What's Old Is New

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Introduction

Nicole talks about why she wanted to start “What’s Old is New” in the first place, and Jen introduces today’s topic, “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley.

2:50 Nicole and Jen start talking smack on “Frankenstein,” beginning with Nicole’s initial thoughts on the book.

5:30 Jen’s initial thoughts on “Frankenstein,” in which she throws the book with great force against the wall.

7:44 First instance of Emo Monster! (no, not Elmo monster)

10:20 How TV and film warped what we expected from Frankenstein, and modern culture warped our enjoyment

Chat with Joanne Rendell

14:20 In which we introduce Joanne Rendell, author of “Professor’s Wives Club,” “Crossing Washington Square,” and “Out of the Shadows.”

15:10 Joanne explains the premise of her latest book, “Out of the Shadows,” which was inspired by Mary Shelley and “Frankenstein,” followed by what made her love “Frankenstein” enough to write a book based on it.

24:22 Mary Shelley’s incredible parents
Note: although Jen apparently made up the novel she thought she saw titled “Vindication,” she did find these other books about Mary Wollstonecraft:

• “Midnight Fires” by Nancy Means Wright
• “Vindication” by Frances Sherwood (fiction, but from 2004 - people raved about it though)
• “Vindication” by Lyndall Gordon (nonfiction)

She is pretty sure she saw the cover to Gordon’s book and somehow mistakenly assumed it was fiction.

26:00 Joanne’s recommended books with similar themes to “Frankenstein”:

• “Oryx and Crake” by Margaret Atwood
• “The Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood
• “Never Let Me Go” by Kazuo Ishiguro
• “Brave New World” by Aldous Huxley
• “The Hunger Games” trilogy by Suzanne Collins
• “In Frankenstein’s Footsteps” by Steve Parker

28:35 Joanne’s upcoming books!

More “Frankenstein“-inspired books we liked better than the original!

31:30 “Out of the Shadows” by Joanne Rendell

34:00 “Frankenstein’s Monster” by Susan Heyboer O’Keefe

38:30 Dean Koontz’s Frankenstein series, book 1: “Prodigal Son”

40:30 “The Casebook of Victor Frankenstein” by Peter Ackroyd

42:15 Other books dealing with the themes of “Frankenstein:”

• “The Adoration of Jenna Fox” by Mary Pearson
• “Never Let Me Go” by Kazuo Ishiguro

Thanks for joining us!