Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors

GENRE - Literary fiction. 

FIRST PUBLISHED - 2022 

PUBLISHED BY 4TH ESTATE

THEMES - Relationships. Dysfunctional relationships. Mental health. Love. Romance. Friendship. Sex. Alcoholism. Drugs. 

READING TIME - Approximately 12 hours 30 minutes

PURCHASED FROM - Waterstones

PLOT - Set in the busy, bohemian city of New York, British Cleo meets American Frank (20 years older than Cleo) one night whilst leaving a party. It's an instant attraction and a whirlwind romance begins. They are damaged people with dark sides and this affects their relationship. Many of the people and relationships around them are at least a little gloom-ridden or tinged with some form of negativity, such is life, for most of us have struggles - and this book is very much about that - life, relationships, and our responses to both.  

MY REFLECTIONS - This book has it all - it's devastating, it's funny, it's glamorous, it's sexy, it's elegant. It's deep, dark and meaningful - my favourite things. 

This book broke my heart, in the most beautiful way, because that is exactly what it is, beautiful and heartbreaking. The writing is vivid, poignant and witty, it's hilarious at times. I was laughing out loud one minute, or grinning, or catching myself wrinkling my nose in unison with a character, the next I was wiping away tears with a physically aching heart. It's quite a roller-coaster. The style is intelligently punchy, sassy, psychologically profound, and all the while it encapsulates the poetry of life, the beautiful and bleak, the beauty of the bleak, in such a skilfully clear, insightful and concise way; I was left whirring with the character's emotions, and yet, despite our differences, had a strong sense of clarity and understanding for them. I don't remember feeling so heavily consumed by the characters of a book since Jane and Rochester in Jane Eyre, 25 years ago, at the tender age of fifteen. I've been close, but not this close. I think Cleopatra and Frankenstein may have become my favourite modern novel. I am totally on board with the hype. I get it. I'm part of it. I love it. I can't stop thinking about it. I think I may be a little in love with Frank too. Please read it. Coco Mellors deserves to be read. 

A couple of favourite quotes -

When the darkest part of you meets the darkest past of me, it creates light. P.36

(Names emitted to avoid spoilers) - (Name) had once seen an image of a tsunami wave carrying hundreds of species of sea life within it, sharks and stingrays and schools of silver-backed fish, all lifted high in the wave's arc before crashing onto land. That was what it felt like whenever he was near (name).They had never touched , never kissed, but his response to her was titanic. Everything in him rose to meet her. p.160

Some notes I made whilst reading - (I would have thought I would have made more notes about a book I adored reading, but obviously I was too engrossed) -

I love it (One chapter in)

Vibrant

Love the characters

Love the comedy of chapter 5

Couldn't put chapter 6 down

Low self esteem issues

Tsunami quote makes me remember why I fucking love words/literature

Oh Jesus How I Adore You - just LOVE - giving her to Cleo, Cleo's response, Frank's response to her - the naming of her. Can see it happening - so clear - brilliant.

Despite the sadness and darkness always being present, it all of a sudden felt achingly tragic - shit got real. My heart aches. 

This book broke my heart. 

I stayed up late two nights in a row to finish the book, going to bed in the early hours of morning. The first thing I did when I woke up the next day was pick it up and read the last page again. Then I thought about it all day.