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toastyyslut's review
adventurous
hopeful
they were all so obsessed with virginity // lit & social justice
tracithomas's review
3.0
The first half of this play is sort of nonsense but Acts III-V are very good. Really emotional execution of the fake death to reunion trope.
jillystars's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.25
Read for class. it was bearable and it moved fast so that was great! Very glad this is my last Shakespeare play for a HOT MINUTE.
lovegirl30's review
3.0
not my favorite Shakespeare but still good. review to come. listened to the super short audio book.
ggallinot's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
While not one of Shakespeare’s masterpieces it is quite enthralling. A much different setting than many of his others which makes it an interesting read. It has the storms of the Tempest, the ruined man of power akin to Timon, and the family split as sea akin to Comedy and Twelfth Night.
anna_lisa's review against another edition
3.0
That felt like Shakespeare on drugs. I think I liked it? ... Did I? ... I am confused. This play was confusing.
eely225's review against another edition
3.0
A true 2.5. It’s one of the weirder Shakespeare plays as he almost certainly didn’t write all of it. Whether he collaborated with another author or updated an existing manuscript, there’s a clear distinction between the first half and Chorus parts with Shakespeare’s contributions toward the end.
The plot is very silly and the reader would be excused for ignoring the details (gladiatorial combat resulting in a wedding, off-stage deaths by lightning, main characters just disappearing for decades at a time without little attempt at explanation). The highlights occur mainly in the resolutions of Act 5, moments of greatness that belie the stupidity of the conflicts that they resolve.
It also must be said that the play doesn’t drag. Though the action can be abrupt and unclear, it is propulsive, so the reader won’t feel lost or bored. There isn’t a ton of characterization; everyone just sort of does things. But ultimately I can’t count it among the lower tiers of his work, even if he only wrote half of it.
The plot is very silly and the reader would be excused for ignoring the details (gladiatorial combat resulting in a wedding, off-stage deaths by lightning, main characters just disappearing for decades at a time without little attempt at explanation). The highlights occur mainly in the resolutions of Act 5, moments of greatness that belie the stupidity of the conflicts that they resolve.
It also must be said that the play doesn’t drag. Though the action can be abrupt and unclear, it is propulsive, so the reader won’t feel lost or bored. There isn’t a ton of characterization; everyone just sort of does things. But ultimately I can’t count it among the lower tiers of his work, even if he only wrote half of it.
libraryanned's review against another edition
3.0
I hope the actual play is better than the reading of the play. This was just weird. It started out with incest and ended with a princess who was stolen by pirates to be sold into prostitution becoming engaged to a man she met who was willing to pay to deflower her, but found her too full of virtue. Not exactly a meet cute.
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