For me, currently, it is Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors. There is a lot of hate about this book. I don’t know why, the book for me is awesome. First few pages and I’m already hooked. Some chapters got me guessing on the relevance of it in the story but it all made sense at the end. Though it’s a debut novel by Mellors and some writing needs to be improved. Looking forward for her future books.
I would say Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Before it, I can’t remember if there was ever a time when a book made me cry and audibly gasp.
Imo it reads not so much as a horror but as a grim tragedy caused by a selfish man’s hubris.
Even though he’s the main narrator, we get whole chapters dedicated to the monster and his story.
It’s such a human book filled with real emotion and depth. Real commentary on the nature of life and the need for love and acceptance.
Victor failed his son, the monster and the people around him are frightened and want to kill anytime he comes out and so he feels nothing but resentment and anger towards those who wronged him.
He was brought into a world that never wanted him and so at least in his mind he is forced to become the monster they think he is and seek revenge.
The ending is genuinely one of the greatest reading experiences I have had in my life and beg anyone who is reading this to please read from start to finish including the letters with the sailor as you’ll know why later on.
It’s a fairly short book and I read it within a few days. It personally touched me as someone who felt like an outcast for much of my life and parental trauma made me connect with the monster even more.
No one is right in this book. It’s just filled with flawed people who happen to destroy others in the wake of their deeds.
If I could experience it all over again that would be amazing.