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4.17 AVERAGE
4.17 AVERAGE
This book is a banger, but so too are 95% of Picoult's books. I read everything she puts out there and she's such a good writer and compelling storyteller that even when it's not great, it's still very good. She's easily one of my favorite authors and clearly is popular amongst other readers too for good reason. By Any Other Name is one of my favs from her in a long time.
Yes, I'm a basic bitch, and so of course that means I'm also a big fan of Shakespeare. I've read all of his plays and watched all of the various film adaptations, but when I learned about the man from a historical perspective, I always felt a bit confused by how this seemingly shitty and uneducated dude could be responsible for some of the most avant garde, humanity embracing, social critiques of all time. I never took seriously the controversies around the question of his authorship.... until now
Enter this book and.... wow! I'm a believer- Shakespeare didn't write his shit and I have not been able to stop researching this theory ever since. This book is worth reading for that mind blowing assertion alone, but it's also just a great story. I especially loved all of the "Shakespearean" references (I'll forevermore use those quotations around his name now that the credit is dubious), the characters and the sweet and spicy romance.
The parallel storyline served an important purpose of highlighting how marginalized voices continue to be erased today, but it also kind of took me out of the story and got a little soapboxy at times. Since I share many of the author's own beliefs I don't mind it so much and hope it helps people think critically about some of their own opinions, but sometimes I think it veers too much into doing the analysis of her own work for us. Show me, don't tell me, but that slight criticism aside I really enjoyed reading this book, and will recommend it to just about everyone.
Yes, I'm a basic bitch, and so of course that means I'm also a big fan of Shakespeare. I've read all of his plays and watched all of the various film adaptations, but when I learned about the man from a historical perspective, I always felt a bit confused by how this seemingly shitty and uneducated dude could be responsible for some of the most avant garde, humanity embracing, social critiques of all time. I never took seriously the controversies around the question of his authorship.... until now
Enter this book and.... wow! I'm a believer- Shakespeare didn't write his shit and I have not been able to stop researching this theory ever since. This book is worth reading for that mind blowing assertion alone, but it's also just a great story. I especially loved all of the "Shakespearean" references (I'll forevermore use those quotations around his name now that the credit is dubious), the characters and the sweet and spicy romance.
The parallel storyline served an important purpose of highlighting how marginalized voices continue to be erased today, but it also kind of took me out of the story and got a little soapboxy at times. Since I share many of the author's own beliefs I don't mind it so much and hope it helps people think critically about some of their own opinions, but sometimes I think it veers too much into doing the analysis of her own work for us. Show me, don't tell me, but that slight criticism aside I really enjoyed reading this book, and will recommend it to just about everyone.
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-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:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
tense
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
This was a really moving story chiefly about a woman nearly lost to history but it made me feel connected to generations of women whose names were buried or usurped by men. The second storyline that takes place in our time was not as compelling but useful as a springboard to tell the other.
emotional
fast-paced
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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:
Yes
I have a great appreciation for this book for its well researched topic as well as the dual past/present timeline. It read like a contemporary fiction with a historical vibe. Both timelines center around woman play-writes thinking they would get recognition writing as a man. Both points of view were intriguing and thought-provoking…crazy that the same situation still arises centuries later. I did not realize the historical tie of Shakespeare within this book when I began, but it was an interesting part of the plot. A bit long, but also complex and well written. My favorite quote: “There once was a girl who became invincible so her words might not be.”
Thanks to the author and Ballantine for the electronic copy.
Thanks to the author and Ballantine for the electronic copy.