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agraham's review
dark
emotional
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? It's complicated
4.0
adeniverville's review
3.0
OH MY GOODNESS THIS BOOK WAS A TASK TO FINISH.
Out of the three Hamlet retellings I've read so far, this was definitely the best written, but not the most interesting for me. I liked the beginning of the book (Part 1). Reading about Ophelia's childhood and her relationship with her father was very interesting. The middle (part 2) was fairly interesting, but I didn't really feel compelled to read on at the end of a chapter. The last part was too long and definitely unneeded. I just wanted the book to be OVER after part 2 was done.
There were definitely some good things about the book. I really liked how the author didn't try to insert Ophelia into every scene of the play she wasn't originally in like the other retellings I've read. There's a few scenes Ophelia observes that she wasn't a part of in the original play, but there was only two, so it didn't feel super contrived. The addition of other female characters was nice too.
Just, overall I really didn't enjoy reading it as much as I thought? Not my kind of book, unfortunately.
Detailed video review HERE: https://youtu.be/ZvHvSoyQ69o
Out of the three Hamlet retellings I've read so far, this was definitely the best written, but not the most interesting for me. I liked the beginning of the book (Part 1). Reading about Ophelia's childhood and her relationship with her father was very interesting. The middle (part 2) was fairly interesting, but I didn't really feel compelled to read on at the end of a chapter. The last part was too long and definitely unneeded. I just wanted the book to be OVER after part 2 was done.
There were definitely some good things about the book. I really liked how the author didn't try to insert Ophelia into every scene of the play she wasn't originally in like the other retellings I've read. There's a few scenes Ophelia observes that she wasn't a part of in the original play, but there was only two, so it didn't feel super contrived. The addition of other female characters was nice too.
Just, overall I really didn't enjoy reading it as much as I thought? Not my kind of book, unfortunately.
Detailed video review HERE: https://youtu.be/ZvHvSoyQ69o
elizabeth_pratt's review
3.0
The dialogue was beautifully reminiscent of Shakespeare, and I could tell the author had done a huge amount of research. I don't know why, but I wasn't overly keen on the characters or invested in any particular outcome. That being said, anytime I stopped reading I immediately wanted to take up the book again
valkyr's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
pforpedrox23's review
3.0
Prerequisites for this book: Hamlet, duh. Also, any feminism or critical framework experience. The last one is optional, but it makes the book worthwhile. It's not Wide Sargasso Sea, but it does what it advertises.
My bottom line: I like the book and its heroine. Unlike other leading ladies I have read in similar books, she acts appropriate to her period and setting, but she still presents an assertive identity. Lots of other authors have missed the point and turned their girl into a Mary Sue. That was my biggest concern. But Klein manages to write a believable Ophelia. My hat's off to her.
My bottom line: I like the book and its heroine. Unlike other leading ladies I have read in similar books, she acts appropriate to her period and setting, but she still presents an assertive identity. Lots of other authors have missed the point and turned their girl into a Mary Sue. That was my biggest concern. But Klein manages to write a believable Ophelia. My hat's off to her.
jordanbryant's review
3.0
I was very drawn to this book when I saw it on the shelf at Half Price Books. Ophelia is one of my favorite Shakespearean characters, and I thought the story of Hamlet from her perspective could be very interesting, plus the book has a lovely cover. I feel like the author missed out on a very good opportunity to tell a truly great story. The plot was mediocre, she breezed right through what should have been Ophelia's greatest moments and the book dragged on and on well after the plot of "Hamlet" finished. It was a decent, easy read, but was obviously Lisa Klein's novel. Maybe her following attempts are/will be less timid.
vadersvalkyrie's review
2.0
I wanted this book to be better than it was, but Ophelia felt both flat and artificially modern. Some plot devices were painfully cliche. However, if it gets "the kids" interested in Shakespeare, I guess I can't complain.
unphilosophize's review
3.0
I have a lot of conflicting feelings about this book.
There was something stylistically that I just didn’t gel with.
I found Ophelia’s voice to read younger than I expected at first, but she did age throughout the book.
The part that I liked most was the bits at the convent, but to anyone who knows me that shouldn’t be a surprise because I’m all about that cloistered life.
The ending was sweet.
Really reinforced the fact that Hamlet is a twat.
There was something stylistically that I just didn’t gel with.
I found Ophelia’s voice to read younger than I expected at first, but she did age throughout the book.
The part that I liked most was the bits at the convent, but to anyone who knows me that shouldn’t be a surprise because I’m all about that cloistered life.
The ending was sweet.
Really reinforced the fact that Hamlet is a twat.
unassignedreading's review
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0