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wrenny03's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
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? It's complicated
4.75
Read the last 100 pages in a fugue state of pure agony what the fuck. Its been years since a book made me fucking weep like that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Child death, Death, Terminal illness, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Sexual content
m4rtt4's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-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? It's complicated
5.0
5 stars, yet it took me a whole month to finish this book — I wanted to savour it slowly, and I didn't have those special occasions frequently enough when I felt ready to immerse myself in the story. Maggie O'Farrell has such a way with words. I'll never forget this experience.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Pandemic/Epidemic and Terminal illness
maevebm's review against another edition
emotional
sad
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
3.0
Overall, I found the prose beautiful. The plot was lacking though. While the story had somewhat of a natural progression, I found it unbelievable at times and the characters’ motivations weren’t compelling enough.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pandemic/Epidemic, Child death, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Child abuse
bellaa's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
it didn't give me that five star feeling
once again reinforcing that I have no specific taste, highly recommend this if you are ok with child death and absolutely no plot
I wish I could upload pictures so y'all could see the way I absolutely sobbed atthe description of his father coming upon the scene of his death, seeing Judith alive and being so happy, then realizing who was missing . as my mom said, "you need some happy"
my happy is not having to read the words "william shakespeare" throughout this entire book
once again reinforcing that I have no specific taste, highly recommend this if you are ok with child death and absolutely no plot
I wish I could upload pictures so y'all could see the way I absolutely sobbed at
my happy is not having to read the words "william shakespeare" throughout this entire book
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Pandemic/Epidemic, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Infidelity, Pregnancy, Animal death, Miscarriage, and Death of parent
tw// shakespearerainynook's review against another edition
dark
inspiring
reflective
sad
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? No
5.0
Loved this book to bits. Lyrical, imaginative writing. It says it's a book about the plague, but it's not, not exactly. Some of the characters get the plague, but it's more a book about how characters deal with grief. I did not find it overwhelmingly sad.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Minor: Child abuse
notanniewarren'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
4.5
My partner suggested we listen to this because he teaches and directs Shakespeare. I had never been that interested because generally I'm not bothered about historical novels, especially not ones based on real people - but I have to say, I was absolutely blown away. What a writer! I loved loved loved this book. Maggie O'Farrell is an ARTIST. I'm very sorry for what I'm about to say but I'm driven to it by the quality of the book - she truly paints with words. The characters are so vivid, and I like that Shakespeare's name is omitted; he's too much of a CONCEPT now to be thought of as a person. The only thing I would say is that it's very slow, wasn't a problem for me because the writing, characters and world-building is so all-encompassing that you just want it to last forever.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Child death
artmuseam's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
a heartbreaking piece of fiction that tackles with grief during the plague. i did not expect to cry so many times throughout this book, and yet the writing seemed to know exactly how to get the waterworks going :,) as someone who isn’t really a fan of shakespeare (not that i have anything against him—just not interested enough) i thought this book did great in pulling someone like me into a fictional twist of shakespeare’s life before his rise to fame and the pov from his wife. i genuinely loved agnes as a character and following her story truly put me through some highs and lows. i may need to cleanse my broken soul after finishing this story—the sadness is too much for me to bear. 4/5 stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Chronic illness, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Child death
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Infidelity
lucylibrarymouse's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Child death, and Grief
Moderate: Child abuse
aileen_macalister's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
A truly magical reading experience, I struggled to put it down. Maggie O'Farrell writes beautifully which comes as no suprise considering how highly regarded she is. This is my first of her books and I am 100% sold!
I was immediately attached to the characters in this book and found myself speed reading my way through their life just to know them better. I loved the choice never to call Shakespeare by name giving autonomy to the family he left behind in the English countryside. I also lived how the book exists it two halves and the point at which is divided and the choice to remove chapter separations is just a perfect reflection of how grief impacts the people left behind.
Highly recommend for anyone with an interest in historical fiction, magic in the sense of women and nature and the retelling of Shakespeare's life from another point of view 🌿
I was immediately attached to the characters in this book and found myself speed reading my way through their life just to know them better. I loved the choice never to call Shakespeare by name giving autonomy to the family he left behind in the English countryside. I also lived how the book exists it two halves and the point at which is divided and the choice to remove chapter separations is just a perfect reflection of how grief impacts the people left behind.
Highly recommend for anyone with an interest in historical fiction, magic in the sense of women and nature and the retelling of Shakespeare's life from another point of view 🌿
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Death
knitreadkate's review against another edition
challenging
dark
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? Yes
5.0
I found it difficult during the first 10-15% of the book to settle into the world and its characters.
After this, I was engrossed and stayed up too late to finish the book.
The writing style was something I was not used to, omniscient narration that can swap from one characters view to another by a paragraph. After a short time, I really enjoyed it and found it easy to read.
I found the writing so descriptive. I was there in the cookhouse or the garden, I could picture the rooms, the markets, the gardens. I enjoyed the focus on Agnes and her children.
I was absolutely heart broken when Hamnet drew his last breath and couldn’t tear myself away from Agnes’ pain.
I enjoyed the artistic trail of thought of the characters minds, mulling over every option of thought and following their trail of thinking to me felt like I was with the character.
I remember very little of the Shakespeare I had learned in high school and read this book without k ow much of the historical background or what the time period was like.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and hope to read more from Maggie O’Farrell.
After this, I was engrossed and stayed up too late to finish the book.
The writing style was something I was not used to, omniscient narration that can swap from one characters view to another by a paragraph. After a short time, I really enjoyed it and found it easy to read.
I found the writing so descriptive. I was there in the cookhouse or the garden, I could picture the rooms, the markets, the gardens. I enjoyed the focus on Agnes and her children.
I enjoyed the artistic trail of thought of the characters minds, mulling over every option of thought and following their trail of thinking to me felt like I was with the character.
I remember very little of the Shakespeare I had learned in high school and read this book without k ow much of the historical background or what the time period was like.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and hope to read more from Maggie O’Farrell.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Grief, Pregnancy, Animal death, and Death