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Laurie's avatar

This post reminded me of a book I read several years ago called Death and the Maidens: Fanny Wollstonecraft and the Shelley Circle, by Janet Todd. It included a lot about Mary Shelley and was really interesting. But what I remember most is that Percy Shelley was REALLY TERRIBLE at managing money, among the many ways in which he was really terrible.

I will definitely read Mary Who Wrote Frankenstein, thank you! I listened to an audiobook of Frankenstein a few years ago when December was reading the novel for high school English. So good and we did a lot of chortling over the idiocy of Victor Frankenstein.

A fictional Mary whose stories I have enjoyed is Mary Russell of The Beekeeper's Apprentice and sequels, by Laurie R. King.

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Abigail Cerquitella's avatar

oh these are great recs, thank you for sharing!!

A great idea to listen to Frankenstein, i bet its quite immersive. Was the narrator good?

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Laurie's avatar

I checked out Mary Who Wrote Frankenstein, thank you for the recommendation! The illustrations by Júlia Sardà were spectacular. As to the audiobook of Frankenstein: it was, more accurately, a podcast, Phoebe Reads a Mystery by Phoebe Judge. I've listened to a number of her readings of classic novels (Sense and Sensibility a particular favorite) and now have become an avid listener of her other podcasts Criminal and This is Love as well. She reads aloud so soothingly.

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Peter Cerquitella's avatar

You are forgiven, A.

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Libby Tutewiler's avatar

May we all seek to be “philosophizing serpents” and “Big Problems” in life. Also I did a spit take at the “you’re in a cult” link.

I definitely haven’t done my homework on the beginnings of feminism, so this was such an enlightening starting point for me! Many books added to the tbr.

My wrestling with women’s role in the church (aka my pleading with my family and ex-employer to place value on my words despite the whorish over-emotional thing between my legs) has been long and draining. This was such a piece of respite to the soul to read, and I’ll definitely be checking out that book.

I’ll cheers you from afar July 22 🥂

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Abigail Cerquitella's avatar

i love love this, thanks for sharing libby! i'm beyond delighted to keep filling up your tbr and to have provided a little respite. lemme know your thoughts when you read!

i so feel you on the long and draining front. i'm currently taking a break from pleading and am just trying to incorporate and grow it all in myself for now. hence newsletter as a processing tool!

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