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yooniereads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Child abuse, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Medical content, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy
Minor: Infidelity, Physical abuse, and Sexual content
elisabeth_with_an_ess's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-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
Not to be a massive Shakespeare fan-girl on main, but oh my goodness. Oh my gracious. Oh my goodness gracious me. This is a beautiful book. It has been messing with my sleep schedule for the past week, and I have no regrets.
Most of the reviews I've seen focus on the fact that Shakespeare's name is never used in this book, so as someone who has had a massive crush on the man for the past decade (I know I'm pathetic), I was worried that this book would be some sort of anti-Shax manifesto about how he was a horrible family man. But if you've had the same fear, rest assured... O'Farrell's characterization of him is by far the best I've ever seen. It truly felt like she knows the same man I do, and that was a beautiful thing.
But enough about him. Every single character is written with such sensitivity and real "humanity" that I feel as if I have lived in Stratford with them my whole life. I love every single one of them. Well. Okay, there are two that I hate, but even those two are written with understanding and grace. Beyond the characters, the words themselves are lyrical and stunning.
Read. This. Book
Most of the reviews I've seen focus on the fact that Shakespeare's name is never used in this book, so as someone who has had a massive crush on the man for the past decade (I know I'm pathetic), I was worried that this book would be some sort of anti-Shax manifesto about how he was a horrible family man. But if you've had the same fear, rest assured... O'Farrell's characterization of him is by far the best I've ever seen. It truly felt like she knows the same man I do, and that was a beautiful thing.
But enough about him. Every single character is written with such sensitivity and real "humanity" that I feel as if I have lived in Stratford with them my whole life. I love every single one of them. Well. Okay, there are two that I hate, but even those two are written with understanding and grace. Beyond the characters, the words themselves are lyrical and stunning.
Read. This. Book
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Pregnancy, Death, Physical abuse, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Sexual content and Death of parent
Minor: Alcoholism
sib_reads's review against another edition
emotional
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? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Grief, Pregnancy, Chronic illness, and Death
Moderate: Medical content, Child abuse, Violence, Physical abuse, and Infidelity
Minor: Sexual content
sophie_e_s's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Murder
atamano's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Grief
Moderate: Child abuse and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual content and Infidelity
mapscitiesandsongs's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? Yes
3.0
I enjoyed my reading experience overall, but I have one major problem with it: It's not really about Hamnet. I went into this book thinking the majority of the book would be either in Hamnet's POV or would, at least, be about Hamnet. Instead I got a book that's basically about his mother Agnes, which isn't a bad thing per se. It was really interesting seeing her get to know Shakespeare and her inner thoughts were quite intriguing, but I imagined something different from a book titled Hamnet. I also don't think the origin of the play is that prominent in the story even though it's clearly stated in the description that this book is about Hamnet and how the play gets developed because of his death. Another strange thing is the incoporation of magical realism of some sort. Additionally, all of the characters, besides Agnes, were flat and one-dimensional. So when Hamnet dies, I just didn't care. There is no connection, because we only get to see him for a few short chapters before he dies and the rest is basically about his mother. The ending was also quite rushed and underwhelming in my opinion. We find out that Shakespeare wrote said play about his son (which we have know for the entirety of the book!) and then it just ends.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Grief, and Pregnancy
Minor: Miscarriage, Infertility, Infidelity, and Sexual content
szinkle's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
Moderate: Physical abuse
Minor: Sexual content and Alcoholism
joriekae's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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? No
4.5
I'll start with the cover. The hardback version of this book comes in two styles. The gorgeous British cover:
<img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1574943819l/43890641._SY475_.jpg" width="40" height="100" alt="description"/>
And the [ugly] American cover:
<img src="https://static.bookofthemonth.com/covers/list/Hamnet_coverimage_MaggieOFarrell200x300.webp" width="40" height="100" alt="description"/>
Did I order a British copy because it was so much more beautiful? Yes, yes I did. Pro tip: You can order British versions of books from Blackwell's Bookshop and shipping is free.
On to the actual book. I was first struck by the lyrical writing. It drew me in, capturing the hearth of the Shakespeare home, enlivening the Hamnet and his mother Agnes and the other characters of this book. This is a quiet story about the ordinary moments of life, but O'Farrell draws new breath into the mundane and oft-described. I loved Agnes. She represents strong femininity, able to stand apart to be her own person and able to love and nurture and care for those around her with selflessness and maternal wisdom. I've found that in many books, strong women are portrayed in part by taking on traditionally masculine characteristics; I loved that Agnes's strength came in traditionally feminine ways. I was deeply touched by her motherly care and sorrow. The scenes following the death of Hamnet (not a spoiler; we know Hamnet dies from page one) were written with such care and patience, no rushing through the weight of burying your child. Gorgeous book
Content: Obviously, the death of a child is central to this plot. There is a bedroom scene that is a few pages long that I skimmed.
<img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1574943819l/43890641._SY475_.jpg" width="40" height="100" alt="description"/>
And the [ugly] American cover:
<img src="https://static.bookofthemonth.com/covers/list/Hamnet_coverimage_MaggieOFarrell200x300.webp" width="40" height="100" alt="description"/>
Did I order a British copy because it was so much more beautiful? Yes, yes I did. Pro tip: You can order British versions of books from Blackwell's Bookshop and shipping is free.
On to the actual book. I was first struck by the lyrical writing. It drew me in, capturing the hearth of the Shakespeare home, enlivening the Hamnet and his mother Agnes and the other characters of this book. This is a quiet story about the ordinary moments of life, but O'Farrell draws new breath into the mundane and oft-described. I loved Agnes. She represents strong femininity, able to stand apart to be her own person and able to love and nurture and care for those around her with selflessness and maternal wisdom. I've found that in many books, strong women are portrayed in part by taking on traditionally masculine characteristics; I loved that Agnes's strength came in traditionally feminine ways. I was deeply touched by her motherly care and sorrow. The scenes following the death of Hamnet (not a spoiler; we know Hamnet dies from page one) were written with such care and patience, no rushing through the weight of burying your child. Gorgeous book
Content: Obviously, the death of a child is central to this plot. There is a bedroom scene that is a few pages long that I skimmed.
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual content and Child death
lara_bk's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Grief, Pregnancy, Child death, Death, and Child abuse
Moderate: Bullying and Sexual content
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
sehwa's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
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
4.75
I haven't read a book quite like this before. Not all that much happens in the plot, it's just a lovely storytelling of the past and present. Maggie's writing is absolutely wonderful, it took me a few pages to get used to it but it was a joy to read and I was never bored.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Mental illness, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Animal death, Child death, Grief, Infidelity, Sexual content, Bullying, and Violence