Book club: 'Frankenstein' session

We had a fantastic discussion of "Frankenstein" today; beyond the standard plot summaries. All four children surprised me with the depth of their understanding of some of the thematic issues.

The past couple weeks we've had some wide-ranging discussions about the notion of playing God, and whether Victor was in his rights or not to create life. Today there was discussion, backed up with some pretty solid reasoning, about whether Victor should have created the monster a companion, as he originally had promised to do. It was interesting to hear each of the kids weigh in on whether Victor should be concerned more with what the monster's descendants might do, years later, or with his obligation to the immediate problem of the monster's isolation and loneliness.

It was a fascinating discussion, however brief, and it was a kick to hear it coming from children who are only at the end of what would be middle school age. It's a sign that they're starting to process some of the deeper underlying issues of what they're reading, and not just with the surface story. That's fantastic to see at any age, but especially as young as they are.

 

If anyone is interested, sci-fi author Fred Saberhagen has written other books about Shelley's creation. There is also a mashup of Sherlock Holmes and the monster, by Dan Baranowski. I've no idea if it's any good, but it's available online fromAmazon.

Thanks to everyone to all for a good fall "semester." Looking forward to continuing after the holidays, with "Jane Eyre."

Book club: Discussion questions for 'Frankenstein'

Shelley spends about as much time developing the monster's "childhood" as she does telling us about Victor's formative years. For instance, Victor grows up in a loving family, with parents who take in the children of strangers to ensure that these children have a future, and they evidently pour a lot of love out upon him, his brothers and his "cousin." The monster, meanwhile, spends more than a year in the presence of a deeply loving French family, and feels himself warmed by the deep affection they have for another.

 

And, like his creator, the monster is devoted to his adopted family and does all manner of things to help them, to the point that they call him a friendly spirit.

 

So:

 

1) What are some other similarites between the monster's story and Victor's, and what are some differences?

2) The monster never has a name except for the invective that Victor keeps heaping upon it. How does that affect how we view it?

3) Now that you've read the monster's story, and understand what drove it to kill William, whom do you consider to be more evil: the monster, or Victor?

Book club: 'Frankenstein'

I'm extending an invitation to anyone who would like to join us as we begin reading Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein."

If you're familiar with the story only through the movies, join us in discovering the book that started it all. You'll be surprised how different it is from the movies, and delighted to discover why this book has endured so well and so long.

The club generally meets at 11 a.m. Mondays at my house. We'll be looking at a few things as we start the book, including Shelley's the voice Shelley chooses to use to tell her story, and the historical context of her novel of science run amok during a time of unbridled progress and optimism. As discussion continues, we also will discuss Shelley's theme of hubris, the literary motif of creating life, and ultimately the nature of evil. Our first discussion on "Frankenstein" is set to begin at 11 a.m. Nov. 14.

The book club is intended for young teens, but is open to anyone who reads the books and is up for the discussions. There is no charge for the group.

Book club: Holmes, you toerag

Oldest Daughter's book club is reading "The Hound of the Baskervilles." Discussion this morning turned to characterization. I had to laugh at their conclusion. All the kids thought that Sherlock Holmes is a real jerk. He puts down other people for their beliefs, mocks them for being less intelligent than he, and even sets them up for abuse by asking them questions he knows that they won't be able to answer fully. He totally is a jerk, although that's not always evident, the way he's presented through Watson's admiring voice. It was great that the kids picked up on this on their own, and even better that they were able to support their thesis by citing his interactions with Watson and with other characters, like Dr. Mortimer.