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tiemzahra's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
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? N/A
5.0
In 1596, an 11-year-old Hamnet searched everywhere for help when his twin sister suddenly fell ill. Everyone thought that Judith will not make it, but Hamnet died a few days later.
This novel is inspired by William Shakespeare’s son, Hamnet, whose name was given to one of the most celebrated plays. O’Farrel wrote this and made sure to stick to scant historical facts known about the short life of Hamnet. The chapters in the book alternated from the current plotline that led to Hamnet’s death and four years after that, to when the first time Shakespeare met his wife Agnes (her real name was Anne but meant to be Agnes) up until the birth of the twins.
The resilience of a woman was the main focus of this book, of Agnes who had peculiar childhood, was feared because of her unusual gifts. I got to know that nothing much is known about Anne Hathaway, and this book is an excellent take of her life and marriage to Shakespeare. Shakespeare, however, was not named at all throughout the book. He’s only called as the tutor, father, son, husband, and whatever he is to the focus of the current chapter. I love Agnes’ character, I pitied her, got angry for her, and cried for her. The real cause of Hamnet’s death was blurry, but in this book he died due to bubonic plague that should be constant in that time period. I don’t usually reach for historical fiction, but when I read one, it will be one of my favourite books of all time, and Hamnet is definitely it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Grief, and Death
Moderate: Child abuse and Alcoholism
Minor: Pregnancy, Physical abuse, and Animal cruelty
northernlitreading's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I really didn’t think I’d like this book at first but wow, did that change. I know it’s fictional but what a believable story. It’s an amazing exploration of fried and people living their lives in a way that is out of the status quo and I just adored it. I really think people will be reading this in classrooms in the future. (I would also argue that if you want to get into reading classics but find them too slow or descriptive this would be a great place to start.) Also, just a moment to appreciate Bartholomew - bless him for being a good brother.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Alcohol, and Alcoholism
emtay's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
This book takes on a poetic lilt unlike many others. While I prefer the golden flashbacks, the joy the two lovers had in youth, it allows you the hope and perseverance to see through their darkest nights. Every character was distinct in point of view and action, perfectly well-developed so that nothing was surprising and yet everything was. Every new detail came like a spark.
An exploration of grief, family, and perseverance. What happens when the we believe a truth so fully that we become blinded to reality. Bears a hint of the message that we all cope with grief, with life, differently and to know someone means entering that space and knowing it together.
“She can look at a person and see right into their very soul… She will take a person for who they are, not what they are not or ought to be”. Agnes loses sight of this, in the throws of grief and habits of youth, but I believe finds her way home to herself.
An exploration of grief, family, and perseverance. What happens when the we believe a truth so fully that we become blinded to reality. Bears a hint of the message that we all cope with grief, with life, differently and to know someone means entering that space and knowing it together.
“She can look at a person and see right into their very soul… She will take a person for who they are, not what they are not or ought to be”. Agnes loses sight of this, in the throws of grief and habits of youth, but I believe finds her way home to herself.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Alcoholism and Child abuse
excritos's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness
Moderate: Death and Abandonment
Minor: Alcoholism and Violence
alrauna's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Terminal illness
Moderate: Domestic abuse
Minor: Alcoholism
oliviafaye's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Infidelity, Medical trauma, Medical content, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Sexism, and Terminal illness
ophelia_reads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
First third felt slow. Second third was painful but powerful. The ending was gorgeous and felt like a great payoff for the time spent on the first two thirds. This was my first Maggie O’Farrell book and it makes me want to read more. Her protagonist (not the title character) is thoughtfully crafted and easy to empathize with. I love how she handled Shakespeare, the character who I expected to dominate the narrative (I was wrong.)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Death of parent, Grief, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Alcoholism and Emotional abuse
Minor: Sexual content
sarah984's review
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
I liked the idea behind this book, of centring the family around a famous man when those people are generally forgotten, but I did not like the actual experience of reading it.
The writing is repetitious and florid (I get that it's for emphasis but some paragraphs just felt like lists of synonyms) and the characterization of Anne (Agnes) as this kind of stereotypical "witchy" wise woman was annoying. Her supernatural ability to randomly know things seemed like a literary device to tell information the author didn't know how to show. The vaguely supernatural cause of Hamnet’s death was also stupid. If this wasn't billed as straight historical fiction this probably wouldn't bug me so much, but it is and it does.
The writing is repetitious and florid (I get that it's for emphasis but some paragraphs just felt like lists of synonyms) and the characterization of Anne (Agnes) as this kind of stereotypical "witchy" wise woman was annoying. Her supernatural ability to randomly know things seemed like a literary device to tell information the author didn't know how to show. The vaguely supernatural cause of Hamnet’s death was also stupid. If this wasn't billed as straight historical fiction this probably wouldn't bug me so much, but it is and it does.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Grief, Medical content, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Sexual content
Minor: Abortion, Infidelity, and Racial slurs
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