Sid in Japan

Hello, readers! Welcome to September!

From now until Halloween (October 31st), I’ll be leading a special read-along of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus right here on my blog. Over the next two months, we’ll journey through the novel chapter by chapter, exploring the text in real time together.

While I’m new to this sort of blogging, I am very familiar with sharing my thoughts on literature. While my Masters is in English Literature, I tried to focus on specifially science fiction literature but my interests vary wildly, so I also read a lot of historical English literature. Since Frankenstein is regarded as the first science fiction book in the English literary canon, I thought that might be the perfect place for me to start!

Here’s what to expect from this series:

• Chapter-by-Chapter Posts – Every few days I’ll share a new entry covering the next section of the novel
• Background & Context – Short notes on Mary Shelley’s life, the Gothic and Romantic traditions, and the cultural world of the early 1800s
• Annotated Text – I’ll highlight key passages and ideas that stand out, with a bit of commentary
• Reflection Questions – Prompts for you to think about and respond to in the comments

The goal is to make this a fun, casual read-along where anyone, whether you’re a longtime fan of Frankenstein or picking it up for the first time, can dive in at a comfortable pace. By the time we reach Halloween, we’ll have read and discussed the entire novel together, just in time for spooky season.

Why Frankenstein?

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein isn’t just a “monster story.” First published in 1818, it’s a deeply philosophical and emotional novel that raises timeless questions: What responsibilities come with creation? How does society treat outsiders? What makes someone human?

It’s also the perfect book for autumn: dark, atmospheric, and full of storms, icy landscapes, and moral dilemmas.

How to Join In

• Grab a copy of Frankenstein (the 1818 edition is free here on Project Gutenberg – it’s public domain!)
• Read along with me, a few chapters at a time
• Share your thoughts, reactions, and favorite lines in the comments

Schedule

Today’s post (September 1st) is the kick-off for this series! Below is my proposed schedule (but knowing me, this is likely to change). I’ll try to have each post up by noon of that day.

Week 1

• Sept. 1 – Introduction (this post!)
• Sept. 3 – Letters 1, 2, 3 and 4
• Sept. 5 – Chapter 1

Week 2

• Sept. 8 – Chapter 2
• Sept. 10 – Chapter 3
• Sept. 12 – Chapter 4

Week 3

• Sept. 15 – Chapter 5
• Sept. 17 – Chapter 6
• Sept. 19 – Chapter 7

Week 4

• Sept. 22 – Chapter 8
• Sept. 24 – Chapter 9
• Sept. 26 – Chapter 10

Week 5

• Sept. 29 – Chapter 11
• Oct. 1 – Chapter 12
• Oct. 3 – Chapter 13

Week 6

• Oct. 6 – Chapter 14
• Oct. 8 – Chaper 15
• Oct. 10 – Chapter 16

Week 7

• Oct. 13 – Chapter 17
• Oct. 15 – Chapter 18
• Oct. 17 – Chapter 19

Week 8

• Oct. 20 – Chapter 20
• Oct. 22 – Chapter 21
• Oct. 24 – Chapter 22

Week 9

• Oct. 27 – Chapter 23
• Oct. 29 – Chapter 24
• Oct. 31 – Conclusion

That’s all for now! I can’t wait to see what you all have to say.