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4.17 AVERAGE
4.17 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
You cannot fail to appreciate the research and effort put into this book by the author, Jodie Picoult. Like every other high school student, Shakespeare was part of the curriculum- Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, Hamlet, were all drilled into bored adolescent brains. Yet this book made me realise just how wasted Shakespeare is on teenagers.
But the book is more than being about plays and poems. It’s a feminist novel particularly in Emilia’s story arc. Emilia is our Shakespearean heroine. Through her eyes we see the lot of women in Elizabethan and post- Elizabethan times. It’s not a nice place, yet it’s clear there is love and loss which weaves its way through the storyline over several decades.
In contrast we have the more modern story arc of Melina, a playwright herself desperately trying to be ‘published’. In contrast with Emilia, she comes across as a little winey. The comfort and opportunity in Melina’s life is worlds apart from Emilia’s. but her story is just as important and allows the book author to discuss the research to support the hypothesis that Emilia Bassano was actually the author of several of Shakespeare’s plays and sonnets. This is an interesting way to support an intellectual argument in a novel.
The theme and plot was compelling and I think I might need to become more acquainted with “The Bard” with an adult’s understanding. I certainly enjoyed the book.
But the book is more than being about plays and poems. It’s a feminist novel particularly in Emilia’s story arc. Emilia is our Shakespearean heroine. Through her eyes we see the lot of women in Elizabethan and post- Elizabethan times. It’s not a nice place, yet it’s clear there is love and loss which weaves its way through the storyline over several decades.
In contrast we have the more modern story arc of Melina, a playwright herself desperately trying to be ‘published’. In contrast with Emilia, she comes across as a little winey. The comfort and opportunity in Melina’s life is worlds apart from Emilia’s. but her story is just as important and allows the book author to discuss the research to support the hypothesis that Emilia Bassano was actually the author of several of Shakespeare’s plays and sonnets. This is an interesting way to support an intellectual argument in a novel.
The theme and plot was compelling and I think I might need to become more acquainted with “The Bard” with an adult’s understanding. I certainly enjoyed the book.
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
My mother recommended this book and I’m unsure if she was mad at me or she genuinely dug the book and thought I would too.
Look, the premise is interesting. A young woman is desperate to make it as a playwright and finds parallels in the story of her ancestor, who she conjectures may have been the true author of Shakespeare’s plays. But hoo boy. This was a lot. There was a sense of persecution complex when writing Emilia. And Melina was insufferable—though I was surprised she got her comeuppance.
This does make for an interesting read but dragged on too long.
A fascinating read but annoying as well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship
challenging
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
hopeful
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
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Fast paced. Not sure how historical but I hope it is
I LOVED this book!!! I wasn't sure that I would when I learned that it was about Shakespeare and the theory that he wasn't the true author of his works. I never really liked Shakespeare anyways, probably b/c he was always crammed down my throat in high school & college literature classes. Plus, the writing is hard to understand. But this book had me hooked. The two different POV were done so well. You really got a sense of what it would have been like in the late 1500's for Emilia and what women went through. I just wanted her to have a happy ending as well and man, she definitely did NOT. Her life was pretty awful and full of heartbreak. I think though, I'm on the side that Shakespeare wasn't the author of all of his works. They may not have been all Emilia's, but I definitely think he was just a front & reaped the benefits of it. Sadly we'll never know the truth, and those that really wrote that stuff will never get recognized.