storyteller. He relays the deepest feeling of the characters and persuades the reader that he is actually that person. I love that he changes the tone of his voice throughout, giving even more in depth study of each character. I was stunned by the deeply moving performance, as much as I am in awe of this piece of classic literature. Everyone should hear this work. It is truly outstanding. Thank you Jamie Bell and thank you, Audible.