Book Review: Frankenstein’s Monster

by Susan Heyboer O'Keefe

The creature brought to life by Victor Frankenstein had escaped. After killing his creator, he travels the world trying to find a life for himself. It is not a peaceful journey though. Before his death, Victor Frankenstein extracted a promise from the sea captain (Walton) who found him to search out and destroy his creation. Through his travails the creature must decide, is he a man or is he a monster?

This isn't a book I would have normally picked up at the store or library. I'm a little ashamed to admit that I had forgotten I had put in for a copy from Read It Forward until it arrived in the mail. It was a good book though. I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would.

It is written in journal form from the perspective of Frankenstein's monster, who took on his creator's first name, Victor. I'd consider it a modern working of a classic gothic novel. The style, the language, and even the font take you back in time. You can tell O'Keefe spend a great deal of time crafting it (and crafted is really the best term here).

Victor struggles with finding his place in this world, which is something most of us find difficult. While he commits deeds that are on occasion horrible or taboo, he also has a good heart and fine intentions. You have the impression that if he hadn't been being ruthlessly stalked by Walton that he would have found a purpose and place much sooner.

I highly recommend this book to lovers of literature and gothic novels. I think the ability to write a good gothic thriller is a skill that is fading fast in our modern world. It's nice to know that there are still authors out there who are keeping it alive.

Frankenstein's Monster by Susan Heyboer O'Keefe can be purchased at IndieBound.

BIS Rating: 4 nightlights

BIS Rating system:
1 nightlight = put it down and didn't care to pick it back up
2 nightlights = finished the book
3 nightlights = enjoyed the book but probably wouldn't re-read it
4 nightlights = had a hard time putting the book down
5 nightlights = stayed up way too late to finish instead of going to bed

(originally published 4 April 2011)