Reviews tagging 'Infidelity'

Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell

118 reviews

nevertheless_she_reads's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

𝘏𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘍𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯⁣ 𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵⁣
⁣⁣
"In the 1580s, a couple living on Henley Street, Stratford, had three children: Susanna, then Hamnet and Judith, who were twins.⁣⁣
The boy, Hamnet, died in 1596, aged eleven.⁣⁣
Four years or so later, the father wrote a play called 𝘏𝘢𝘮𝘭𝘦𝘵."⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Maggie O'Farrell's 𝐇𝐚𝐦𝐧𝐞𝐭 is such a phenomenal work of literature! I loved reading this work of fiction based on William Shakespeare's (though he is never named) family. The story of Hamnet primarily follows his mother, Agnes, and her journey to and through motherhood. It takes place during "the plague" when members of their family fall ill. While I was prepared for the outcome, I kept hoping for something different. This book is most certainly a 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘥𝘺, just as Shakespeare's play was considered. And following Agnes's journey through her grief as a mother, was certainly tragic and beautiful. ⁣⁣
The character and plot development were so thorough and rich, I found it hard to put down.⁣⁣
I loved it.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⁣⁣
⁣

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness, Grief, and Child death

Minor: Infidelity

seanml's review against another edition

informative reflective sad medium-paced

• 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? Yes

4.25

I'd never read Maggie O'Farrell before this. Her prose is immaculate. For a book with so many quiet moments, her fluidity perfectly captures the wandering  mind and all of its hiccups and shortcomings. The lack of formal acknowledgement of Shakespeare allows the audience to focus on the principal characters until it matters most. That's all; wonderfully written. 8.5/10.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Child abuse, Child death, Death, and Grief

Moderate: Chronic illness and Infidelity

Minor: Alcohol and Miscarriage

sammyb's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective tense fast-paced

• 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Pregnancy, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Infidelity

leontyna's review against another edition

reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

The prose in this book was just amazing, so devastatingly beautiful.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief and Child death

Moderate: Pregnancy and Domestic abuse

Minor: Infidelity

voilajean's review against another edition

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness, Grief, Child death, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Infidelity

tyrannosaurus_lex's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0

Gorgeously written but thoroughly melancholy throughout. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death

Moderate: Death

Minor: Infidelity

karolinak's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

It took me some time to get into this book, I'd say around 100 pages. Objectively, I could tell it was a good book, I just didnt feel any connection to the characters or the story. But once I did get into it, boy did I get into it. I grew to care for Agnes so much. The middle third was interesting, the last third was devastating. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Terminal illness, Child death, and Grief

Moderate: Infidelity

bessmonet's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Grief, Infidelity, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Child death, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, and Violence

laurendenton's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

• 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, Child death, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Infidelity, Body horror, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, and Physical abuse

Minor: Animal death, Blood, Sexual content, Vomit, Excrement, and Animal cruelty

botanicpanic's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Child death, Grief, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Infidelity, Child abuse, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Sexual content