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3.59 AVERAGE
3.59 AVERAGE
When I first read the summary I was impatient to read this. Why? I have no clue. I've never read Hamlet before, and I only knew the basic outline of the story: Hamlet is a prince, his father is killed. Mom remarries guy who kills him, Hamlet see ghost of dad, ghost tells him to get revenge, hamlet goes crazy with revenge. But something about this book made me rush out to barns and noble and buy it.
I honestly hate this book for about 70% of it. It wasn't that I couldn't get into it, but it was the fact that Ophelia and Hamlet got together really quick, and then after they married he threw her away. I know this is suppose to be a tragedy, but really? Bipolar much.
I disliked Hamlet with a firey passion. Looks wise I liked him a lot. But personality, I hate hot and cold people. Either like her or dislike her, don't mess with her mind. Also the fact that he basically rushes her into marrage, then the next day disapears for awhile is... oh my god really? I was so utterly pissed at this book I almost gave up reading. And the fact that he couldn't even call her his wife when they were alone? Hamlet you asswipe. No wonder she "commits suicde".
The only thing that bugged me about Ophelia is that she's called a strong woman. But for most of the book she just mops around and whines about hamlet. Never actually saying anything to Hamlet, but only to Horatio (whom I loved since the begining).
Something about her going off to the Nunnery just makes me so sad, even though she was happy there, my heart was ripping apart. Because she lost so much and then had to deal with the Church people judging her.
The last page where Horatio comes back is one of my favorite scenes ever from any book. Like I cannot even explain how emotional I was over it. And I know there will be some of you who've read the book and read this and be like What the hell, that wasn't even that big of a deal. But it really touched me.
I honestly hate this book for about 70% of it. It wasn't that I couldn't get into it, but it was the fact that Ophelia and Hamlet got together really quick, and then after they married he threw her away. I know this is suppose to be a tragedy, but really? Bipolar much.
I disliked Hamlet with a firey passion. Looks wise I liked him a lot. But personality, I hate hot and cold people. Either like her or dislike her, don't mess with her mind. Also the fact that he basically rushes her into marrage, then the next day disapears for awhile is... oh my god really? I was so utterly pissed at this book I almost gave up reading. And the fact that he couldn't even call her his wife when they were alone? Hamlet you asswipe. No wonder she "commits suicde".
The only thing that bugged me about Ophelia is that she's called a strong woman. But for most of the book she just mops around and whines about hamlet. Never actually saying anything to Hamlet, but only to Horatio (whom I loved since the begining).
Something about her going off to the Nunnery just makes me so sad, even though she was happy there, my heart was ripping apart. Because she lost so much and then had to deal with the Church people judging her.
The last page where Horatio comes back is one of my favorite scenes ever from any book. Like I cannot even explain how emotional I was over it. And I know there will be some of you who've read the book and read this and be like What the hell, that wasn't even that big of a deal. But it really touched me.
Amazing, I love Hamlet and so this was a really cool take on the original story.
made sense until Polonius died. After that, it just felt forced. I'm sick of people trying to turn Shakespeare's tragic female characters into these ultra feminist roles. Don't get me wrong, I think there's room for that. Make Hamlet a woman. Gender swap Lady Macbeth and Macbeth. (By the way, productions that do things like that are genius!) But I don't really see the Ophelias and Juliets as being these characters that are meant for this kind of thing.
Also, Horatio/Ophelia endgame was confusing and didn't match his character.
My million dollar idea: Hamlet from the POV of Polonius.
Also, Horatio/Ophelia endgame was confusing and didn't match his character.
My million dollar idea: Hamlet from the POV of Polonius.
dark
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
At times interesting, especially the last 50 pages or so. Everything up to her "drowning" is pretty predictable, including the "dangerous secret" played up by the jacket blurb.
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Court intrigue was never my thing. However the character of Ophelia from Shakespeare's Hamlet always intrigued me.
The only reason I read this book is Daisy Ridley. I really loved the movie “Ophelia” and her acting was so good. When I found out it’s based on a book, I had to read it.
Yes, I know it was Shakespeare’s Hamlet by Ophelia’s POV when I watched the movie but I didn’t know it was based on a book that was based on Hamlet.
I was kinda disappointed, not gonna lie. I read a few pages when I started, didn’t read for one day and finished at one sitting. It was actually going well at the first. I loved Part One, half of Part Two then it became extremely boring. I think if it was shorter, it would be better. I feel like it’s been that long for no reason. Part Three honestly didn’t make any sense to me. It was really hard to finish because most of the time I was like “what’s going on why does this keep happening?”
But still, it was enjoyable. I loved how curious Ophelia was and how she wanted to belong.
Yes, I know it was Shakespeare’s Hamlet by Ophelia’s POV when I watched the movie but I didn’t know it was based on a book that was based on Hamlet.
I was kinda disappointed, not gonna lie. I read a few pages when I started, didn’t read for one day and finished at one sitting. It was actually going well at the first. I loved Part One, half of Part Two then it became extremely boring. I think if it was shorter, it would be better. I feel like it’s been that long for no reason. Part Three honestly didn’t make any sense to me. It was really hard to finish because most of the time I was like “what’s going on why does this keep happening?”
But still, it was enjoyable. I loved how curious Ophelia was and how she wanted to belong.
I have mixed feelings on this book. I really, really enjoyed the middle chunk. I loved reading about Hamlet and Ophelia before Hamlet goes crazy. Their banter is perfect and witty and amazing. Horatio as always is a pleasure and a much needed character. I love how Ophelia has her space to tell why she's into Hamlet especially as he pretends/is crazy to trick his uncle into revealing he killed his dad. I love how Ophelia's really fleshed out, she makes her own choices, and really wants a mom. It's so pure
But this book could have been at least 150 pages shorter. The beginning chunk with her growing up did not need to be that detailed. The ending after she ran away, the whole nun chunk could have been skipped to where Horatio shows up at the end. Perfect.
Dare i say it, but i think i enjoyed the movie better than this book. It's more concise, the characters are wittier. The characters she created aren't in it as much which is fine by me. I don't think they added a lot to the story. I did like how Metchild and Gertrude are sisters to beat home the men are terrible theme.
I wish Ophelia would have thought at least once about Horatio before he showed up at the end in a way that would tell us how her feelings toward him have changed. But i really liked the ending.
But this book could have been at least 150 pages shorter. The beginning chunk with her growing up did not need to be that detailed. The ending after she ran away, the whole nun chunk could have been skipped to where Horatio shows up at the end. Perfect.
Dare i say it, but i think i enjoyed the movie better than this book. It's more concise, the characters are wittier. The characters she created aren't in it as much which is fine by me. I don't think they added a lot to the story. I did like how Metchild and Gertrude are sisters to beat home the men are terrible theme.
I wish Ophelia would have thought at least once about Horatio before he showed up at the end in a way that would tell us how her feelings toward him have changed. But i really liked the ending.
Whimsical, dark, thought-provoking re-imagination of a classic. Loved sharing Ophelia's struggle to reconcile her duties to her father, her husband, her queen, her friends, and herself. Ophelia's understanding of and talent for the 13th-century healing arts was very intriguing and relatable to me as a nurse. :)