The Determined Heart: The Tale of Mary Shelley and Her Frankenstein

As an Undergraduate, I was an English major. Naturally read Frankenstein, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and Byron. I also read William Godwin, Mary Shelley's father, and Mary Wolstencroft, her mother. When I found The Determined Heart, I knew I had to read it. 

Antoinette May, the author of The Determined Heart, did a great job in her fictionalized account of Mary Shelley's life. I'm only half through the book and can already say I recommend it. The writing, characters, and plot pace is good. I can easily immerse myself in the story.  I am anxious to find time to continue reading.  I'm even reading late into the night. Overall, I am finding this to be a well crafted read. 

Any reader who is familiar with Mary Shelley or any of her friends and family should at least consider reading this book. If you're a fan of Frankenstein, I would say this book is a must as it easily presents a look into what influenced Mary Shelley. While fictionalized, it still hits the major points of Mary's life. Fans of historical fiction should read this book.

As much as I recommend this book, and as familiar as I am with the major characters of the book, I have to say...I hate seeing Percy Bysshe Shelley and Lord Byron portrayed as such assholes. Yes, assholes. I knew that Bysshe was an adulterer and typically one step away from debtors prison. I knew Byron was arrogant and self involved. These things are well known. But it's still difficult to read. How could flawed people create such amazing works? 

Some of the publications by the numerous authors referenced in this novel are:

• Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, Maurice Hindle (Editor, Introduction)
• A Vindication of the Rights of Woman Mary Wollstonecraft
• The Anarchist Writings of William Godwin by William Godwin, Peter Marshall (Editor)
• The Complete Poetry of Percy Bysshe Shelley by Percy Bysshe Shelley, Neil Fraistat (Editor), Donald H. Reiman (Editor)
• Lord Byron: The Major Works by George Gordon Byron, Jerome J. McGann (Editor)

UPDATE: I finished the novel and I still feel the same as my previous post. It was a great read. A read I couldn't wait to get back too. 

The Boy Who Granted Dreams by Luca Di Fulvio

This book was my first freelance copy editor manuscript from Bastei Lübbe, a German publishing company who is increasing their English language catalog. 

I did not know what to expect when I received it. When I started reading it, I quickly realized it wasn't something I would have picked out for myself. I typically read urban fantasy, in all it's variations. The Boy Who Granted Dreams is historical fiction. It's the story of a young girl, Cetta, who is becoming a young woman in a farming community in 1920's Italy. The girls family is poor and leaves Italy for America with her son, Natale. 

As the story brings the readers to America, the story begins to flash forward and back as the story moves from the view point of the mother to that of her son. Both Cetta and Natale have good and bad experiences, do good and bad things. But ultimately this book is the story of what people do for love, power, and money. I don't want to say too much about the plot itself as I really feel that this story should reveal itself as the author presents it. 

The author, Luca Di Fulvio, presents a very well written novel. Characters have distinct voices and are interesting. Transitions are not confusing or jarring to the reader. The setting of the story only adds to the interest for the reader. The 1920's and 1930's have long been a glamorized era for Americans with it's speakeasies, radio shows, flashy cars, and picture shows. The one issue I have with the story overall is the repeated sexual assaults that occur. I found it difficult to read those paragraphs. That said, I do not feel the novel would benefit from the removal or changing of those scenes. 

In the end, I would recommend this book. I think readers of historical fiction would particularly enjoy this read.  I would also encourage exploration of Luca's other works -- most of which are in Italian.

The Boy Who Granted Dreams is available from a variety of retailers.