Reviews tagging 'Terminal illness'

Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell

106 reviews

majakrmer's review against another edition

emotional sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Child abuse and Physical abuse

zaraha's review against another edition

reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

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

nevertheless_she_reads's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

𝘏𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘍𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯⁣ 𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵⁣
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"In the 1580s, a couple living on Henley Street, Stratford, had three children: Susanna, then Hamnet and Judith, who were twins.⁣⁣
The boy, Hamnet, died in 1596, aged eleven.⁣⁣
Four years or so later, the father wrote a play called 𝘏𝘢𝘮𝘭𝘦𝘵."⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Maggie O'Farrell's 𝐇𝐚𝐦𝐧𝐞𝐭 is such a phenomenal work of literature! I loved reading this work of fiction based on William Shakespeare's (though he is never named) family. The story of Hamnet primarily follows his mother, Agnes, and her journey to and through motherhood. It takes place during "the plague" when members of their family fall ill. While I was prepared for the outcome, I kept hoping for something different. This book is most certainly a 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘥𝘺, just as Shakespeare's play was considered. And following Agnes's journey through her grief as a mother, was certainly tragic and beautiful. ⁣⁣
The character and plot development were so thorough and rich, I found it hard to put down.⁣⁣
I loved it.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⁣⁣
⁣

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness, Grief, and Child death

Minor: Infidelity

qwertybc'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

4.0

Hamnet explores the embodied connections we hold to each other, our ideas and our environment. The  novel dives into the experiences of grief and loss and how it changes everything, but in different ways. It’s a compelling story in a detailed world that is familiar and unknown all at once. O’Farrell uses vivid metaphors and poetic language to illustrate the power of a narrative and the relationships between each of the key characters. The heavy topics felt delicately handled and were not overbearing despite their centrality to the storyline. Top notch, loved it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death and Terminal illness

anastasiamakes's review against another edition

emotional reflective 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? No

5.0

Absolutely beautiful and absolutely heartbreaking.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death and Terminal illness

Moderate: Child abuse and Pregnancy

Minor: Miscarriage and Death

wilma_arnesen's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death and Terminal illness

Minor: Grief

voilajean's review against another edition

4.0

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Infidelity

karolinak's review against another edition

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? No

4.0

It took me some time to get into this book, I'd say around 100 pages. Objectively, I could tell it was a good book, I just didnt feel any connection to the characters or the story. But once I did get into it, boy did I get into it. I grew to care for Agnes so much. The middle third was interesting, the last third was devastating. 

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Infidelity

bessmonet's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-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? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Grief, Infidelity, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Child death, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, and Violence

kmturpie1025's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad slow-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness, Child abuse, and Child death