books # 15 - 17
Can you say British Victorian literature?
15. Frankenstein - Mary Shelley
I read this for the classic challenge I was in and I enjoyed it, mostly because it made me so mad at the main character. It is not like the movie idea of the green monster, walking around. The story is told in several layers, beginning with a ship captain,then Dr Frankenstein (the jerk) and then the monster; then back through Frankenstein and the captain. I liked the monster's tale the best as he figures life out after being abandonded. The resulting tale of revenge that takes over with Dr Frankenstein and the monster is quite sad. Revenge never works for anyone.
The themes of abandonment and wanting to be loved for your inner self were what got me through the flowery language of the day. Written by a woman in the late 1700s, early 1800s. Impressive.
16. The Inheritance - Louisa May Alcott
This book was found in the 1990s and is believed to be the first novel written by Alcott. It is refered to in Little Women as the book written by Jo but rejected by publishers I believe. . It was quite short, and a nice light change after Frankenstein. The characters were quite stereotypical - heart of gold daughter, her poor but kind governess, an evil money-grubbing cousin, the rich nobleman who doesn't stand on status, etc. Cute, romance story
17. Northanger Abbey - Jane Austen
I really liked this one, better than Pride and Prejudice (gasp). I loved how Austen made fun of the social niceties of the day and the double speak that the characters in Victorian novels use. Catherine, our heroine, is sweetly naive, and learns that people don't always mean what they say, or act the way she has been taught is proper. She grows up a lot, but doesn't lose her sweetness. I found this very humorous and a nice romance with just the right amount of obstacles before the (happy) ending.
15. Frankenstein - Mary Shelley
I read this for the classic challenge I was in and I enjoyed it, mostly because it made me so mad at the main character. It is not like the movie idea of the green monster, walking around. The story is told in several layers, beginning with a ship captain,then Dr Frankenstein (the jerk) and then the monster; then back through Frankenstein and the captain. I liked the monster's tale the best as he figures life out after being abandonded. The resulting tale of revenge that takes over with Dr Frankenstein and the monster is quite sad. Revenge never works for anyone.
The themes of abandonment and wanting to be loved for your inner self were what got me through the flowery language of the day. Written by a woman in the late 1700s, early 1800s. Impressive.
16. The Inheritance - Louisa May Alcott
This book was found in the 1990s and is believed to be the first novel written by Alcott. It is refered to in Little Women as the book written by Jo but rejected by publishers I believe. . It was quite short, and a nice light change after Frankenstein. The characters were quite stereotypical - heart of gold daughter, her poor but kind governess, an evil money-grubbing cousin, the rich nobleman who doesn't stand on status, etc. Cute, romance story
17. Northanger Abbey - Jane Austen
I really liked this one, better than Pride and Prejudice (gasp). I loved how Austen made fun of the social niceties of the day and the double speak that the characters in Victorian novels use. Catherine, our heroine, is sweetly naive, and learns that people don't always mean what they say, or act the way she has been taught is proper. She grows up a lot, but doesn't lose her sweetness. I found this very humorous and a nice romance with just the right amount of obstacles before the (happy) ending.