Reviews tagging 'Terminal illness'

Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell

106 reviews

knkoch's review against another edition

emotional 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? Yes

5.0

What a book! What an urgent, thrumming, important book! I’ve been looking forward to this for awhile, and it did not disappoint. 

I look for a book that facilitates an emotional experience in me, and this was one of those that did. It reminded me of The Dutch House in its realization of pain, loss, and the simultaneous beauty and sharpness of life. The setting, even so far removed from our time now, felt so tangible and complete. The characters (the myths, even) felt novel and have not stopped spinning in my mind. 

I have loved Hamlet since I reread it a few years ago for its complexity, searing emotion, and archetypal drama. This book is not a retelling or retread of Hamlet. It’s a wonderful accompaniment more centered in women's stories. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness and Child abuse

derigibleplums's review against another edition

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

It literally says on the back that he dies. Then why did I cry so much when he did?

Brilliantly written, loved the fact that Hamnet's father was never named, and still very topical as a plague book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Terminal illness, and Grief

Moderate: Child abuse

hannahhansa's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

Slow, too much indirect speech, but still interesting to discover the story of Shakespeare’s family.  I really enjoyed the descriptions of the characters’ thoughts and feeling and how they process tragedy.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death

Moderate: Animal death, Pregnancy, Domestic abuse, and Terminal illness

tj440's review against another edition

challenging 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? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Grief, Physical abuse, and Terminal illness

Moderate: Terminal illness, Domestic abuse, and Pregnancy

Minor: Sexual content

bluejay21's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad slow-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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Grief, Pregnancy, and Terminal illness

Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse

Minor: Infidelity

beautifulpaxielreads's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative reflective 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Grief, Medical content, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Pregnancy, and Terminal illness

Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, and Physical abuse

Minor: Dementia and Slavery

raoulalexander's review against another edition

emotional mysterious 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Grief, and Terminal illness

Moderate: Pregnancy

oliviafaye's review against another edition

dark emotional informative 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Infidelity, Medical trauma, Medical content, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Sexism, and Terminal illness

bodiesinbooks's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death and Pregnancy

Moderate: Grief and Terminal illness

Minor: Infidelity and Sexual content

Child birth

9magix's review against another edition

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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Terminal illness