Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.34 AVERAGE
3.34 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Rosaline’s story gives unique depth and insight into the classic Romeo and Juliet. Giving more characters thoughts and crafting a more vibrant background, this gives a new life to this tragedy. While the ending mostly stays the same, you are still left pining for different choices- leaving the moral the same as the play. The old English can be burdensome at times but does remind you that this is not a retelling but an addition.
We never actually see or hear from Rosaline in Shakespeare's play, but she's still an important character; without her, none of the other action would have occurred.
This book imagines the story from Rosaline's perspective, how she reacted to Romeo's declarations of love, how she felt about the Capulet-Montague feud, how she helped the young lovers.
The language is that of the 16th century (though not in verse), so it could prove troublesome for less dedicated readers. I liked running into lines from the play; it was like a little game.
Benvolio gets a good deal of the spotlight, and Mercutio turns out to have layers. Even Tybalt comes off as more than a quick-tempered jerk. Paris is (as I've always suspected) stupid, and Rosaline herself is worthy of Romeo's worship, even though he's not really worthy of her.
The author is mostly faithful to the play--which, as a freshman English teacher, I've read about fifty million times--but there toward the end, it seemed like she was going for something so outrageous I considered throwing the book across the room. Fortunately she reined it in, but it was close.
This book imagines the story from Rosaline's perspective, how she reacted to Romeo's declarations of love, how she felt about the Capulet-Montague feud, how she helped the young lovers.
The language is that of the 16th century (though not in verse), so it could prove troublesome for less dedicated readers. I liked running into lines from the play; it was like a little game.
Benvolio gets a good deal of the spotlight, and Mercutio turns out to have layers. Even Tybalt comes off as more than a quick-tempered jerk. Paris is (as I've always suspected) stupid, and Rosaline herself is worthy of Romeo's worship, even though he's not really worthy of her.
The author is mostly faithful to the play--which, as a freshman English teacher, I've read about fifty million times--but there toward the end, it seemed like she was going for something so outrageous I considered throwing the book across the room. Fortunately she reined it in, but it was close.
I luv this retelling of Shakespear's Romeo and Juliet! Do you know if there are any original copies of Romeo and Juliet?
medium-paced
Wow. This was terrible. Riddle with grammatical errors, historical errors, and nonsense. And Rosaline is nothing but a Mary Sue. At least it was a very fast read! I ha to finish it because the story kept getting more and more ridiculous.
"And thou boughtest it?" (Yep, a line from the book!) No, thank goodness. I'm taking this back to the library ASAP.
"And thou boughtest it?" (Yep, a line from the book!) No, thank goodness. I'm taking this back to the library ASAP.
It was a really interesting theory, and I loved how she had devloped characters in romeo and Juliet. She was able to tell the story through different characters, while still remaining true to the original story
Not as good as the Dating Hamlet story but it did give more of a glimpse into like in Verona at the time of R and J. It also ties back to the previously mentioned story. Also some may not enjoy the whole characterization of some of the characters from the play, let me tell you, it does accurately depict how people ages 14-18 truly think. So hey, give it a look.
One of the better "reimaginings-of-Shakespeare-from-the-viewpoint-of-a-marginalized-female-character" genre. I always wondered what happened to Rosaline. She was clearly smarter than Romeo, ("O, she well knew thy love did read by rote, that could not spell".) I had this fantasy that while R&J were embracing the "love-devouring death" thang, Rosaline was secretly reconnoitering with Benvolio. Think about it: they are the only clear-eyed, level headed rationalists in a play full of melodrama queens. Why else is Ben so eager to put Romeo off Rosaline, yet so determined to crash the Capulet party? What are Ben and Roz up to while R&J are having their big meet-cute? Where the heck is the Nurse between the 3 hours when she leaves to find Romeo, ("the clock struck 9 when I did send the Nurse") and when she arrives, ("The bawdy hand of the dial is on the prick of noon")? Was she doing double duty, setting up an assignation between Rosaline and Benvolio perhaps?
Lisa Fiedler was clearly thinking along the same lines. Her Roz is a wanna-be "healer", (the only plausible career choice for your anachronistic, proto-feminist heroine). Romeo's rhyme-by-numbers love ditties don't thrill her, but Benvolio, a 21st century metrosexual in 13th century tights totally "gets" her. They may not speak in sonnets, but he fully respects her as an independent and self-actualized equal, with boundaries and a need for space; no stabbing or poison required. It may not be Shakespeare, but as a role model for teen girls, it ain't half bad.
Lisa Fiedler was clearly thinking along the same lines. Her Roz is a wanna-be "healer", (the only plausible career choice for your anachronistic, proto-feminist heroine). Romeo's rhyme-by-numbers love ditties don't thrill her, but Benvolio, a 21st century metrosexual in 13th century tights totally "gets" her. They may not speak in sonnets, but he fully respects her as an independent and self-actualized equal, with boundaries and a need for space; no stabbing or poison required. It may not be Shakespeare, but as a role model for teen girls, it ain't half bad.
Rosaline was not who I expected her to be. I thought this would be about a girl who falls in love end of story, but this book surprised me and showed me an independent girl who will do what ever she can to help others. Rosaline is adventurous, sassy, and independent. I also love how the author includes parts of the play within the book.
Let me first start by saying I don't like Romeo and Juliet. The language may be beautifully poetic, but the story is just too damn nauseating. I do happen to love retellings of classic stories. So when I saw this on sale for one dollar, I said why not? Oh, I'll tell you why not... Where do I even begin? The writing is amateur, there is a complete lack of character development, and the plot was just... Dull. Not to mention ridiculous. But I do give the author props on doing the near impossible. She made classic literatures most idiotic couple even bigger dumbasses. Oh, and Lisa Fiedler, just a little spoiler for when you actually decide to see/read the play, Romeo does indeed die. For reals.