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loki2's review against another edition
slow-paced
1.5
Truly, the only reason I finished this book was because I was trapped on a plane for 8 hours with nothing else to read. The main character kept making the same dumb decisions for the same reasons with no growth. There was no real plot to the book, it just vaguely followed the life of Shakespeare through his relationship and thoughts of his mistress/wife but strangely doesn't actually seem to have much of a life of her own as the book progresses through the years. The book attempts to start off strong but your disappointment increases as you realize it was just a tease for the very evident lack of payoff when you get to the end. I was so desperate to finish this book by the end of the flight just so I wouldn't have to touch it ever again. If you like historical fiction go read ANYTHING ELSE. This will just leave you crying in frustration and despair.
showell's review against another edition
2.0
I ended up enjoying this book, but only gave it two stars because:
1) I put it down somewhere between page 30 and page 50 and didn't give it another thought
2) I finished it only because I felt like I might as well
3) Even when I started enjoying it (somewhere between page 100 and 150, I think) I was plagued by the thoughts of all the other books that I could have been reading
1) I put it down somewhere between page 30 and page 50 and didn't give it another thought
2) I finished it only because I felt like I might as well
3) Even when I started enjoying it (somewhere between page 100 and 150, I think) I was plagued by the thoughts of all the other books that I could have been reading
agmeade's review against another edition
2.0
Complete nonstarter. I cannot, for the life of me, get past page 8. There's something off about the prose and I can't make myself read past it.
Not recommending it, but also not suggesting that you don't read. You might like it, even though I didn't.
Not recommending it, but also not suggesting that you don't read. You might like it, even though I didn't.
katiebottomley's review against another edition
Very interesting book, I really enjoyed the liberties that Harper took on historical facts, and twisted them into a beautiful story. I like to think there were 2 Annes as well!
helenephoebe's review against another edition
3.0
Review - I thought that the idea for this book was brilliant, based on a real surviving source which suggests that William Shakespeare married Anne Whateley before he married Anne Hathaway. However, I don't think that it was achieved as well as it could have been, as Anne Whateley came across as a whingeing child even when she was in her thirties and forties, making it seem that she had never grown up or realised that Will was actually married to another. Nevertheless, it is an enjoyable romp through Elizabethan England with characters that we recognise.
Genre? - Historical / Romance
Characters? - Will Shakespeare / Anne Whateley / Anne Hathaway / Suzannah Shakespeare / Hamnet Shakespeare / Jennet / Robert Cecil
Setting? - Temple Grafton, Stratford-Upon-Avon, & London (England)
Series? - N/A
Recommend? – Yes
Rating - 15/20
For discussion questions see my blog https://bookbloggerish.wordpress.com/2020/06/12/discussion-questions-shakespeares-mistress-by-karen-harper/
Genre? - Historical / Romance
Characters? - Will Shakespeare / Anne Whateley / Anne Hathaway / Suzannah Shakespeare / Hamnet Shakespeare / Jennet / Robert Cecil
Setting? - Temple Grafton, Stratford-Upon-Avon, & London (England)
Series? - N/A
Recommend? – Yes
Rating - 15/20
For discussion questions see my blog https://bookbloggerish.wordpress.com/2020/06/12/discussion-questions-shakespeares-mistress-by-karen-harper/
ellies_edition's review against another edition
5.0
An exciting fictional novel based on the figure of Anne Whateley: the woman William Shakespeare may have intended to marry before Anne Hathaway.
Presented as Shakespeare's infamous "dark lady", Anne tells her own story of heroism, romance, secrecy, hardship, and life in Elizabethan England during the days of William Shakespeare.
Presented as Shakespeare's infamous "dark lady", Anne tells her own story of heroism, romance, secrecy, hardship, and life in Elizabethan England during the days of William Shakespeare.
lauraksingleton's review against another edition
3.0
P.182 -- "All theatre folk have vices, and that's the fun of them, the theatre offstage, if you will."
P.348 -- "I'd suggest you steer clear of actors and such. A volatile, overly emotional lot."
P.348 -- "I'd suggest you steer clear of actors and such. A volatile, overly emotional lot."
novellenovels's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
amberinpieces's review against another edition
4.0
Who was William Shakespeare’s great love? Was it his wife, Anne Hathaway? His work in London? Or was it his other Anne, his dark exotic beauty, his muse, his only love, and perhaps, his true wife?
The story is narrated by Anne Whateley, the daughter of an English merchant and an Italian acrobat. Anne grew up in Temple Grafton, a village near to Stratford-upon-Avon, and became friends with Will, Kate, and Dick at an early age. Anne and Will had a long history and when they neared adulthood, they became lovers and decided to marry. Their names were recorded by the church as two who wished to marry and they held a secret ceremony with a friend and priest. A handfast marriage. However, the day after their names were entered into the record, Will’s name appeared again, this time with one Anne Hathaway.
Read the full review here.
The story is narrated by Anne Whateley, the daughter of an English merchant and an Italian acrobat. Anne grew up in Temple Grafton, a village near to Stratford-upon-Avon, and became friends with Will, Kate, and Dick at an early age. Anne and Will had a long history and when they neared adulthood, they became lovers and decided to marry. Their names were recorded by the church as two who wished to marry and they held a secret ceremony with a friend and priest. A handfast marriage. However, the day after their names were entered into the record, Will’s name appeared again, this time with one Anne Hathaway.
Read the full review here.