Reading together, + Frankenstein.

07.08

Cider-with-Rosie-Frankenstein

Do you remember me saying that a few weeks ago, Jason and I started a new little tradition of reading together in the evenings? I know it’s kind of a twee pastime, but we’ve found it’s such a lovely way of finishing off each day and having a little screen-free time right before bed.

We’re about 20 pages off finishing Frankenstein, and it’s been such a good read! I actually have read it once before (during the first year of my degree) but it just never gets old, and Jason’s loved it too. Next up I think we’re going to read Birdsong, which is one of my all-time favourite novels.

The real reason for this post was to give you a little heads up! I found out from a lovely lady at my local library a couple of weeks back that Danny Boyle’s Frankenstein is going to be in cinemas again over the next few months, which I’m so excited about! The production premiered at the National back in 2011, and Jonny Lee Miller and Benedict Cumberbatch switched back and forth playing the roles of Victor Frankenstein and the Creature. My Mum and I saw Jonny Lee Miller as Creature back in November last year, and I’m about to book up tickets for Jason, Mum and I to go and see Benedict Cumberbatch as Creature for the screening in a couple of month’s time! It’s hard to even imagine Cumberbatch as Creature after how amazing JLM was in the role, so I’m really looking forward to experiencing it. The production is raw and graphic and intense- and beautiful and thought-provoking and all those other characteristic traits of Danny Boyle’s work.

I really would recommend going along to a screening, if theatre/literature is your cup of tea! More info here, if you fancy it.

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20 Comments
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  • Teri

    I’ve seen both versions of this play now at the cinema in the same order you’re going to and I was the same as you, couldn’t imagine the creature being played by anyone other than JLM. It was definitely worth seeing both actors play the monster, they’re both amazing and it’s like watching a totally different play each time.

  • http://www.imogenscribbles.blogspot.com Imogen

    The annoying thing about studying English Literature is that it becomes really, really hard to read classics of my own choosing in my spare time. I just find myself either not wanting to pick up a book at all, or wanting to read the shortest novel possible! And then if I do pick up a book which isn’t a classic then I feel like I should be ready something that will benefit my degree instead! It’s a vicious circle!

    I’ve actually never read Frankenstein before though and it’s the kind of thing my parents would having lying about the house, so maybe I will give it a read! Thanks for this post, it’s sunny outside and now I think I might actually give something a read in the garden!

    Imogen x

  • http://lexxiannespoonful.blogspot.co.uk/ Lexxi-Anne

    Incredible piece of writing, it is a fantastic book. I did have to study it years ago for GCSE. I would love to read it again because of the whole, older and wiser kind of thing – I feel that I’d appreciate it a lot more nowadays. I think reading at the night times is a wonderful idea, especially with your partner AND you’re getting a bit of ‘culture’ slapped in there too.

  • http://www.owl-girl.com/ Candy

    My husband did a guest post on my blog recently, about this exact topic! We read to each other in bed all the time!

    Here’s the post, in case you were interested! It’s so awesome to find other couples who do this! YAY ROSIE YAY!

    Owl Girl | A London lifestyle blog

  • Elizabeth

    I remember reading Frankenstein twice in my degree. What did you study?

  • http://merakikaiagapi.blogspot.com/2014/04/the-engagement.html Georgia

    I love reading with people. always have, since I was 9 reading Redwall to my 5 year old brother. But I am curious- what do you mean by ‘twee pastime’? I’ve never heard twee in that context before, so I wasn’t sure what you meant by it.

    cheers!

  • http://bwallover.blogspot.com Vanessa

    I loved this post! One of my biggest pet peeves of all time is when people refer to the Monster as Frankenstein. Oh my goodness, I HATE that! When I correct them and tell them that the doctor’s name was Frankenstein and not the Monster, they never believe me lol Just thought I’d throw that little rant in there since you mentioned you were reading the novel.

    I live in Toronto and I saw Danny Boyle’s play too! I remember being SO excited going to my local cinema to see it on the day. I caught the performance in which Cumberbatch played the Creature. It was amazing!

    Have you seen the Birdsong miniseries that the BBC did? It broke my heart completely! After I saw it I bought the book, read it right away, and fell in love with the story all over again. I don’t think I ever cried so much lol

    • Rosie

      Ha, that gets my goat too! ;) ooh I’m so excited to see Cumberbatch as Creature, roll on November! I’ve not seen that series, must look it up! Love the novel, it’s so amazing isn’t it?

  • http://the-sportista.blogspot.co.uk/ Lisa

    I LOVE Frankenstein!! It’s one of my all time favourite gothic horror novels, along with Bram Stoker’s Dracula.

    Glad to see Danny Boyle’s version will be back in cinema theatres soon, I missed it last time and was really disappointed.

    Lx

  • http://www.bethspurplenotebook.wordpress.com Beth

    I had to read Frankenstein for school too and I was absolutely blown away by it! I was not expecting to like it as much as I did but now I would definitely reread it.

  • http://www.rhymeandribbons.com Amanda @ Rhyme & Ribbons

    I did a mini blogging series last year about how Sam and I read to each other, but ours was focused on reading the entire Harry Potter series aloud to each other. It ended up taking about 10 months ish – but when we were finished it really felt like an accomplishment! I saw that production of Frankenstein on stage. It was really interesting! Since Sam is an actor at the National Theatre right now, I got to see how they filmed his show for National Theatre Live and the differences and similarities between that and the regular performances – it was fascinating! x

    • Rosie

      Reading HP together is an amazing idea! You can never go wrong reading HP, right? ;) had you read it before? How cool that Sam’s working at the NT! What production is he in at the moment? :) I love the National, seen some incredible productions there! X

      • http://www.rhymeandribbons.com Amanda @ Rhyme & Ribbons

        He’s in ‘a Small family Business’ (the Ayckbourn) at the moment. But he was in ‘The Doctors Dilemma’ the year before last so I feel like I spend a lot of my time at NT.

  • http://deluminators.blogspot.com Jane

    That’s a really nice thing to do together! My favourite thing to do is read in bed, not necessarily before I sleep either, I can get into bed and read any time of the day haha. I had to study Frankenstein in my last year of high school and haven’t picked it up since…

  • http://www.amuchprettierpuzzle.com Charlotte Lucy Philpotts

    oooh this looks so good! thank you for sharing! x

  • http://www.theamberspyglass.co.uk Amber

    Thanks for the heads-up Rosie, I really want to catch a screening of Frankenstein! My boyfriend and I also read together before bed, it’s something we’ve done for years, and I think it’s really lovely. x

  • http://lilyloveslola.blogspot.co.uk Victoria

    That’s a sweet idea! My boyfriend is not one for reading. I read and he plays Candy Crush :)

  • http://www.easylittletiger.com amanda

    i’m the worst. between accelerated english in high school and a few different courses in college while getting my literature degree (including a class on sci fi!), i should have read frankenstein at least 4-5 times. and i still haven’t read it… i really need to rectify that.

  • http://theoriestosuitfacts.blogspot.co.uk/ Kate

    Great post! I love Frankenstein (the book and the play); I went to see Danny Boyle’s stage production back in 2011 with Jonny Lee Miller as the creature and it blew me away! I’ve been meaning to see BC in the role of the creature for for ages, maybe this year I will! xx

  • Kat

    Thanks Rosie for the heads up. Just booked the tickets for JLM as creature! Can’t wait.

    Also booked Streetcar Named Desire for the 16th Sept NT broadcast as we couldn’t get tickets to the actual venue itself.

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