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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
I'm a sucker for Shakespeare re-writes...especially when the women finally get to tell their stories.
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I’ve never been a fan of “feminist retellings,” and while I can give Enter the Body credit for being a new take on the concept, the feminism was so in your face as to just be simple. The poetry was well-written, if not just chock full of thesaurus entries. The chapters written in dialogue between the women is really where my issue comes in. It’s a jump from flowery, descriptive and period-appropriate language to the equivalent of schoolgirl gossip, which was interspersed with the heavy-handed feminism. Just to make sure you got the point. This, not necessarily for fault of the author, is also an impersonal read if you haven’t read Shakespeare or if you haven’t done your research. It was impossible to really care about these women or entirely grasp what was happening, without that background knowledge. Overall, I wouldn’t recommend this book unless you’re a 12-year-old feminist or just a huge fan of Shakespeare’s ladies.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Gore, Sexual content
Within the first pages, readers are reminded of the gruesome fates assigned to many of Shakespeare's most iconic female characters - granted that this book focussed only on his renowned Tragedies. Killed, maimed, raped, betrayed, often by family remembers ... it also reminds readers of our current concerns about the prevalence of family violence, which is overwhelmingly inflicted upon women.
I liked what the author did in terms of fleshing out these beloved characters and giving them agency in their fates - Juliet, Ophelia, Cordelia and Lavinia - and I was shocked that, despite their impact, they were oft barely present in their respective plays (Ophelia, for example, only appeared three times, and had barely any lines). The prose in their "memoir" sections had a lovely rhythm, and contrasted brilliantly with the more scrappy, surly (but hilarious) exchanges when these girls spoke amongst themselves (the book also reminded readers of how young they were, only 13, 15, 17 and 19 respectively).
This modern, feminist take on Shakespeare feels vibrant and fresh to me. Its script-like format is ripe for performance, and I hope this will happen.
I liked what the author did in terms of fleshing out these beloved characters and giving them agency in their fates - Juliet, Ophelia, Cordelia and Lavinia - and I was shocked that, despite their impact, they were oft barely present in their respective plays (Ophelia, for example, only appeared three times, and had barely any lines). The prose in their "memoir" sections had a lovely rhythm, and contrasted brilliantly with the more scrappy, surly (but hilarious) exchanges when these girls spoke amongst themselves (the book also reminded readers of how young they were, only 13, 15, 17 and 19 respectively).
This modern, feminist take on Shakespeare feels vibrant and fresh to me. Its script-like format is ripe for performance, and I hope this will happen.
adventurous
dark
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
This is a read in a poetic structure that provides the reader with a unique perspective on the young dead teenage girls in Shakespeare’s plays. Three of these characters share their written experiences and then shares an alternative storyline where they are in empowered to choose their own ending. The text is moving and interesting especially if you enjoy reading Shakespeare plays. I like the in-verse structure for students who may struggle with reading especially Shakespeare plays.
The audio book is well done with multiple narrators to differentiate each storyteller.
Thank you Libro.fm for the advanced audio version.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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:
Complicated
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Thnk you the publisher and the author for an advanced readers copy of this book
Do you ever read a book so amazing you can’t think of what to say? I have that with Enter the Body, this book is amazing and I cannot recommend this book enough. This book covers the stories of the Bard's most famous tragedies and the women that were affected by them. It gives the stories back to Ophelia, Juliet, Cordelia, and Lavinia and lets them tell the story the way they would have told it.
I loved how Joy McCullough wrote Enter the Body using playwriting and poetry to convey to the reader the stories she wanted the women to tell and it made for an empowering read. I have been a fan of McCullough since I read Blood Water Paint and I can't wait to read more of her work in the future. I was pulled into this book as soon as I started and I could barely put it down when I was reading, this review does even cover everything I loved. This is one of my 2023 favorites!
Check TW before reading this book
5 stars
Do you ever read a book so amazing you can’t think of what to say? I have that with Enter the Body, this book is amazing and I cannot recommend this book enough. This book covers the stories of the Bard's most famous tragedies and the women that were affected by them. It gives the stories back to Ophelia, Juliet, Cordelia, and Lavinia and lets them tell the story the way they would have told it.
I loved how Joy McCullough wrote Enter the Body using playwriting and poetry to convey to the reader the stories she wanted the women to tell and it made for an empowering read. I have been a fan of McCullough since I read Blood Water Paint and I can't wait to read more of her work in the future. I was pulled into this book as soon as I started and I could barely put it down when I was reading, this review does even cover everything I loved. This is one of my 2023 favorites!
Check TW before reading this book
5 stars