Hey all, Sam here.
All right…it has been a while since I’ve done this. Let’s see how it goes. I think I still have a halfway decent backlog of manga volumes to review, so I might be able to really get Manga Monday going again soon enough. As even more of a bonus, at least for me, today’s Manga Monday review post is also a book I was given access to on NetGalley, and it remains a goal to increase my NetGalley review percentage.
That’s actually one of my big goals for 2024, and I’m sure I’ll talk about all my plans and goals in a separate blog post soon enough, probably as we get a little nearer the new year.
Until then, I guess I should spend a little time prepping up some more reviews, because I have something like a half-dozen NetGalley books ready for review, and then a good number of other books that I’ve read somewhat recently that I still haven’t reviewed…so lots to look forward to.
Let’s get started…
Obsessed with natural philosophy, the young Victor Frankenstein succeeds in creating life from its basic elements — and abandons the newborn monstrosity in terror when he cannot bear to look at it. The rejected creature vanishes, and Victor attempts to forget what he has done… But the monster survives. It learns. Deprived of everything, fated to forever be alone, it has nothing left but revenge. Manga Classics® presents a frightening new manga adaptation of Mary Shelly’s famous tale of creation and destruction!
My Thoughts
Rating: 4 stars
So, I have a degree in English, and as one might expect from somebody who has a B.A. in English with a specialization in Literature, as well as a Master’s in Library and Information Science, I have spent a lot of time reading books, specifically classic literature. For a few years after graduation I didn’t actually want to pick up many classics, because I had spent so much time reading and dissecting the text.
But then I learned about these Manga Classics, which take a piece of classic literature and adapt it into manga, which makes them a bit easier and more fun to digest. There’s something about having the classics in a different format that helps my mind to just enjoy them instead of trying to parse out meaning and symbolism and all the trappings of a standard literature course.
I have a few other Manga Classics reviews here on the blog, some are for classics I’ve read before and others are ones that I never read the original but have watched adaptations for. Interestingly enough, Frankenstein is one of those classics that I haven’t read before…or if I have it was when I was a kid and I don’t really remember reading it.
Like with any manga, I read this fairly quickly. But I can also see where this would be a somewhat dense read, and I can also see where some of the terror and destruction and decline into paranoia is reduced because of the manner of adaptation. Overall I feel like it was done really well.
Every Manga Classic I’ve read has been a pretty faithful adaptation, and I feel like they make the classics a little more accessible. I would love to see more adaptations like this available in more bookstores, libraries, and classrooms.
This was full of terror and despair and paranoia and darkness and cruelty, but there were moments of passion and creativity and longing and kindness and compassion and companionship.
The way that Frankenstein and the monster’s lives kept encircling each other. Frankenstein’s creation and abandonment of the monster forged this bond between the two of them, one neither of them could escape.
I read this very quickly, something that probably wouldn’t have happened if I was reading the original novel. But I’m glad that I read this. It was a really interesting experience, and I enjoyed it, even if the story was just this drawn out downward spiral of Frankenstein after the decisions he himself made and the consequences that come from that.
I look forward to reading the next Manga Classic that I manage to get my hands on.
All right, well that is all from me for today, but I guarantee that there are more book reviews and other posts coming…mostly book reviews and wrap-up style posts, but the other regular slate of posts will be coming in the new year.
Thanks for stopping by, and I’ll be back soon with more geeky content.
Free State of Geek 