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3.69 AVERAGE
3.69 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Wow, quite the debut! My biggest fear going into this novel was my lack of knowledge regarding the history of English royals but it was mostly okay! I wasn’t so much confused about that as I was confused about the geographical elements of the story. The characters are constantly traversing various parts of England which all blended together for me at some point, but that’s just because I’ve never been to England.
Aside from that I was shocked and taken aback by Hal’s story and journey. The things his father put him and his family through were interesting and deep and complex and I found it fascinating. I love how much the author takes an alternative view on how and what we should feel about our trauma. How, naturally, it isn’t all laid out for us and the lines of good and bad are blurred.
My favorite part was, of course, anytime Hal and Percy interacted- I almost wish there was more of it. I don’t want this to be a romance novel by any means but I would’ve been happy with more Hal and Percy scenes because the way there are written is so enthralling and translucent in my mind, I truly got the dynamic. Their relationship was definitely the most realistic element I could call back to my own life and I enjoyed their perspective on it all.
Aside from my lack of Great Britain geography and some clunky dialogue writing, I was pretty blown away by Henry Henry. Especially as a debut, I truly appreciated the convoluted grey areas of religion, trauma, sexuality, and relationships.
Aside from that I was shocked and taken aback by Hal’s story and journey. The things his father put him and his family through were interesting and deep and complex and I found it fascinating. I love how much the author takes an alternative view on how and what we should feel about our trauma. How, naturally, it isn’t all laid out for us and the lines of good and bad are blurred.
My favorite part was, of course, anytime Hal and Percy interacted- I almost wish there was more of it. I don’t want this to be a romance novel by any means but I would’ve been happy with more Hal and Percy scenes because the way there are written is so enthralling and translucent in my mind, I truly got the dynamic. Their relationship was definitely the most realistic element I could call back to my own life and I enjoyed their perspective on it all.
Aside from my lack of Great Britain geography and some clunky dialogue writing, I was pretty blown away by Henry Henry. Especially as a debut, I truly appreciated the convoluted grey areas of religion, trauma, sexuality, and relationships.
dark
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
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
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
reflective
tense
medium-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
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Incest, Sexual assault, Alcohol
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
[Digital copy provided by Netgalley]
This such a messy, complex read. As someone rather unfamiliar with Henriad, I went into this modern reimagining blindly, ready to take it where it's at. Hal Lancaster is an upperclass, gay, catholic, mess of a person who struggles deeply through life. Drugs, alcohol, sex, and his family all trouble him. This is a rough read with all the physical injuries and the unfiltered realities of life, including several incestuous scenes. It's a book that doesn't shy away from uncomfortableness.
I enjoyed the vivid language and especially Richard as a character representing queer history and the legacy of gay culture from the 1980s and 1990s, as well as the complicated relationship of Hal and Harry Percy. But I also had some issues with this book, mainly in inconsistent style and pacing. The jumps in time were hard to pick up at times as well. Also, someone take away the word "prick" from this author.
This such a messy, complex read. As someone rather unfamiliar with Henriad, I went into this modern reimagining blindly, ready to take it where it's at. Hal Lancaster is an upperclass, gay, catholic, mess of a person who struggles deeply through life. Drugs, alcohol, sex, and his family all trouble him. This is a rough read with all the physical injuries and the unfiltered realities of life, including several incestuous scenes. It's a book that doesn't shy away from uncomfortableness.
I enjoyed the vivid language and especially Richard as a character representing queer history and the legacy of gay culture from the 1980s and 1990s, as well as the complicated relationship of Hal and Harry Percy. But I also had some issues with this book, mainly in inconsistent style and pacing. The jumps in time were hard to pick up at times as well. Also, someone take away the word "prick" from this author.
challenging
sad
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Gaslighting
Moderate: Self harm, Vomit
Minor: Death, Eating disorder, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Death of parent
a modern, queer recasting of shakespeare’s henriad. very well-written and witty and sad and god it made me depressed (maybe the point). i feel a bit mixed up about it tbh
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Shakespeare's The Henriad has always been intriguing to me and so when I heard about Henry Henry, I had to read it and it was quite different from what I expected. Written beautifully, Allen Bratton writes in a way that makes you feel you are in the same room as the characters; hearing what they're hearing, smell the rooms, taste what's being described, etc. Following Hal Lancaster, the troubled, semi-closeted son of the Duke of Lancaster who believes his sexuality is a sin due to his religious upbringing as he navigates a part of his life along with his relationship with Henry Percy. I think what I like about Henry Henry is that the characters are not really likeable, adding to the disdain and Hal's stagnant journey throughout the novel.
Overall, Henry Henry is an interesting retelling of Shakespeare that blends the Bard's characters and contemporary fiction well. I highly recommend Bratton's novel if you're a fan of Ottessa Moshfegh or want to read a book with unlikable characters.
Thank you, NetGalley and Unnamed Press for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Overall, Henry Henry is an interesting retelling of Shakespeare that blends the Bard's characters and contemporary fiction well. I highly recommend Bratton's novel if you're a fan of Ottessa Moshfegh or want to read a book with unlikable characters.
Thank you, NetGalley and Unnamed Press for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK, Vintage for providing me with an ARC.
Henry Henry is a queer reimagining of Shakespeare's Henriad, set over the course of a year from 2014, where Henry V is 22-year-old Hal – Catholic, gay, usually high or drunk – and heir to the House of Lancaster. Hal flouts through life aimlessly, occasionally going to confession, and being guilted into visiting his father (Henry) – widowed, passive-aggressive, and intent on moulding Hal into someone he isn’t.
Hal and Henry’s relationship is the main focus of the novel, imbued with obsession and possession, and a certain kind of trauma. There is a large focus on Catholicism, and Henry and Hal’s relationship to this, as well as the class system and politics. This book also explores themes of addiction, eating disorders, sexual abuse, grief, and AIDs.
The novel is also a romance in some elements, between Hal and Henry Percy, family friend and fellow posh Oxford graduate, and previously Hal’s rival. I really liked the romance between Hal and Percy, and the well it offsets Hal’s relationship with his father.
As someone who knows next to nothing about the Henriad plays, or that period of history in general, this was an interesting retelling, and it worked well for me. The time period centring around UK politics in 2015, the gay romance, and mixing that with a story of abuse and addiction makes for a truly unputdownable read, but one that is very full of trigger warnings.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug use, Alcohol
Moderate: Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail