Frankenstein: Quill Quotes Book Club

Welcome to the fourth edition of Quill Quotes Book Club! Classics won the genre vote and Frankenstein by Mary Shelley won the book selection vote. Keep reading for all the details on the book, where to get it, and our reading schedule! This page will be updated with links to each discussion so keep it handy as a reference. We can’t wait for our first discussion on Saturday, July 18, 2020!

Frankenstein: Summary

Mary Shelley’s seminal novel of the scientist whose creation becomes a monster. Little is needed to introduce Frankenstein, which has become a common reference in popular culture!

Where to get the book?

Being a classic that was published prior to 1920, Frankenstein is in the public domain and thus many e-book versions are available for free! This has its pros and cons, obviously free is good but it can sometimes be hard to find a version that hasn’t been altered from the original and that is formatted well. Public domain books are also typically cheaper in print than newer books since there are no royalties to pay but the paper and printing still have a cost. We’ll be reading Frankenstein for the first time right alongside you, so we don’t have a go-to version to recommend but have listed some good looking choices below.

Digital Copy

Project Gutenberg

Project Gutenberg is a library of over 60,000 free e-books and is usually my go-to for public domain books! There are several versions available but I’ll be reading the Kindle (with images) version found here.

Amazon

If you have a Kindle or like audiobooks, Amazon is probably already your go-to for book purchases. They offer a variety of purchase options and often have an e-book version of Frankenstein available for free! I’ve had mixed luck with Amazon’s free public domain e-books but this is definitely the easiest option since Amazon can send the book directly to your Kindle.

• Kindle e-book (direct purchase)
• Audiobook (direct purchase or through Audible)
• Paperback or Hardcover (be sure to check the delivery date)

OverDrive / Libby

While many libraries may be closed, they often allow digital rentals through OverDrive and the Libby app! You’ll just need your library card to log in.

Physical Book

Amazon is still a good option to get the paperback, but if they’re only delivering “essential items” in your area or the delivery date is too far out, you may need to look for other options. If they’re open, please try to support your local bookstore or library. If they’re closed, more book-focused online stores like BAM! or Barnes & Noble can probably deliver.

Reading Schedule

We’ve split the book into two sections and will hold a discussion after each one right here on the blog! We’re reading the book for the first time right alongside you, so hopefully the stopping points work out OK. Feel free to read at your own pace, but please avoid posting spoilers if you read ahead. Also, if you’re behind schedule and concerned about spoilers, you may want to wait until you’re caught up to join the discussion.

Discussion Section 1: Chapter 1 – 13: Saturday, July 18, 2020

For the Gutenberg e-book version, chapter 13 ends on page 107 at 51% through the book. We’ll post our thoughts and some questions on this section on the morning of July 18th to kick-off discussion! Can’t wait!

• Discussion #1

Final Discussion: Full Book: Saturday, July 25, 2020

We’ll complete the book and begin the final discussion on July 25th!

• Final Discussion

We can’t wait to hear your thoughts on Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. Let’s get reading!