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Hello Linda C,
The oldest book is new if you haven’t read it.
You have an interesting shelf.
I’d appreciated it if you’d check out my author page and give my site a boost. Thanks.
Oh and KNIGHTS OF THE DRAGON has just been released.
http://www.independentauthornetwork.com/a-j-gallant.html
Unrealistic or not my writing gives me hope. But with something like 50 000 books published a month it is a little discouraging. I didn’t think there were that many writers.
And if you like vampires you might want to check out Dracula: Hearts of Stone (Dracula is a good guy).
Please come discuss Portrait of a Lady with me: http://www.shelfari.com/groups/32384/discussions/239963/Portrait-of-a-Lady---James
I appreciate your reply and apologize for not responding sooner, but I love this book and that incredible lady who devised it.
It's important to note the texts that the Creature finds in the forest (in addition to other things he finds in the forest, the very notion of which suggests a playful allusion to Rosseau's discourses etc., which Shelley found, in short, stupid); and at the moment I forget the first two, ha, but the third is the most intrinsic to the narrative: a copy of Paradise Lost. Pump that into the mixture of Romantic story layout and one gets a test of the framework that Milton's characters are based on: Creationism as idyllic, wondrous, sublime, etc.
Right, Genesis is a good reference as it is essentially related (at least the genesis of Genesis) in Paradise Lost. But whereas Adam and Eve seem to find bliss and agreement with practically everything they find, touch, look at, etc. the Creature is frightened, cold, and horrified even to look upon himself; these sentiments exemplified in comparing Adam's and the Creature's first sleep: Adam is content, thinking he's just dissolving to whatever his former state was, while the Creature is uncomfortable and afraid that he might not come back.
Shelley is trying to create a more understandable First Man, the fact that the Creature actually calls himself Adam upon reading the text further solidifies this idea (if it had not been firmly projected already): despite a person's trepidation and existential anxiety, one likes to perceive an ideal in their establishment as a being.
What I find interesting is that while the Creature perceives himself as an Adam, he often says lines verbatim, or at least close in diction, that Satan recites in Paradise Lost; something Frankenstein does as well. Satan does in several passages extol his hatred for evil, but consents that evil is his only good. This is practically the same idea that the Creature ends with before his self-immolation. Fire though, I would argue, is not a Christ-like notion but once more one of Genesis. The subtitle to the novel is 'The Modern Prometheus,' which the conclusion illustrates in sardonic manner: fire once was at the head to some level of deeper understanding for the Creature, but like the fruit for Adam and Eve it only led to their destruction.
The Creature, designed by some bizarre knowledge, that destroys himself with the novel's recurrent symbol for knowledge may be representative of the continuum of conflicts science and religion trap themselves in: neither solves the greater question, all is but a scream of flames amongst endless plains of ice.
I think I've segued into a melange of rambling a bit, but I'd love to discuss anything further! other texts as well!
I've just been going over Frankenstein for class, and though this isn't the first time I've read it, I've found something strangely refreshing in certain passages, as if I were perusing an entirely different form of the same material (constant movement of atoms?). Anyways... I would like to request your interpretation of the De Lacy family in conjunction with the novel's main theme, especially! the fantastical history of the Son. Also tell me what you think of the last passage, and the entire chapter that marks the introduction of the creature's tale (chp 8, 9?). I get excited just thinking about this novel, and love to see people reading it. Oh, and Lorca's poems are an excellent choice as well.
Welcome to the group based on the book 1001 BOOKS YOU MUST READ BEFORE YOU DIE.
There is a general explanation of the group and some answers to FAQ under the discussion thread GROUP GUIDELINES. The past BOTM can be found pinned to the top for 2010 and 2009 if you want to search discussions you can join in. It will bring the discussions forward if you do.
The books of the month (BOTM) that the group is reading are pinned to the top. July’s BOTM are The CATCHER IN THE RYE by JD Salinger, FRANKENSTEIN by Mary Shelley and GRAPES OF WRATH by John Steinbeck. The questions are pinned to the top of the discussion threads. August books are
The ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN by Mark Twain
THE KILLER INSIDE ME by Jim Thompson
VANITY FAIR by Wm Thackeray
We also have a Long Read consisting of books from the list that are greater than a 1000 pages. The group will be starting with WAR AND PEACE by Tolstoy.
The sun also rises is nice. it's not really one of my favorites but is interesting...and is easy to read and is ice to discover Spain seen by an american...
thanks. actually i love those books for some reason it talks alot about life complications and unfairnes it keeps me reading. The lovely bones is actually not so "mature" if you want to read a really sickening book read IF I AM MISSING OR DEAD or perhaps freedom writers it is really good
Welcome to Better than Starbucks! Look around, make yourself at home, start a new thread or dig up an old one or just read and jump in on the more active ones.
We are honored to be your first group!
