Friday Memes and Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein'

This week hasn't been as productive as it could be, blogging-wise. I worked a lot, I went to a pub-quiz and read The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, but I didn't get a lot of blogging done. I hope next week will be better! Now, onto the memes!

Follow Friday is hosted by Alison Can Read and Parajunkee and this week's question was suggested by the amazing Tracy over at Cornerfolds. Definitely check out her blog people!

Do you have any furry friends? Share a picture!

Aah love this question from Tracy because I love pets and I can't wait to see everyone's adorable furry friends! I, personally, don't have a pet myself anymore, but, through some convoluted arguing I could make a case for my dad's best friend's dog sort of being mine! I present to you the utter adorableness that is Cooper, the best Dachshund around. I couldn't pick just one picture, so you're stuck with the holy trifecta of adorable photos now!

Just look at that face and tell me he is not adorable! The pic on the left is when he was still a posy youngster and the other two are of him as a silver fox, both snoozing and staring off into the distance! He is utterly blind and old by now, but we still love him a lot!

Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Billy over at Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer and this week's question was suggested by Elizabeth over at Silver's Reviews:

Do you think a book's title is important?

Oh absolutely! A title is the first thing that I look at, besides the cover. I think a title, more than a cover, can place a book within a genre. There was an absolutely genius post not too long ago by a blogger I follow about how generic a lot of book titles have become, but I somehow can't find the link and it's slightly upsetting! Anyway, back to the question. If I don't love the title of a book I'm less likely to talk about it. And if a title seems utterly unrelated to the book, that's also very annoying.

This week I'm sharing one of my favourite books with you, the famous Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. Not only do I love Mary Shelley herself, who was absolutely fabulous in a lot of different ways, but I love Frankenstein and think it's a genius book. I'm really excited to finally be rereading it for university and you can be sure that I will be writing an essay on it in May!

Mary Shelley began writing Frankenstein when she was only eighteen. At once a Gothic thriller, a passionate romance, and a cautionary tale about the dangers of science, Frankenstein tells the story of committed science student Victor Frankenstein. Obsessed with discovering the cause of generation and life and bestowing animation upon lifeless matter, Frankenstein assembles a human being from stolen body parts but; upon bringing it to life, he recoils in horror at the creature's hideousness. Tormented by isolation and loneliness, the once-innocent creature turns to evil and unleashes a campaign of murderous revenge against his creator, Frankenstein.

 Book Beginnings is hosted by Gilion over at Rose City Reader and Friday 56 by Freda over at Freda's Voice.

BB:

'To Mrs. Saville, EnglandSt. Petersburgh, Dec. 11th 17- 

You will rejoice to hear that no disaster has accompanied the commencement of an enterprise which you have regarded with such evil forebodings. I arrived here yesterday; and my first task is to assure my dear sister of my welfare, and increasing confidence in the success of my undertaking.' p.1

Aaah, the epistolary novel form. Sometimes I love it when novels include letters and sometimes I dislike it severely, but in Frankenstein it's perfect.

F56:

'We returned to our college on a Sunday afternoon: the peasants were dancing, and everyone we met appeared gay and happy. My own spirits were high, and I bounded along with feelings of unbridled joy and hilarity.' p.56

Aah, whenever anyone in this happy the story is bound to turn sour, isn't it? But when it comes to our Dr. Frankenstein I don't mind since I severely despise him. God-complex to the max with that man!

So, that's my post for today! Do you have a pet? And how important are titles to you?