Love Illusion Reality
Issue 27: A Look Into "Cleopatra and Frankenstein" as Written By Coco Mellors
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Cleopatra and Frankenstein is my favourite book of the year so far. What a read. Coco Mellors completely exceeded my expectations and took me on a journey of love, loss, self-expression, healing and ultimately self-discovery through her characters. I felt completely immersed in her story; the beautiful writing, dynamic dialogue, and overall character growth all contributing towards that result.
There’s so much to takeaway from this book, but also so much to enjoy. Although the context of the story isn’t overly joyous, I felt that plot, characters, themes and relationships were all expressed from a realistic place. The story has so much depth to it; it provokes thought, empathy, and looks at life within the context of its true complexities.
Cleo, for example, is such a complex but relatable character. Perhaps not relatable regarding her circumstances, but relatable in the sense that she’s a young woman trying to understand and grasp the reality of her life. The way that she’s written into the story, despite not being the sole focus of the book, allows readers to connect with her as well as empathise with her.
It inspired me to consider where the line between romanticised love versus real love lies. As Cleo wakes up to the reality of the nature of all her relationship dynamics, including friendships, I believe that she slowly comes to come to terms with where she fits into the context of them. Sometimes, a difficult realisation to face.
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In this email we’ll cover:
What’s New
Reflections
Insights
Closing Remarks
“He was noticeably nervous, his usual gregariousness gone. When he finally did speak, it was a single sentence. ‘When the darkest part of you meets the darkest part of me, it creates light.’” - Coco Mellors, Cleopatra and Frankenstein
My Track To The Book:
What’s New?
Book of the Week:
Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors
Personal Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre:
Literary Fiction
Synopsis:
In Cleopatra and Frankenstein, Coco Mellors tells the story of Cleo, a dreamy British artist adrift in New York, and Frank, a wealthy, world-weary ad executive nearly two decades her senior. When they marry on impulse, their love story seems like a perfect escape—until it isn’t. In Cleopatra and Frankenstein, Coco Mellors unpacks the complexities of a relationship built on longing, showing how desire, loneliness, and the need for belonging can turn love into something far more complicated.
Why We Love It:
Coco Mellors is a writer whose prose is not just poetic, but also clarifies any fog that may be surrounding the ideals of romance. Not only are the relationship dynamics realistic, but the characters are fully embodied with both strengths and weaknesses that impact the people around them as well as themselves. This book reads as a story about people that have their flaws openly laid out, taking the power away from any idealisation. This not only helps the readers to come to terms with the truth, but also then help us understand Cleo’s point of view much more clearly.
We could argue that so much of our media contributes to the idealisation of love, especially when as young girls, there are a lot of contributing factors that suggest romantic relationships should be the sole focus of a woman’s life. However, in Cleo’s case, we can see that there are elements of reality that need to be considered. What makes this read so exciting, is that we are immersed in the various points of view of each character, which not only gives them a separate character arc, but also allows us the insight into the sometimes harsh truth of relationships.
This book is a deep exploration of what it means to be human. Strengths, flaws and perceptions. At its core, this novel isn’t just about romance—it’s about the search for the self within love. Cleo’s journey reflects the tension between idealized love and the reality of relationships, a theme that resonates deeply with Spark Siren’s ethos. Through Cleo’s struggles, Mellors highlights the importance of self-definition beyond romantic entanglements, encouraging women to reclaim their own narratives.
My Thoughts:
Naturally, beyond the book we may never know the complete truth behind people’s intentions or actions. But by reading this book we can gain an insight into how important context is. Although we might be able to sense what people are concerned with, I would argue that it’s impossible to be completely accurate without context. So, to make the right decisions moving forward, we need to understand the difference between true connection and temporary passion.
Cleo and Frank had a very passionate beginning, but without fully getting to know one another before committing, they found themselves disappointed with the dynamic over time. Ultimately the relationship became extremely toxic, which impacted them both negatively. Innstead of takinng the steps to determine if they had a true connection, they allowed themselves to be swept up by the passion, which resulted in disappointment.
As we can read, both characters expereinced a lanndscape of emotional ups and downs that ultimately contributed to their need for healing. The book also suggests that Cleo saw many signs in Frank that suggested he was not what she wanted, but her desire for security and her avoidance prevented her from making the decision to move on when she needed to. Everybody deserves true connection, and I would say that we can only really discover that when we face our own need for healing head on.
Quotes and Questions To Reflect On
Quote of the Week:
“People are like this too, you know,” he says eventually. “We break. We put ourselves back together. The cracks are the best part. You don’t have to hide them.”
― Coco Mellors, Cleopatra and Frankenstein
Journaling Promtps For When Life Feels Overwhelming:
Love vs. Dependency
Reflect on a time when you mistook emotional dependency for love. How did it impact your relationships, and what did you learn from it?
Self-Destruction and Healing
What self-sabotaging behaviors have you struggled with in the past? How can you replace them with healthier coping mechanisms?
Belonging and Identity
Have you ever felt like an outsider in a place or relationship? How did that experience shape your sense of identity?
Art, Expression, and Escape
In what ways do you use creativity as a form of escape or self-discovery? How can you channel it into something that brings you clarity and growth?
Insights and Inspiration
Author Spotlight:
Coco Mellors
Background:
Coco Mellors is a British-born novelist, whose debut “Cleopatra and Frankenstein” received significant praise upon its release in 2022. Although her roots stem from London, she has spent part of her upbringing in New York where she thereafter completed an MFA from New York University. She then spent some years living and working in LA, where she wrote and completed her next novel “Blue Sisters.” An author who has the potential to completely immerse you in her work.
Other Works:
Blue Sisters (2023)
Another Favourite Quote:
“Love looks through spectacles that make copper look like gold, poverty like riches, and tears like pearls.”
― Coco Mellors, Cleopatra and Frankenstein
Beyond the Book:
The track I read the book to:
Closing Remarks
As women, we often downplay our intuition or dismiss our feelings due to self-doubt. Perhaps someone has even instilled that doubt within us. But that doesn’t take away the importance of learning what a healthy relationship looks like. Especially when we invite people into our lives and develop relationships with them, we are giving people access to influence us whether that be with love or trauma.
People can do each other so much psychological harm, whether intentionally or unintentionally - but regardless of our intentions, it still requires us to take the time to deal with it. However, just because we’ve experienced difficulties in relationships before doesn’t mean that we can’t make a positive change now. Our ability to practice descernment, know who we are, know our priorities and values, will help us determine what relationships to invite.
We always have the opportunity and potential to invite loving and reciprical relationships into our lives, regardless of our past. However, it will require some work and healing beforehand. I would define the work as the courage to walk away, strength to wait for what you deserve, a clear intention for where you’re going, and a knowing of who you are to accomplish that. These are not easy things to incorporate, but they are so necessary to build the life we believe we deserve.
Until Next Time!
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Keep living life on your terms.
June Tara
Creator of Spark Siren