Sponsored by Size Zero by Abigail Mangin.
Condom dresses and space helmets have debuted on fashion runways. A dead body becomes the trend when a coat made of human skin saunters down fashion’s biggest stage. The body is identified as Annabelle Leigh, the teenager who famously disappeared over a decade ago from her boyfriend’s New York City mansion. This new evidence casts suspicion back on the former boyfriend, Cecil LeClaire. Now a monk, he is forced to return to his dark and absurd childhood home to clear his name. He teams up with Ava Germaine, a renegade ex-model. And together, they investigate the depraved and lawless modeling industry behind Cecil’s family fortune.
Welcome to Read This Book, the newsletter where I recommend a book you should add to your TBR, STAT! I stan variety in all things, and my book recommendations will be no exception. These must-read books will span genres and age groups. There will be new releases, oldie but goldies from the backlist, and the classics you may have missed in high school. Oh my! If you’re ready to diversify your books, then LEGGO!!
Halloween is drawing near, dear reader, so it’s time to recommend picking up some creepier types of book … if that’s what you’re into, of course. No worries, I’m not a blood and gore kind of reader, so my reading recommendations will definitely be more on the tame side. What better book to read this week than the story Mary Shelley dreamt at the age of 18 about a scientist who created life and was then horrified by the results. The novel inspired by that dream continues to influence pop culture centuries after it was first published. In fact, the creature in the story is still one of the most popular and iconic Halloween costumes.
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Victor Frankenstein is obsessed with creating life. After plundering graveyards for material to create a new being and shocking it to life with electricity, Victor is quickly horrified by the botched creature he created. Rejected by Frankenstein and denied human companionship, the creature sets out to destroy his maker along with everything (and everyone) he holds dear.
It’s likely you haven’t read Frankenstein since high school, so you may be reluctant to revisit the book since there are so many books out there already and not nearly enough time to read them all. However, I always enjoy reading books as an adult that I read in my younger days. There are always parts of the story that went over my head in the past that make total sense now. Also, it is interesting to learn if certain feelings toward the characters have changed or remained the same.
As a teen reader, it was easy to choose sides because life was less complicated. Situations were black and white, good or bad. The Creature was obviously the bad guy because he caught bodies left and right. As an adult reader, I saw both of the protagonists as villains. Although, Victor is more of the bad guy than the monster he created in my eyes. Frankenstein is the story where there are no true heroes. That makes this book all the more interesting. It is quite rare I read a book where I am not rooting for either of the main characters. If you are looking for a similar Gothic read, then Frankenstein is an excellent choice.
Also, I’m eager to know how you refer to what Victor Frankenstein created.
Until next time bookish friends,
Katisha
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