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meremeth's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
The book spoils what will happen from the start (which, not denying that's a good choice because everyone knows what happens to Hamlet). This kind of made the middle of the book drag a little for me because you're just waiting for it to happen. Loved the writing style, loved the character of Agnes, but did struggle to get through the middle. Lots of baby content.
Graphic: Child death, Pregnancy, and Child abuse
Moderate: Medical content
nicolemhill's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
5.0
Graphic: Child death and Child abuse
lauraportalupi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Pandemic/Epidemic, Child death, Child abuse, Grief, and Violence
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Death of parent, and Animal death
laurahartfield's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Animal death, Medical content, Child death, and Pregnancy
abbyarm's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Terminal illness and Child death
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Chronic illness
kds247's review
- 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? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Child death, Child abuse, Grief, and Death
zoegupta's review
- 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? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Child death, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Pandemic/Epidemic, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, and Grief
_maia3_'s review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
On one hand, despite what many have said, I actually enjoyed the flowery prose (even if the plot did move slowly from time to time), and the drama of the novel is well-developed. It's definitely a vibes-over-plot book, but I don't tend to mind that, and enjoyed the small historical details the novel had to offer. The flashbacks in the first half are well-executed and tension is kept measured throughout. O'Farrell writes poignantly on love and grief, especially the effects it has on different people.
On the other, I was and still am very conflicted about the fictionalisation of real people, especially when they are as 1) iconic and 2) scant with historical evidence as Anna Hathaway, her children, and William Shakespeare. The ending was the worst offender I feel, as even though the story wrapped up satisfyingly, it felt lukewarm given the knowledge that most of us have going into the novel - this is Shakespeare. Named or not, this novel exists as a comment on his legacy somehow, and I don't know how to marry it with my enjoyment of the novel.
That is to say however that I did, in fact, enjoy the novel - a lot of these are personal gripes that will probably not impact others. This is a good piece of historical fiction that I would happily recommend, but not for those who are looking for anything concrete or definitive on the Shakespeares, as, as O'Farrell herself puts it, the novel is a product of her own "idle speculation".
Graphic: Child death, Pregnancy, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Grief
Moderate: Child abuse and Misogyny
Minor: Infidelity, Sexual content, and Animal death
feelingpeachygreen's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
My only criticism was that the ending was a little bit bathetic imo. This is probably because I'm not super familiar with the play Hamlet though. I know the basic plot and struggled to see Hamlet character = Hamnet child.
Graphic: Child abuse and Domestic abuse
amyjmcd's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Grief, Child abuse, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Death of parent and Terminal illness