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Mary's Monster
Mary's Monster: Love, Madness, and How Mary Shelley Created Frankenstein | Lita Judge
Both timely and terrifying. Gregory Macguire, New York Timesbestselling author of Wicked Pairing free verse with over three hundred pages of black-and-white watercolor illustrations, Marys Monster is a unique and stunning biography of Mary Shelley, the pregnant teenage runaway who became one of the greatest authors of all time. Legend is correct that Mary Shelley began penning Frankenstein in answer to a dare to write a ghost story. What most people don't know, however, is that the seeds of her novel had been planted long before that night. By age nineteen, she had been disowned by her family, was living in scandal with a married man, and had lost her baby daughter just days after her birth. Mary poured her grief, pain, and passion into the powerful book still revered two hundred years later, and in Mary's Monster, author/illustrator Lita Judge has poured her own passion into a gorgeous book that pays tribute to the life of this incredible author.
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IndoorDame
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Pickpick

I loved this! A YA biography, at times stretching the line into historical fiction, told in free verse, printed over full page black and white watercolor illustrations. It‘s moody, evocative, and emotional. It does a great job of capturing the often overlooked fact that the woman who wrote the masterpiece we still regard was the same age as the target audience for this book, and shows what her life was and where that masterpiece originated .

Kenyazero Wow! This book sounds like it has a lot to offer! 😮 4mo
dabbe #stacked! 🖤💙🖤 4mo
IndoorDame @dabbe 💜🖤💜 4mo
54 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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Addison_Reads
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Pickpick

Amazing! 🤩

I can't sing enough praise about this book. It is written in free verse with gorgeous illustrations on every page. The way the words and the graphics come together are flawless.

I borrowed this from my library, but I will definitely buy myself a copy for my shelves.

#NonfictionNovember

StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego This book is gorgeous. 5mo
JenniferEgnor I loved this one! It was so beautiful. 5mo
42 likes2 comments
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ElizaMarie
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Pickpick

Absolutely beautiful! #YouPickTBR23

#PugLife #DogsOfLitsy

Zoey watched me read this one :) she approves :)

Riveted_Reader_Melissa That looks great! Stacking!!! 13mo
ElizaMarie @Riveted_Reader_Melissa it‘s beautiful 13mo
ShelleyBooksie Her face!!! OmG Zoey!!! I can't handle the.cuteness ♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡ 13mo
29 likes1 stack add3 comments
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ElizaMarie
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So beautiful:)

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ElizaMarie
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I‘m counting this in the category of #YouPickTBR23 I know this book has been recommended to me by so many people! I can‘t think of who all to tag :) found it the other day while browsing a local bookstore. Think I can squeeze out one more book on March :)

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JenniferEgnor
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Pickpick

I loved this book. Each page beautifully illustrated, as you go on a journey into Mary‘s mind, her heart. This book captured the tragedies of her life, which ended up being her greatest inspiration for one of the most unforgettable gothic novels. There‘s a section in the back about her life and the most important persons in it. I couldn‘t put this book down. Watch the movie about her if you haven‘t already! Link: https://youtu.be/T-WGaZaojFc

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Readergrrl
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Wow! @Catsandbooks What a fantastic sleuth you are! I adore the Creature and, in fact, I‘m teaching Frankenstein right now! I will be bringing everything you sent me right to my classroom to share. Of course, I‘ll be painting my Franky light box first! What fun!! I love the bookmark and the framed quote you made for me. Perfect! Thank you!!
#NMS
#NightmareMakersSwap

Readergrrl Oh, and this book?!?! I‘ve never seen it and I thought that I had already found all the Frankenstein related texts out there. In all seriousness, I‘ll be showing it to my students and it‘s giving me some great ideas for an activity in class! 2y
LibrarianRyan Nice! 2y
Catsandbooks So glad you like everything and it will be helpful and fun for your class too!! 🧡 2y
46 likes3 comments
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kaysworld1
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#Alphabetgame
#LetterM

Mary Monster by Lita Judge
The illustrations in this book are beautiful, the story is so heartbreaking. This book is truly amazing one of my absolute favourites.

26 likes1 comment
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nikirtehsuxlol
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I‘m really digging this YA “nonfiction” book about Mary Shelley‘s life.

Oof. She did not have it easy. 🧟‍♂️⚡️

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TheBookKeepers
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Yay picking out books is always one of my favorite parts! Here are my contenders I‘ll add links in the comments below. Please let me know if you‘ve read any already/any vetoes, or if any stand out to you more than others! 😊 @WanderingBookaneer @mklong @LazyDays #lmpbc

Mary‘s Monster is tagged - this is a graphic novel + poetry collection telling the biography of Mary Shelley using a compilation of her own written works

TheBookKeepers I read an intro by this author in Claudia Rankines book Citizen and loved it. She‘s been on my TBR for a while 3y
TheBookKeepers This is a YA novel in verse I‘ve heard great things about 3y
TheBookKeepers I‘ve absolutely loved the few Nikita Gill books I‘ve read and this and the next book are both on my TBR 3y
See All 15 Comments
WanderingBookaneer I had Punching the Air as something I‘d suggest. I haven‘t read any of these and would read any of them. I will say I‘m not a huge fan of Nikita Gill. 3y
mklong I would vote either Mary‘s Monster or Nikki Giovanni, but I‘m willing to give anything a go 3y
LazyDays Ya you all I out the wrong email address 3y
LazyDays Would one of you email me the information please. lazydayslitsy@gmail.com 3y
TheBookKeepers @LazyDays do you have any preference on these options? 3y
LazyDays Thank you! 3y
LazyDays They all look good to me! 3y
TheBookKeepers Okay I bought all 3 😂 (less the 2 by Nikita Gill) and will make a final decision once they are delivered and I can flip through them! I‘ll keep y‘all posted @LazyDays @mklong @WanderingBookaneer 3y
TheBookKeepers @LazyDays @mklong @wanderlustywriter I decided to go with Love Poems! 2y
mklong Sounds great!! I am so excited about this round! 2y
45 likes15 comments
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StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego
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Pickpick

I didn't know too much about the life of Mary Shelley. This book is fascinating, haunting, and beautiful. #Screamathon 😱 @4thhouseontheleft

smalldogs_bigbooks2419 I‘m reading Frankenstein now. I‘d love to know more about the author. Might need to add this to my TBR list. 3y
ravenlee I LOVE this bio! 3y
smalldogs_bigbooks2419 I‘ve yet to really be led astray by suggestions I‘ve received here, so I‘ll see if my library has it (or can get it from one of the libraries they‘re connected to and can order from). 3y
86 likes5 stack adds4 comments
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ravenlee
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Pickpick

I loved this book. It‘s a first-person biographical story in poetry with graphic novel-style black/white watercolor illustrations. It‘s beautiful in every way, and heartbreaking. We get Mary Shelley‘s life and the creation of her immortal offspring. Highly recommend.

35 likes1 stack add
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ravenlee
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They expected girls to be nice
and obey the rules.
They expected girls to be silent
and swallow punishment and pain.

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gibblr
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readordierachel
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A bunch of holds came in at the same time, as they are wont to do. Though I've been making an effort to read my own damn books, it feels nice to have a stack from the library again.

Leftcoastzen Isn‘t that always the way? Some good looking titles. 4y
readordierachel @Leftcoastzen It's Murphy's Library Law. Hopefully I'll actually get to some of them 🤞🏼 4y
sarahbarnes I feel like I‘m always struggling to read my own damn books. 😂 4y
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Tanisha_A Oooh, I want to read Cantoras 4y
Reggie Cantoras and Signal to Noise!❤️ 4y
Cathythoughts Cantoras sounds good ... exciting stack 👏🏻 4y
batsy Nice stack! Cantoras and Mary's Monster and Someone Inside Your House all tbr 😁 4y
readordierachel @sarahbarnes The struggle is real 😆 4y
readordierachel @Tanisha_A Doesn't it sound good?? 4y
readordierachel @Reggie I requested Signal to Noise after reading your review 😊 4y
readordierachel @batsy 🙌🏽 Hopefully I'll actually get to them 😅 4y
minkyb I hope you read Cantoras! 3y
readordierachel @minkyb OK then, I definitely will 😊 Was trying to figure out what to pick up next, so thank you for the nudge. 3y
70 likes14 comments
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jb72
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#two4tuesday

1. Terrible. I had a total month of a reading slump in May.

2. I have not made any adjustments to my goals. I am still working toward them.

I‘ll tag: @AkashaVampie @ElizaMarie @Readage @Bookworm54

TheSpineView I get the slump but mine is writing the reviews. Thanks for playing! 🤩 4y
ElizaMarie Thanks for the tag... I will update mine tomorrow :) 4y
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Sleepswithbooks
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“But she did not hide.”
“She was not silenced.”
“She fought against the cruelty of
human nature by writing.”

Thank you @SumisBooks for recommending this amazing book to me!!! I loved it!! Now I have to read “Frankenstein!”

jen_the_scribe I loved Frankenstein, read it years ago. Stacked! 4y
BeansPage You are so very welcome hon. I'm so glad you liked it 😊 4y
erzascarletbookgasm The tagged book is gorgeous! I loved it! 4y
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That-Bookish-Hiker
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Pickpick

Now it‘s no secret how much I love Frankenstein so when I saw this graphic novel shark g the authors life I had to have it.

I already knew some the stuff regarding Mary Shelley‘s life but I learned so much that I didn‘t know as well. Shelley is an incredible woman who was before her time. She was a feminist even back then! She is truly inspiring and makes me love Frankenstein even more. And the artwork was pretty amazing as well.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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That-Bookish-Hiker
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I‘ve been asking myself this same question for years!

I‘m really enjoying this graphic novel of Mary Shelley‘s life.

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kaysworld1
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My 2019 book wrap up I have read a lot of books last year.
#readingthelibrary #readingmyownbooks

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Vcollinilibrarian
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Pickpick

This was an excellent biography. I never knew what Mary went through and how much she suffered. This was such a unique way of telling her story!! Highly recommend.

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ravenlee
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My Book Outlet order finally arrived! #bookhaul part 1. Mockingbird is for a friend, I thought about giving Tolkien‘s Dragons to my SIL but will probably keep it, The Sill Roads is a totally different book than I thought I was buying but looks good, and the tagged book is a #blameitonLitsy.

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CoffeeCatsBooks
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Pickpick

This book was beautiful, powerful, and heart wrenching.

Told in free verse and black and white watercolor illustrations, this tells the story of Mary Shelley‘s life. While I knew about her life with Percy Shelley, I wasn‘t aware of the the turmoil in her early life or her father‘s later treatment of her. Also, it‘s easy to forget how young she was when she left home and wrote Frankenstein.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
#scarathlon #TeamStoker 3pts

CoffeeCatsBooks I was also curious how she felt about Byron revealing that she was the author of Frankenstein. 5y
CoffeeCatsBooks I also wonder if her own writing suffered because she spent so much of her time revising and championing her husband‘s writing. 5y
BeansPage I'm so very glad you enjoyed it. I think I've read this book three or four times now. I'm reading Frankenstein again right now. Things I never knew before about the novel are now coming to light and making more sense to me. 🧟‍♀️ 5y
CoffeeCatsBooks @thereadingmermaid The ending and the author‘s notes brought tears to my eyes. To be so brilliant but to have so few outlets and to be betrayed by so many loved ones. I have a re-read of Frankenstein slated for this month too. I treated myself to an annotated copy, so I‘ll be interested in what illuminations it brings. 5y
BeansPage 🖤🖤🖤 5y
57 likes3 stack adds5 comments
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CoffeeCatsBooks
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This opening with the image 💕

“Most people didn‘t believe Mary Shelley, a teenage girl, unleashed me, a creature powerful and murderous enough to haunt their dreams.”

#scarathlon #TeamStoker 1pt @TheReadingMermaid I hadn‘t heard of this one before your review and Shelley is one of my favorites.

BeansPage It may be just me, it may have been that this was the right book at the right time but this book just spoke to me in a way that made my heart bleed. In my opinion it's an absolutely amazing book and has skyrocketed to one of my favorites next to Edgar Allan Poe's complete works. 🧟‍♀️ 5y
CoffeeCatsBooks @TheReadingMermaid The language and the images are beautiful. 5y
BeansPage Girl that made me cry. It was just so beautiful and so tragic and so sad but so beautiful 🖤 5y
39 likes1 stack add3 comments
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BeansPage
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Pickpick

I read this book twice in one sitting and by the time I was done tears were streaming down my face!
I highly recommend this book.

Please read my full review here:
https://thereadingmermaidsreviews.weebly.com/book-reviews/marys-monster-by-lita-...

Merchgal This one sounds interesting. 🧐 5y
63 likes7 stack adds1 comment
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BeansPage
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This book has rocked me to my very core. It made me feel things that I have not felt in years... we're talkin over a decade. I am just completely in utter awe of this book. I'm sitting here in tears and I can't write a review because I'm too messed up and too many things are going through my head. I'm going to try to write a full review tomorrow. 😭

3pts for #TeamStoker
#Scarathlon

BeansPage I've read this book twice in one sitting by the way. 🖤 5y
67 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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BeansPage
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This book is absolutely beautiful and so tragic. I never knew all this about Mary Shelley but now that I do I respect her even more than I did. she was so much more than just the mother of Frankenstein's monster. I'm literally in tears right now 😭

1pt for #TeamStoker
#Scarathlon

56 likes2 stack adds
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BeansPage
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I don't know if you all can read thisI don't know if you all can read this, I hope that you can. Now THIS is an introduction to a book! Especially an introduction to one of the most powerful women in history when it comes to mastering the pen, and one of the most iconic monsters of all time! BRAVO! 👏👏👏

1pt for #TeamStoker
#Scarathlon

Come-read-with-me @TheReadingMermaid It is an AMAZING intro! Thanks for sharing! 5y
BeansPage @Come-read-with-me you are most welcome sweetheart. The hair on my arms stood up when I read this! Very powerful! 5y
kymmiesreads Oh wow! I didn‘t know any of that! What a powerful message and what an incredible woman! 5y
See All 9 Comments
kymmiesreads @TheReadingMermaid is that the into to the book? 5y
BeansPage @kymmiesreads yes it is the intro to the tag book! I am currently reading it today. And this book itself is so very powerful. This might become one of my very favorite books. 5y
IndoorDame That is such a powerful intro! And I didn‘t know any of that about her life. Thanks for sharing! 5y
kymmiesreads @TheReadingMermaid should I read Frankenstein first? 5y
BeansPage @kymmiesreads I would recommend it just so you have a little bit of a foundation so that you can dive a little deeper into the story and the woman who created it. 5y
BeansPage @IndoorDame you are very welcome sweetheart. Thank you for reading it! It is becoming one of my very favorite books! 5y
54 likes9 comments
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NovelNancyM
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Pickpick

Told in narrative poetry with a picture on every page, this story of Mary Shelley an outcast who ran away pregnant at 16 with a married man & poet Percy Shelley. Overcoming every obstacle, the two remain together and end up associated with Lord Byron who dares anyone to write about bringing the dead back to life. Over years Shelley does this by writing Frankenstein & all of the injustices she endured end up in her character.

13 likes1 stack add
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RiaWritten
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Here‘s (most of) the graphic novels I gotta read this summer for class. The remaining six(!) of them are on reserve from the library and should be coming in soon. Oof.

BookishTrish ❤️Uzimaki 5y
18 likes1 comment
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IndyHannaJones
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Sarahreadstoomuch
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Pickpick

This graphic bio in verse is amazing! The illustrations are gorgeous, the words are beautiful, and the story of Mary Shelley is fascinating. I dare you to read this and not want to immediately read (or reread) Frankenstein! #LitsyAtoZ:J

Brewychock48 I love any kind of book in verse. Putting this on my tbr list. Thanks👍💯 5y
17 likes1 comment
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IndyHannaJones
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I'm so excited about this...

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Kpiper
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Pickpick

This is a beautiful read. It is written in prose so it‘s a quick read, and it‘s lovely.

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kaysworld1
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Pickpick

I absolutely adore this book.
From the gentle words to the heartbreaking loss Mary endeavoured threw out her life.
Her unwavering support and love to others.
Just perfect, Frankenstein is and has always been a favourite.
The illustrations are spectacular.
#reading #feminist #catsoflitsy #frankenstein #marysmonster #books #author

38 likes2 stack adds
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rachelsbrittain
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So @sebrittain is the actual sweetest and best sister in the world. Last year for the publication of my first short story, she sent me an enamel pin of a radio to go with the theme of the story and this year, for the publication of my second short story, My Name Was Never Frankenstein, she sent me this gorgeous Frankenstein pin and book.

Actual. Sweetest. ❤

sebrittainclark ❤❤❤ 5y
37 likes1 comment
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SleepyDragon
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Pickpick

⭐⭐⭐⭐(3.5)

Saw this on the library's "new" shelf last weekend and snatched it up, having recognized it from my Litsy feed. #BlameItOnLitsy! Enjoyed it, didn't love it. Author has an interesting take on the Shelleys. Amazing artwork and poetry.

Goodreads review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2643289261

Book one finished for #24b42019
Total so far: 3 hours
(Mostly thanks to my car needing new tires and an oil change.)

BeansPage I think I'm stacking this one girlfriend! 🤘🏻😁🤘🏻 5y
SleepyDragon @TheReadingMermaid I think you will like it. 5y
Andrew65 Going well. 👏 5y
15 likes2 stack adds4 comments
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TheBookKeepers
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Pickpick

I‘ve been a bit obsessed w/ Mary Shelley this fall & was left in awe after reading this book. Stunning artwork on every single page paired w/ expertly woven 1st person verse derived from Mary‘s own works. The imagery along w/ her words are tragically beautiful & evoke strong emotions from the reader. I felt the author truly grasped Mary‘s values & beliefs.
#bookreview #thebookkeepers #biography

CaroPi I order it in #bookdepository 2 weeks ago. Can't wait to read it 5y
TheBookKeepers Oh yay!! What kind of price did you score on it if you don‘t mind me asking? I borrowed this from the library but I absolutely want to own it lol!!! @CaroPi 5y
CaroPi @TheBookKeepers price was given in PLN but is around 15 dollars. I have a weakness for graphic novels 5y
110 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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TheBookKeepers
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“They expected girls to be nice
And obey the rules.

They expected girls to be silent
And swallow punishment and pain.”

TheBookKeepers Please tell me I‘m not the only one who girl crushes hard on Mary Shelley?! 😍 5y
KrystleTheBookSlayer Love Mary Shelley!!!❤💜💙 5y
RebL This book made me read (or maybe reread) Modern Prometheus AND examine my own unhealthy relationships with men even as I see myself a feminist. Now I want to read White‘s take. 5y
TheBookKeepers @RebL Yes!!! I‘ve put a hold in at the library for Modern Prometheus!! & that other book is on my TBR too!!!!! 5y
94 likes3 stack adds4 comments
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erzascarletbookgasm
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Mary Shelly is marvellously brought to life in this gothic illustrated account of her life - her hardships & struggles in early life, her inspiration for creating Frankenstein, and her relationship with Percy Shelly, a tormented poet & married man, which caused her being banished by her family. Despite all these, Mary was able to channel her grief into a book which is arguably considered the ‘first true science fiction story.‘
#NoFemmber #SheWill

Cinfhen Your blurb makes me want to read tagged book immediately. I‘ve always been weary of reading Frankenstein but her life seems so much more interesting 5y
erzascarletbookgasm @cinfhen Please read it! A fascinating account of her life and stunning artwork. 🖤 5y
Cinfhen Stacked!!! 5y
JazzFeathers I'm always in awe that she was so young when she wrote it 5y
Billypar Ooh- what a great concept! 5y
72 likes6 stack adds5 comments
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Kalalalatja
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#CallingAllTheMonsters from my graphic novel shelf 👻😈🤖🧟‍♀️🧙‍♀️

Thanks for a fun month @Robothugs and @Cinfhen 👏 while I haven‘t posted consistently, I have enjoyed seeing all the posts for #OctoberXFiles. Now I‘m looking forward to #NoFemmeBer 🙌🙌

Cinfhen Yay!!! Cool photo and looking forward to smashing #NoFemmeber 5y
Robothugs Nicely done! 👻🖤 5y
Kalalalatja @Cinfhen Yasssss! The playlist is really good! @Robothugs thanks! 👻👻 5y
103 likes1 stack add3 comments
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JessClark78
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I‘m really enjoying the illustrations in this one. #CurrentlyReading #Screamathon

Kalalalatja They are really well done! 5y
62 likes1 comment
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Kerrbearlib
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I can choose to forgive.
I can choose to live again,
broken but breathing.

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tomcat
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Pickpick

Wow. This was excellent. Beautiful verse and illustrations that convey so much emotion on every page!

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JessClark78
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Book mail!! Saving this one for October. 🎃🍂

74 likes2 stack adds
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kyraleseberg
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Already
I am daughter to a ghost
and mother to bones.

Mowen036 I loved this book so much. 6y
kyraleseberg @Mowen036 Me too! The illustrations and verse are 👌 6y
26 likes1 stack add2 comments
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kyraleseberg
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I checked this out at the library today because I have zero self control and no business picking up more books due to my already giant pile of ARCs coming up for September 😂

26 likes1 stack add
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Kalalalatja
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Pickpick

Seriously, look at this artwork!!

This book tells the story of Mary Shelley in a first person poetry style accompanied by the most beautiful black and white illustrations. I don‘t know enough about Mary Shelley‘s life to know if this is a good biography or not, but it did give me a glimpse into the life of a young girl trying to make her own way in a world that doesn‘t make ways for girls. And now I want to know a lot more about her life!

JenniferP I read a good dual biography of Mary Shelley and her mother called Romantic Outlaws recently. Fascinating lives! 6y
Kalalalatja @JenniferP sounds good, I‘ll have to look it up! 6y
mklong I agree about Romantic Outlaws, it was great. I also liked this one 6y
105 likes5 stack adds3 comments
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Kalalalatja
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I‘m preparing myself for a (hopefully) lovely bookish day! Two of my best friends and I are going for a used-book-crawl in Aarhus, and I‘m so excited 👏👏

So I‘m carb- and caffeine-loading and getting myself in a bookish state of mind with a book about Mary Shelley 📖

#currentlyreading

Trollkonstnaren There is another book of her (propably many others, but) that was super interesting ☺️ I hope your book gives the same jorney to her mind as that book! 6y
batsy Mmm breakfast looks fab 6y
Mitch Sounds like a great day - have fun ! 6y
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Cinfhen Sound like a great day 😍 6y
erzascarletbookgasm Sounds lovely indeed. Enjoy and show your haul! 6y
maich Enjoy😘 6y
Kalalalatja @batsy nutella is always a winner 👌 @Mitch @Cinfhen @erzascarletbookgasm @maich I‘m excited, but I‘m hoping I‘ll be able to control myself a bit 😄 6y
Kalalalatja @Trollkonstnaren this was definitely a different take on a biography, since it was told from Mary‘s perspective, but it was great! 6y
emilyhaldi I might have to copy your breakfast!! 6y
mabell Sounds terrific! Have a great time! 6y
103 likes1 stack add10 comments
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ThatLibrarianLady
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This book also helped me get this achievement in Bookly today! Woo!