Róise Nic an Bheatha

Poor Things will have you second guessing your own interpretations of the truth

By: Róise Nic an Bheatha Are you looking for a ‘90s Scottish take on Mary Shelley’s cult classic Frankenstein? Yes?! Then you’re lucky you stumbled upon Alasdair Gray’s Poor Things. Be warned, this book is not for the poor-hearted: expect a grotesque, gothic, genre-subverting read. Gorge yourself on a fast-paced narrative that is told through so many perspectives that you must take on the role of a detective to decipher the truth. The fact that Gray borrows from pre-existing genres only enhances the novel’s Frankenstein feel — Poor Things is a monstrous novel that is essentially constructed from other books’ literary…

Continue reading