Councillors across Bedford Borough are telling us about their favourite books as part of our Year of Reading.
And this week Councillor Sharan Sira wants to share Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, the tale of a neck-bolted green monster who is known for groaning his way through black-and-white horror films.
Only, as Councillor Sira reminds us, “Spoiler alert - Frankenstein is not the monster. He’s the scientist. And the real horror? Well, it’s not what you think.”
She said; “What I love about Frankenstein is that it’s philosophical, and eerily modern. Mary Shelley, writing this masterpiece at just 18 years old (overachiever alert!), didn’t just create a tale of a man stitching together body parts, she stitched together big questions about life, responsibility, ambition, and what it truly means to be human.
“Victor Frankenstein is the ultimate cautionary tale of someone who wanted to play God without reading the terms and conditions. His creation, the so-called ‘monster,’ is less villain and more misunderstood soul, part-poet, part tragic anti-hero, who just wants someone to love him.”
Councillor Sira shared her choice as part of Bedford Borough Council’s Year of Reading, a Borough-wide initiative taking place throughout 2025. It features a wide range of events and initiatives to celebrate and promote reading, including town centre performances, literary trails, and author readings.
Most recently it included a Literary Tent at the Kite and Motoring Festival, where the likes of the likes of Olaf Falafel, Michelle Robinson, David Litchfield and Julia Jarman all gave performances for the whole family.
And Councillor Sira’s choice of book shows how a good book can run a wide gamut of emotions.
She said; “It’s gripping, it’s grim, and yet strangely tender. It’s about science gone too far, about loneliness, and about the monstrous things we’re capable of when we reject what we don’t understand. Shelley’s writing is hauntingly beautiful, dramatic, and packed with atmosphere.
“So why do I keep rereading Frankenstein? Because every time I do, I discover something new about the characters, about society, about myself. It’s a story that refuses to sit quietly on the shelf, and frankly, I love it for that.
“Read it. You’ll get chills. You’ll feel things. You will question your moral compass. And most importantly you will finally be able to correct anyone who says Frankenstein is the monster. (It’s not. But arguably… it kind of is).”
To find out more or to get involved in Bedford Borough Council’s Year of Reading, visit www.bedford.gov.uk/yearofreading or email yearofreading@bedford.gov.uk
And remember - if you want to read a copy of Frankenstein or any other book recommended by our councillors, you can always see if it's available in one of our libraries!
Visit or call any of our libraries during staffed hours and staff will help you to request titles, remembering to have your library card with you. You can also search the catalogue and request books on the library app or online catalogue using your library card number and PIN. If you’re not sure of your PIN, you can request a reminder. There is a charge for requesting books, but it’s free for children.
Library opening hours, PIN requests, and online catalogue is all accessible on the dedicated page on our website, and the app is called Bedfordshire Libraries in the App Store.