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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
Not much of a plot, but I do like just how there's so much homoeroticism it leaps from subtext and right into supertext. It's a nice play with funny dialogue, nice songs, little romances, and not much tension at all, except wondering if Orlando, who loves Rosalind, is going to fall in love with Ganymede, who is actually Rosalind dressed as a dude, and tells Orlando to call "him" Rosalind and pretend as though he's wooing Rosalind, which he is. Meanwhile I'm just sitting over here like "oh man they're gonna kiss any day now"
Reading the Complete Works of Shakespeare is on my bucket list. Being a former English major and current nerd, I’ve read close to a dozen of his plays already, so when I heard As You Like It was coming to our local theater group, I figured I’d check out the show and get the play read beforehand.
I picked up this edition from the library because my “Complete Works” was too heavy to lug around and read (and we all know I like to keep a book handy in my purse). The library didn’t have many editions of this play so I picked this one mostly because it was all that was there.
As far as the play is concerned, it wasn’t my favorite Shakespearean comedy that I’ve read so far, but it wasn’t horrible. I found that most of it was fairly easy to understand and I was able to read it pretty quickly. If someone asked me which Shakespeare play they should I read, I wouldn’t immediately think of As You Like It, but I wouldn’t stop someone from reading it either.
I wasn’t a huge fan of this edition though. I didn’t like the way the footnotes were set up—they were on the opposite side of the page from the play (ie, odd numbered pages were the play, even numbered pages were the footnotes) and there was no indication in the play when there was a corresponding footnote. Basically, you had to look on the even page, see what line there was a footnote, and when you got to that line, read the footnote. Consequently, I just didn’t read any of the footnotes unless there was something I completely didn’t understand and felt like I needed to look up. I might have enjoyed the play more if I knew what all the phrases meant, but it was too tedious to do all that back and forth, and like I said, the play wasn’t that hard to understand sans-footnotes.
I picked up this edition from the library because my “Complete Works” was too heavy to lug around and read (and we all know I like to keep a book handy in my purse). The library didn’t have many editions of this play so I picked this one mostly because it was all that was there.
As far as the play is concerned, it wasn’t my favorite Shakespearean comedy that I’ve read so far, but it wasn’t horrible. I found that most of it was fairly easy to understand and I was able to read it pretty quickly. If someone asked me which Shakespeare play they should I read, I wouldn’t immediately think of As You Like It, but I wouldn’t stop someone from reading it either.
I wasn’t a huge fan of this edition though. I didn’t like the way the footnotes were set up—they were on the opposite side of the page from the play (ie, odd numbered pages were the play, even numbered pages were the footnotes) and there was no indication in the play when there was a corresponding footnote. Basically, you had to look on the even page, see what line there was a footnote, and when you got to that line, read the footnote. Consequently, I just didn’t read any of the footnotes unless there was something I completely didn’t understand and felt like I needed to look up. I might have enjoyed the play more if I knew what all the phrases meant, but it was too tedious to do all that back and forth, and like I said, the play wasn’t that hard to understand sans-footnotes.
challenging
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Not my fav Shakespeare play but it’s what Foul Lady Fortune is based on so I can’t hate </3
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
This is the 30th play read in my reading-all-the-plays-of-Shakespeare project. I am almost there!!
There is lots of pretending-to-be-other-people in this one, which I did find challenging as often I wasn't sure when they were pretending or not as often they were speaking of the people they were, if they weren't there! Oh, I do have trouble with the comedies, but this one felt quite light hearted and jovial. I would really like to see an adaptation of this one. The search for that begins!
There is lots of pretending-to-be-other-people in this one, which I did find challenging as often I wasn't sure when they were pretending or not as often they were speaking of the people they were, if they weren't there! Oh, I do have trouble with the comedies, but this one felt quite light hearted and jovial. I would really like to see an adaptation of this one. The search for that begins!
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
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