Frankenstein

The Modern Prometheus

By: Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley

Narrated by: Jim Donaldson

Length: 8 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's summary

Frankenstein is infused with some elements of the Gothic novel and the Romantic movement and is also considered to be one of the earliest examples of science fiction. Includes introduction and commentary by Mary Shelley. Required reading for any fan of science fiction and horror genres. A classic.

Public Domain (P)2011 Trout Lake Media

Now I know why this is a "classic"

What did you love best about Frankenstein?

The battle of wills between creator and his creation. Just like any fantasy you need to give the author permission to take you on a ride. This was surprisingly quite a strong story, even if the science behind its premise is dubious, particularly well over a century after its writing.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The "monster". I did not realise he was a creature of such humanity and need. The story was still in my thoughts a week or so after finishing it.

Have you listened to any of Jim Donaldson’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No. I was expecting a poor performance as it was priced lower than other versions of the book, but it was read very well and would definitely happily listen to the narrator again.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, but I did get through it very quickly and was always grateful for a chance to get back in the car and renew the story.One exception - The beginning of the book is told in letters, and apart from perhaps the final 2 letters, the rest are completely irrelevant to the story, and why they were part of the published book is a mystery to me.

Any additional comments?

There are a couple of random instances where the narration repeats itself for a few words. Although its very minor and probably only totals maybe 15-20 seconds over the entire book, its the worst editing I've encountered on Audible. (That comment is not aimed at putting people off this version of the book - I definitely recommend this book).

Continence

The most overused word in the whole book. Shelley reuses a lot of vocabulary throughout. But you could make a drinking game out of "continence". Jim Donaldson has a great voice for this story, but I found some of the accents obnoxious. Overall this is a very creative and cohesive classic, but it is often long winded and muddled with poetic descriptions of each landscape. A lot of parts feel unnecessary until later in the story. I almost gave up on it. I was simply interested as a fan of the Universal Monsters version. If you can hang in there, the ending is worth it. I'm glad to know the true story of Frankenstein's monster.

What can be said

I am not a fan of the story of frankenstein and therefore good not enjoy this book. However the voice acting was superb and made this bleak story tolerable

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Superb performance!!!

I clung to every word, from the first to the last. What a spectacular and superb narrating of such a memorable classic!

Classic tale.

Enjoyed this book, tales of love, loss, grief and fear. The mystery and history of this story were enhanced by the narration on Audible.

There's a reason this book is a classic!

I was required to read this book for my a English class, but I just didn't have time to stop and read. With an audiobook, however, I was able to drive and enjoy a wonderful, heart-tugging story that makes you think. I loved it!

Good Story

I won't nitpick the obvious logical inconsistencies in the story. I enjoyed the book for what it is. The narrator was perfectly fine.

One of my favorite stories

Shelly’s brilliant writing gives us a closer look at the idea of man playing God. This fiction story remains relevant even in 2019. It reminds us of the duty and responsibility we have to the children we create and to society. At times, i have felt like the creature, and the death of everyone left me a little empty inside, but in a realistic way. Loved it!

Great classic

This is a great performance of this timeless classic. The book far better than any movie rendition, highly recommend.