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tayaingrid's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, and Child death
polina_and's review against another edition
emotional
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? It's complicated
5.0
Heart-wrenching depiction of parental grief and loss. Maggie O'Farell's writing leaves you breathless.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Child death, and Grief
Moderate: Physical abuse
honeycrispp's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
A deeply emotional, enthralling and immersive work of historical fiction set during the Black Death.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Terminal illness, Child death, Grief, Confinement, Death, Pregnancy, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Infidelity, Religious bigotry, Alcohol, Blood, and Xenophobia
Minor: Animal death and Gaslighting
stacys_book_nook's review against another edition
emotional
sad
tense
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Grief, and Pregnancy
Minor: Bullying, Death of parent, and Physical abuse
terrik_'s review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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? Yes
5.0
How do I describe a book that left me so utterly breathless from both awe and because I was sobbing like a baby?
Hamnet is a story that gives you everything and then snatches it away. It gives you love, affection, sorrow, and takes it all away in turn. Full of morally grey characters, grief, and the intricate relationships between family, this book is everything I loved served on a silver platter.
Throughout the book, my impressions of all the characters kept changing. As time passed in the books, all the characters seemed to grow along with them. I loved the emphasis on sibling relationships in this book, and Bartholomew, Eliza, and Edmond can do no wrong in my eyes. The parallel between Shakespeare and his daughter Susanna’s life is also very striking.
This is the type of book that WILL be analysed for literature classes. It’s the type of book that you can scan the pages over and over again and still find more ways Maggie O’Farrell made this story so hard hitting. All the words that were used, all the sentences, the way paragraphs were structured… as someone who enjoy looking at the deeper meaning behind books, I couldn’t put it down.
Shakespeare in particular was a character I never really knew how I felt about. At the start I was rooting for him, in the second half I was cheering him on, in the third and fourth half I couldn’t believe him, and in the last few pages I wept for him.
And Hamnet. Oh, Hamnet. Sweet sweet boy.
Agnes is definitely a different character from all those that I’ve read before. I wasn’t expecting any form of mystical powers during the book (I went in only knowing ‘it’s about the women in Shakespeare’s life’) but Agnes was very compelling. Despite how long I spent reading about her, I I was always being surprised with each switch of POV to her. There’s just so many layers to her that you peel away as the book progresses. She loves Shakespeare, she loves Bartholomew, and above anything, she loves her children.
I got through this book slowly (a whole month gosh) because of other commitments, but the journey was worth it till the end.
If you are looking for a book that deals with grief, the intricacies of family, and that will make you cry, this is the book for you. The writing style at the start could take a bit of getting used to but just stick it through and I promise you won’t regret it.
(Oh but Shakespeare’s father, John… he can go AWAY. I wished he had gotten retribution for what he did. Can’t believe he got away scot-free)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Death, Physical abuse, and Infidelity
Minor: Animal death and Animal cruelty
addie's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Child death, Terminal illness, and Child abuse
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
lindseyhall44's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
My second five star read of 2022! This book was phenomenal, and I 100% understand why it won the woman’s prize for fiction two years ago. The writing is lyrical and the character arcs are well rounded. Hamnet, by Maggie O’Farrell, is the story of Shakespeare’s son, who died at a young age from unrecorded causes (this author speculates the plague). Although Hamnet is the namesake of this novel, a majority of it follows his mother Agnes, (also knows as Anne Hathaway) throughout her experiences with marriage, womanhood, and the loss of a child. Her other children and Shakespeare themselves receive perspectives as well, but we really dive deep into the complexities of Agnes. She is often overshadowed in history by the title of “wife,” and I was glad to see her receive the spotlight.
The grief portrayed in the Shakespeare family was gutrenching, so much to the point where the emotions seemed to jump off the page. It was sad but healing, and I’m definitely considering trying more Shakespearean works. Hamnet is incredibly slow placed, therefore I wouldn’t recommend if you need action and a plot focus. But for all my literary fiction friends, pick this up wherever you access books:)
*Some events in this book are fictionalized, fyi.
The grief portrayed in the Shakespeare family was gutrenching, so much to the point where the emotions seemed to jump off the page. It was sad but healing, and I’m definitely considering trying more Shakespearean works. Hamnet is incredibly slow placed, therefore I wouldn’t recommend if you need action and a plot focus. But for all my literary fiction friends, pick this up wherever you access books:)
*Some events in this book are fictionalized, fyi.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Classism and Injury/Injury detail
howwoolatthemoon's review against another edition
4.5
This was very very good. Probably 4.25-4.5 ⭐ but not five?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Pregnancy, and Grief
Moderate: Sexual content, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, and Child abuse
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