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tani's review against another edition
3.0
I made a mistake with this book. I tried to read it on my cell phone, knowing full well that I rarely ever read things on my phone. Don't ask me why. I really don't know. But I think that this decision has soured me on this book a little. Add in that I'm not a huge short story person (although I am trying to get better at them!), and that I wasn't familiar with about half of the original Shakespeare plays that some of these stories were based on, and I probably do this book a disservice. I just felt like some of the stories were too referential for me, and didn't quite stand on their own. Which, given that it's an anthology of stories based on Shakespeare, that's probably not a requirement. But my ignorance hindered me in enjoying those stories.
My favorite two stories in here were "Angel and Demon" and "Gale." The first is a Romeo and Juliet retelling, and I was surprised by the depth of emotion that it gave to this story. Romeo and Juliet is such a popular cultural phenomenon that it should have lost all its zing by now, but it definitely hasn't in this story. And although I liked "Angel and Demon" a lot, it didn't hold a candle to "Gale", which I loved. Even in a short story, the setting is vividly imagined, the characters are deeply empathetic, and the story is great. I am only vaguely familiar with The Tempest, which this is based off, but my lack of knowledge didn't hinder my enjoyment at all here. Five stars to that one.
The other stories were well-written, but they just didn't have the same emotional impact for me. Still, for a short story fan, the story might be very different. Also, you know, one who doesn't try to read books in five minute snippets over a span of a year and a half. I promise, I will not be doing that again. I just wish I had let myself experience this book as it should have been experienced, rather than the way that I did.
My favorite two stories in here were "Angel and Demon" and "Gale." The first is a Romeo and Juliet retelling, and I was surprised by the depth of emotion that it gave to this story. Romeo and Juliet is such a popular cultural phenomenon that it should have lost all its zing by now, but it definitely hasn't in this story. And although I liked "Angel and Demon" a lot, it didn't hold a candle to "Gale", which I loved. Even in a short story, the setting is vividly imagined, the characters are deeply empathetic, and the story is great. I am only vaguely familiar with The Tempest, which this is based off, but my lack of knowledge didn't hinder my enjoyment at all here. Five stars to that one.
The other stories were well-written, but they just didn't have the same emotional impact for me. Still, for a short story fan, the story might be very different. Also, you know, one who doesn't try to read books in five minute snippets over a span of a year and a half. I promise, I will not be doing that again. I just wish I had let myself experience this book as it should have been experienced, rather than the way that I did.
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