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anunarmorialage's review against another edition
dark
funny
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
janaroos's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars for a satisfying denouement. Perhaps I need to know The Tempest better in order to have appreciated this more (never studied that one at school) but it dragged a little. That might also be my fault for not getting to it often enough, but then, it did hold my attention at the start. A little fat around the middle, imo.
amjammi's review against another edition
4.0
It's a play within a play within a play within a play?
It's enough to make a reader go crazy, but somehow Atwood keeps it just on the right side of ridiculous. Also, I think I've got to go read the actual Tempest now.
It's enough to make a reader go crazy, but somehow Atwood keeps it just on the right side of ridiculous. Also, I think I've got to go read the actual Tempest now.
kristianawithak's review against another edition
5.0
I was unimpressed with the idea of this book, the tempest but in jail? Atwood truly retells and reinvents The Tempest for modern readers, all the while explaining what she's doing through the play within the play. It was well crafted, well executed and well done. I fell in love with the characters and the story.
ninko's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
medium-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? Yes
4.5
syllareads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
nahret's review against another edition
3.0
Let me make it very clear that my opinion on this book has very little to do with Margaret Atwood, herself. Her prose is beautiful; concise, witty, poetic, and possessed of the sharp edges we know her for. It is, in essence, not her fault I didn't like this book, it's Shakespeare's.
I love Shakespeare. I have a good collection of his plays. I do, however, abhor a specific subset of his work, and that is the portion I call "whiny-ass white guys". Hamlet is obviously the uncrowned king of this category (I hope you see what I did there), but Prospero gives him a good run for his money. Basically, these are tales about men who could have done something productive with their time, but chose to sit and wallow in their misery instead, concocting elaborate schemes to punish those who apparently wronged them.
Felix is just such a guy. None of his misfortune is his own fault in his mind, and he spends the entirety of the book on his selfish plot of revenge. He uses everyone and everything as a means to his nefarious ends, without dwelling too much on the fact that those are, like, people, and what might happen to them. Needless to say, I hated his guts. And kudos to Atwood for writing him so accurately! Also, can we just talk about how clever it is to call the Prospero-stand in "Felix"? Seems obvious now, but I'm not sure I could have come up with something like that.
In conclusion, all the stars for this book go to Atwood and none to Shakespeare, Prospero, or Felix. All three of them could have spent their time more wisely.
I love Shakespeare. I have a good collection of his plays. I do, however, abhor a specific subset of his work, and that is the portion I call "whiny-ass white guys". Hamlet is obviously the uncrowned king of this category (I hope you see what I did there), but Prospero gives him a good run for his money. Basically, these are tales about men who could have done something productive with their time, but chose to sit and wallow in their misery instead, concocting elaborate schemes to punish those who apparently wronged them.
Felix is just such a guy. None of his misfortune is his own fault in his mind, and he spends the entirety of the book on his selfish plot of revenge. He uses everyone and everything as a means to his nefarious ends, without dwelling too much on the fact that those are, like, people, and what might happen to them. Needless to say, I hated his guts. And kudos to Atwood for writing him so accurately! Also, can we just talk about how clever it is to call the Prospero-stand in "Felix"? Seems obvious now, but I'm not sure I could have come up with something like that.
In conclusion, all the stars for this book go to Atwood and none to Shakespeare, Prospero, or Felix. All three of them could have spent their time more wisely.
rachellmennig's review against another edition
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
It was easier to read the story as a story rather than a retelling. When I tried to equate characters from the Tempest to the characters of Hag-Seed I enjoyed it less. I think that had I not tried to do that this would’ve been a 5 star read.
katmshaw's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0