We’ve made it! It’s been a blast for me to revisit this novel and continue to find new and deeper paths to explore. I’ve now read it three times and enjoy it more and more with each read. 

And I’ve so enjoyed the discussion we’ve been having along the way. Your ideas, insights, and reflections have immensely added t…

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Note From Jeremy: I’m thrilled to welcome Kyle Smith as the Adaptations Expert for The Big Read! He’ll contribute a post for each book about notable adaptations and why they are or aren’t worth your time. Be sure to check out his own free newsletter about books (and their adaptations).

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We ended last week’s recap with Frankenstein’s creation having some hope about the future. His learning was going beyond just what it takes to survive and venturing into the vagaries of human nature. There was a small bit of optimism about encountering humans and being able to provoke some sort of positive outcome. 

Of course, th…

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It’s been another eventful week of reading! With such a short book, Mary Shelley’s quick pacing is front and center — remember, Frankenstein started as a simple ghost story to be shared with friends, so it had to move quickly. After just two weeks of reading, we’re already halfway …

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What an eventful first week of reading! In just seven days we’ve gotten to know the early life of Victor Frankenstein, witnessed his obsession grow by unhealthy leaps and bounds, and even saw the creation and animation of his ghoulish creature. 

But the novel doesn’t start w…

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Welcome to The Big Read: Frankenstein! 

The first time I read Frankenstein was back in 2013. At the time, we lived in an old house in Denver with a slot by the front door where the mail would drop to the floor when it was delivered. While reading a particularly intense scene on a dark February evening, I heard that flutter of mail go through the slot and drop with a heavy, dull thud on the hardwood floor. I jumped and yelped in a way that would have been very embarrassing had anyone been around. 

I was a bit surprised that a 200-year-old book could make my heart pound like that. This isn’t the dry, outdated narrative that I often run into in the realm of classic novels.  

But Frankenstein goes well beyond just entertainment by swimming into deep philosophical waters about science, ambition, loneliness, belonging, and what it means to be human. It’s a story with unexpected depth and meaning. 

For the next four weeks, we’ll dive into all things Mary Shelley and Frankenstein, and I couldn’t be more excited! 

What to Expect

My intent with all these recaps, which will hit your inbox on Saturday mornings, is to give enough background and context for you to have a richer understanding of the story and its meaning. I’m not a scholar; I’m a reader, just like you. This book club is not about completism or scholarship, but simply about going deeper than you otherwise would and uncovering what this book means to you — to us — on a personal level. 

For Week 1, I have some important background on Mary Wollstonecraft (Shelley’s mother) and Mary Shelley, as well as a detailed look at what happened on the famous night that Frankenstein was born. 

Don’t forget: the reading for next week includes the author’s intro/preface, the four “letters” at the start of the book, and through Chapter IV or V, depending on your version of the book. More info here about the reading schedule if you don’t remember seeing it before. 

Mary Wollstonecraft 

“The memory of my mother has always been the pride and delight of my life.” —Mary Shelley, in 1827

All of Mary Shelley’s writing — including Frankenstein — is inspired by and infused with her mother’s influence and philosophy. If we ignore that impact, we risk missing Frankenstein’s depth. So let’s learn a little more about her.

Mary Wollstonecraft lived an incredible, long-overlooked, too-short life. She was blessed with a creative, inquisitive, and independent mind and spirit — unfortunately, that was a bit of a curse in her own time. 

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Hello, readers!

As I mentioned in my introductory email, the editions of Frankenstein can be a little bit confusing. The two versions you’ll encounter are the 1818 text and the 1831 text. Unless your book expl…

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The time has come! I couldn’t wait any long and I’ve decided to embark on the next iteration of The Big Read a bit early. With October just a few short weeks away, it’s time to start digging into all things Frankenstein.

This signals the start of a new direction for The Big Read. From here on out, we’ll be doing a new book roughly every ~3 months. The schedule through 2023 looks like:

• Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (October)

• Endurance by Alfred Lansing (November-December)

• Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry (January-March)

• A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith (April-May)

• The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas (June-September)

• Dracula by Bram Stoker (October, for Halloween!)

• East of Eden by John Steinbeck (November-December)

For $50/year or $5/month, you’ll get:

• a detailed reading plan for each book

• weekly recaps of the reading

• access to the comments/discussions

• a bunch of background material

• reviews and recommendations for movie/TV adaptations of each book, provided by my good friend Kyle Smith (whose free newsletter you should also read)

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4 Reasons to Read Frankenstein

1. Frankenstein is one of the most culturally influential books of all-time.

Few icons or symbols from literature are as recognizable as Frankenstein’s monster. Though the green skin, bolt through the neck, and stitches on the forehead are largely from Boris Karloff’s portrayal in the famous 1931 film, it all leads back to Mary Shelley’s work during the cold summer of 1816.

2. Get to know the story behind the green monster.

That green monster mentioned above is a caricature of what Mary Shelley actually envisioned. In pop culture, Victor Frankenstein’s creation is usually portrayed either as a bumbling, aloof fool or as a terrifying, monosyllabic brute.

Neither characterization is accurate. The being that Frankenstein brings to life is introspective, intelligent, and even philosophical. Get to the know the real “monster” by reading the source material.

3. Frankenstein is a groundbreaking early example of the science fiction genre as we know it.

Though it’s more often tagged as horror, Frankenstein is without a doubt a science fiction book. If you’re at all into sci-fi, this defining early example is a must-read.

One scholar of the genre says that sci-fi seeks to explore “our growing understanding of the universe and the position of our species in that universe.” That definition fits Mary Shelley’s book to a tee: a mad scientist embraces a fringe idea, plays around with electricity, creates life, and has to reckon with the consequences.

4. Reflect on what it means to be human and what’s most important in our lives.

The best books, in my opinion, are those that convey wisdom about the universal truths of our world and our existence as humans. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein does that in spades, wrapped into a tightly-woven 150-page package.

Through Victor Frankenstein, the reader gets a terrifying look at the consequences of unchecked, obsessive ambition and the pursuit of “progress” at all costs. And ultimately, through the monster himself, we encounter the devastating effects of rejection and loneliness. There’s no greater threat to our human spirit than loneliness, a universal and timeless truth that Shelley so elegantly captured 200+ years ago.

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When you sign up, you’ll immediately get a welcome email with some information on which translation to get, the reading schedule, how to manage your subscription, and more.

A Few Testimonials, If You Need More Convincing

These are testimonials for the group reading of War and Peace.

“Jeremy, I would like to thank you for guiding us through this tremendous novel, one that seems so intimidating, but is doable in a methodical manner. What a delight it has been! Every Saturday morning I look forward to reading your recaps, thoroughly enjoying the insights you share. Thank you!” —Nancy

“Jeremy's guidance is invaluable. I have a true sense of pride and accomplishment when I tell people that I am reading War and Peace which I never could have gotten through without [him] leading this group!” —Susan

“It has been a delight to read this book as part of The Big Read. I have especially enjoyed your weekly recaps and found they added so much depth to my understanding and reading experience.” —Pam

“This book has created the experiences of self-reflection, inspiration, and frustration. I am so glad I did this and wish I had read it earlier in life. I will most certainly read this again.” —Levi

“I can say that I have loved the experience of reading the book as part of The Big Read. . . . The experience of reading one chapter a day, with Jeremy’s summaries and everyone’s insights has been an absolute delight. Without The Big Read, I likely wouldn’t have made it through the entire novel. Thankfully, I can always look back on this tremendous experience of slowly enjoying a truly magnificent work of art.” —Lucas 

“These [weekly recaps] have really helped supplement the reading and make sense of everything going on in the book. I have been amazed that Tolstoy is still managing to keep my attention . . . To me, this speaks volumes about his skill as a writer. Even in the less exciting portions of the book, you can find a few lines that just pull you right back into the story.” —David

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Questions? Comments? Don’t hesitate to email me back or leave a comment. I can’t wait to get started!

-Jeremy