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A review by joymerryn
Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell
3.75
Such beautiful descriptive writing that captures the suddenness and uncontrollable nature of death. The imagery in the author’s writing was so vivid to the point where I could see this book playing out like a movie. The moment before Agnes’s wedding when Eliza asks Agnes to make her flower crown, reminded me of the 2005 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, specifically when the Bennet sisters gossiped about Mr Bingley in bed. What a lovely, light-hearted moment. Agnes’s grief and pain in the second part of the book was gut wrenching to read. I had a constant lump in my throat as I read of her despondency and withdrawal from everyday life. I didn’t just read about this family’s grief as an outside observer, I felt it.
What hesitates me from giving this book 4 stars is the lack of nuance in Agnes’s character throughout the majority of the book. To me, she felt other-worldly and unrelatable. I couldn’t connect to this person who grips people’s hands and reads the depths of their souls, or create tonics to cure sick people. The nuances of her character is only revealed when Agnes realises her humanity and feebleness against the greater forces responsible for the fate of her son. There was a lack of characterisation for most characters in the novel as well who seemed to be caricatures of troubled family members and dynamics. At times, some of the moments of the book felt a bit cheesy to read, particularly with preparations of the wedding, but still enjoyable nonetheless.
I wouldn’t be surprised if this book will be adapted into a movie or series in the next coming years (or if it’s already a movie/series and I just don’t know about it).
What hesitates me from giving this book 4 stars is the lack of nuance in Agnes’s character throughout the majority of the book. To me, she felt other-worldly and unrelatable. I couldn’t connect to this person who grips people’s hands and reads the depths of their souls, or create tonics to cure sick people. The nuances of her character is only revealed when Agnes realises her humanity and feebleness against the greater forces responsible for the fate of her son. There was a lack of characterisation for most characters in the novel as well who seemed to be caricatures of troubled family members and dynamics. At times, some of the moments of the book felt a bit cheesy to read, particularly with preparations of the wedding, but still enjoyable nonetheless.
I wouldn’t be surprised if this book will be adapted into a movie or series in the next coming years (or if it’s already a movie/series and I just don’t know about it).