Reviews

Ophelia by Lisa M. Klein

diannastarr's review

lighthearted slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

I discovered this book when I was about 12 years old when the librarian recommended it for me and I think I've read it three times over.  

Hamlet was one of the first Shakespeare plays that I really fell in love with and, as a young girl, I resonated with the character of Ophelia and this story absolutely pulled me in and didn't let me go.  As a young girl trying to figure out her own agency, it was enthralling to me how the two narratives between Klein's and Shakespeare's were so different, and how while Shakespeare used Ophelia as a tragic love interest, Klein focused on the role of women and female power in a system where women were acknowledged as a byproduct of male ambition.

In retrospect now that I've revisited this work almost a decade later, the character arcs are wishy washy, the writing is lackluster, the grammatical errors were overlooked, and the relationships seemed one dimensional - but this almost fanfiction-eque retelling of Hamlet resonated with me in ways other books hadn't. I wouldn't recommend this to Shakespeare fans or adults looking for a captivating story as, this reread felt more nostalgic than enjoyable, but this is a good story for younger readers (probably 12/13+?) just getting into Shakespeare. 

krose06's review

challenging emotional hopeful mysterious 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? Yes

5.0

ballerinabaylee's review

adventurous dark emotional hopeful lighthearted mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

elena_edstrom's review

medium-paced

4.0

coverofkayla's review

mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.5

deandramullen's review

5.0

For over ten years this book has remained my favorite and most loved.

verumsolum's review

3.0

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

Spoiler

arrival at the convent

and the

Spoiler

birth of her son

.

ah102's review

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

3.75

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

sparkythecat's review

adventurous slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

ms4321's review

adventurous emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25