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3.59 AVERAGE
3.59 AVERAGE
Like the author, I've always felt that Ophelia was much maligned. For some reason, I've also always had a strange fascination with her character. Imagine my delight when I discover that someone has decided to give her a voice.
And...it was merely OK. I was hoping to meet a much more interesting Ophelia, not simply one that was more or less vindicated in her actions. I had severe trouble with the way the book ended as well, but to discuss that would be to spoil the story (though, to an extent, some things are hinted at in the prologue). While it was a very Shakespearean thing to do, I just couldn't buy it. The book was overly long and very slowly-paced. I can't help but think that readers would be hoping for an Ophelia that kicks some butt or at least stands up for herself. Instead, they are left with an Ophelia that scarcely fights for what she believes in. Other readers might find themselves groaning at the very end. I did. I was also, I suppose, looking for more insight into Hamlet's motivations as far as Ophelia is concerned. Anyone looking for answers there will also be disappointed.
And...it was merely OK. I was hoping to meet a much more interesting Ophelia, not simply one that was more or less vindicated in her actions. I had severe trouble with the way the book ended as well, but to discuss that would be to spoil the story (though, to an extent, some things are hinted at in the prologue). While it was a very Shakespearean thing to do, I just couldn't buy it. The book was overly long and very slowly-paced. I can't help but think that readers would be hoping for an Ophelia that kicks some butt or at least stands up for herself. Instead, they are left with an Ophelia that scarcely fights for what she believes in. Other readers might find themselves groaning at the very end. I did. I was also, I suppose, looking for more insight into Hamlet's motivations as far as Ophelia is concerned. Anyone looking for answers there will also be disappointed.
having not actually read Hamlet- yeah im am embarrassed by this truth. i have to say i did enjoy the first 2 parts of Ophelia i liked seeing a Shakespeare style story from the female perspective, but was disappointed by the final part of this book. i felt it was an unnecessary addition to the story and it would have been quite adequate to leave it with the 2 parts.
Klein does an amazing job giving one of Shakespeare’s female characters her own voice. Ophelia is not just a girl drowned in the river, but is instead a complex character with her own hopes, dreams, and thoughts. I loved this story and want to read more of her work.
This book definitely suffered from a muddy middle: the beginning was wonderful and I enjoyed the final few chapters, but it felt a little rudderless during most of the time between Ophelia's and the .
Spoiler
arrival at the conventSpoiler
birth of her son
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
An interesting retelling of Hamlet from Ophelia's perspective. I enjoyed how this book gave Ophelia's character more depth and agency. It took a story already shrouded with mystery and uncertainty and turned it on its head.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
This is an engaging story about a young and strong-willed woman growing up in a society that does not cater to her ideas, hopes or dreams and takes agency in a story that is about her - instead of a story told of men and how they affect the women around them only as an afterthought to their own schemes and charades.
It starts off with a letter telling of the tragedies that took place at the royal court of Denmark - Elsinore Castle. To anybody even vaguely familiar with Shakespeare’s work this will come to no surprise. Basically everybody’s dead and Horatio is sad to inform Ophelia of said deaths.
The look we get into her upbringing and childhood adjacent to the court without a mother but a father who’s ambitions overshadow his judgement and familial obligations seems like a historically accurate telling of experiences and expectations placed upon women of the time.
All the same Ophelia raises in stature and joins the Queen’s ladies in waiting, also finding a mother figure to look up to while she also studies under the oldest lady in waiting Elnore the remedies and medicines of flowers, herbs and roots.
Ophelia being a very learned young woman’s soon catches the attention of young prince Hamlet and his loyal shadow Horatio with her banter and discussions of philosophy and ethics. These meetings become more frequent and as they steal time away from prying eyes their courting begins, commences and leads to a secret wedding in the woods disguised as common people without stature witnessed only by their guard and friend Horatio.
Then obviously tragedy upon tragedy ransacks the Castle - murder, ghosts, theatre groups, vows of love and revenge, mania and madness follow. Basically Shakespeare’s Hamlet but told from Ophelia’s perspective who worries for Hamlet’s sanity and well-being while hiding her own knowledge and aid in his plan of revenge against now King Claudius.
Events unfold and Ophelia finally departs from the source material to make her own path in a world who can never know her truth.
Told in an “old-time-y” feeling language and dialogue (yet WAY more easily to understand than the original) this tale is one of love, loss and loneliness yet the protagonist strives to overcome her past to forge a new future and I must say it was a lot of fun to read.
Some reviews shun the third part of this book.
Basically the first tells of Ophelia’s childhood, the second recounts the events of “Hamlet” and the third explores her life afterwards.
Would recommend to anyone who is a fan of Shakespeare’s tragedies, reader of strong women’s stories and people who like books about life at court and intrigue, struggle to fit in, self-discovery, and love.
Even more Spoilery Spoilers:
In the third part we see Ophelia faking her death and escaping Denmark with the help of trustworthy Horatio fleeing to a convent in France.
Apparently some religious readers might take affront to the portrayal of some parts of this. Although myself as an atheist reader can only say that I had no problem with this part.
Some might find her struggles with faith boring but I found them to be rooted in her character’s arc and they concluded nicely at the end.
Also trigger warning (?) she gives birth towards the end and it is described as quite painful but she is blacked out for most of it so I didn’t think it was that harrowing...
I appreciated the lessons Ophelia took away from her trials and like the way the story comes to an “end”.
It starts off with a letter telling of the tragedies that took place at the royal court of Denmark - Elsinore Castle. To anybody even vaguely familiar with Shakespeare’s work this will come to no surprise. Basically everybody’s dead and Horatio is sad to inform Ophelia of said deaths.
The look we get into her upbringing and childhood adjacent to the court without a mother but a father who’s ambitions overshadow his judgement and familial obligations seems like a historically accurate telling of experiences and expectations placed upon women of the time.
All the same Ophelia raises in stature and joins the Queen’s ladies in waiting, also finding a mother figure to look up to while she also studies under the oldest lady in waiting Elnore the remedies and medicines of flowers, herbs and roots.
Ophelia being a very learned young woman’s soon catches the attention of young prince Hamlet and his loyal shadow Horatio with her banter and discussions of philosophy and ethics. These meetings become more frequent and as they steal time away from prying eyes their courting begins, commences and leads to a secret wedding in the woods disguised as common people without stature witnessed only by their guard and friend Horatio.
Then obviously tragedy upon tragedy ransacks the Castle - murder, ghosts, theatre groups, vows of love and revenge, mania and madness follow. Basically Shakespeare’s Hamlet but told from Ophelia’s perspective who worries for Hamlet’s sanity and well-being while hiding her own knowledge and aid in his plan of revenge against now King Claudius.
Events unfold and Ophelia finally departs from the source material to make her own path in a world who can never know her truth.
Told in an “old-time-y” feeling language and dialogue (yet WAY more easily to understand than the original) this tale is one of love, loss and loneliness yet the protagonist strives to overcome her past to forge a new future and I must say it was a lot of fun to read.
Some reviews shun the third part of this book.
Basically the first tells of Ophelia’s childhood, the second recounts the events of “Hamlet” and the third explores her life afterwards.
Would recommend to anyone who is a fan of Shakespeare’s tragedies, reader of strong women’s stories and people who like books about life at court and intrigue, struggle to fit in, self-discovery, and love.
Even more Spoilery Spoilers:
In the third part we see Ophelia faking her death and escaping Denmark with the help of trustworthy Horatio fleeing to a convent in France.
Apparently some religious readers might take affront to the portrayal of some parts of this. Although myself as an atheist reader can only say that I had no problem with this part.
Some might find her struggles with faith boring but I found them to be rooted in her character’s arc and they concluded nicely at the end.
Also trigger warning (?) she gives birth towards the end and it is described as quite painful but she is blacked out for most of it so I didn’t think it was that harrowing...
I appreciated the lessons Ophelia took away from her trials and like the way the story comes to an “end”.
I'm honestly penning this book at a 1.5 that rounds down to a one. Usually I round up, but tbh this book doesn't deserve it, the .5 was almost purely for the attempt at the end to make the story and the characters somewhat redeemable and have a little bit of depth.
Now onto the frustrating elements of the book (which honestly is most of it):
This book. Oh man. This book. I really really really wanted to not detest this as much as I detested it. The writing was clunky and awkward, the characterization was horrific and depressing and the POTENTIAL of this book alone was upsetting. Here I was expecting a book about Ophelia to have something to do with madness and mental health struggles and suicide, and that would have been SO FREAKING COMPELLING.
But no.
It was a weak, awkwardly written, badly characterized love story that felt somewhat absurd and unrealistic based on the original characters it was based off on. Hamlet according to Shakespeare isn't some weirdly decpetive a**hole PURELY hellbent on revenge, he is complicated but in Ophelia he is reduced to merely a sum of badly characterized parts that create at the end of it all, a non character.
Ophelia, is just...wrong? She's portrayed as some sort of rebellious tom boy, though in the story she is described as being rather shy and quiet.
Which is fine.
Why must she be a tomboy for us to love her?
How does that empower her?
The character dynamics are simplified to an almost stupefying extent and the characters are just bland boiled beef equivelants of their original personality.
Instead of deepening or complicating the story of Hamlet, Klein just ends up flattening the whole story of any of it's original merit.
This boooooook.....URGHHHHSaadfakj ij;ieorjqoewr jwioer qoe
My disappointment is immeasurable.
Now onto the frustrating elements of the book (which honestly is most of it):
This book. Oh man. This book. I really really really wanted to not detest this as much as I detested it. The writing was clunky and awkward, the characterization was horrific and depressing and the POTENTIAL of this book alone was upsetting. Here I was expecting a book about Ophelia to have something to do with madness and mental health struggles and suicide, and that would have been SO FREAKING COMPELLING.
But no.
It was a weak, awkwardly written, badly characterized love story that felt somewhat absurd and unrealistic based on the original characters it was based off on. Hamlet according to Shakespeare isn't some weirdly decpetive a**hole PURELY hellbent on revenge, he is complicated but in Ophelia he is reduced to merely a sum of badly characterized parts that create at the end of it all, a non character.
Ophelia, is just...wrong? She's portrayed as some sort of rebellious tom boy, though in the story she is described as being rather shy and quiet.
Which is fine.
Why must she be a tomboy for us to love her?
How does that empower her?
The character dynamics are simplified to an almost stupefying extent and the characters are just bland boiled beef equivelants of their original personality.
Instead of deepening or complicating the story of Hamlet, Klein just ends up flattening the whole story of any of it's original merit.
This boooooook.....URGHHHHSaadfakj ij;ieorjqoewr jwioer qoe
My disappointment is immeasurable.