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A review by bookishvicky
Shakespeare's Goddess: The Divine Feminine on the English Stage by John Snodgrass, J. Snodgrass
informative
medium-paced
4.0
Thank you to City of Light Publishing for sending me an advanced reader’s copy for review!
J. Snodgrass does what I think any Shakespeare scholar or student should do well: make Shakespeare accessible. His style makes the text enjoyable and humorous, rather than some dull assigned reading you’d find in a 400-level college course.
I’ve never read All’s Well That Ends Well, but not only did his summary make the analysis easy to follow, it also better connected with a modern reader:
“[In All’s Well That Ends Well,] Helena has set her sights on Bertram, a frivolous frat boy who can be best described with the modern half-word ‘bro.’ Flipflops and tank-tops hadn't been invented yet, but that's who this guy is. What Helena sees in this fop is a mystery for the ages.”
While a majority of the book had an incredible flow from one topic to the next, I feel like the theme of the divine feminine occasionally got lost within textual analysis. But then I’d reach another stunning visual in the book and be content again.
And because I wouldn’t be a true Buffalonian if I didn’t mention it, I loved that Snodgrass included insight and quotes from players in Delaware Street’s Shakespeare in the Park. Snodgrass giving the stage (pun intended) to Buffalo, NY, lovers of Shakespeare warmed my heart.
I’d like to once again thank City of Light Publishing for this ARC in exchange for a review; this was an incredibly fun book, even for someone who doesn’t typically reach for nonfiction titles.
J. Snodgrass does what I think any Shakespeare scholar or student should do well: make Shakespeare accessible. His style makes the text enjoyable and humorous, rather than some dull assigned reading you’d find in a 400-level college course.
I’ve never read All’s Well That Ends Well, but not only did his summary make the analysis easy to follow, it also better connected with a modern reader:
“[In All’s Well That Ends Well,] Helena has set her sights on Bertram, a frivolous frat boy who can be best described with the modern half-word ‘bro.’ Flipflops and tank-tops hadn't been invented yet, but that's who this guy is. What Helena sees in this fop is a mystery for the ages.”
While a majority of the book had an incredible flow from one topic to the next, I feel like the theme of the divine feminine occasionally got lost within textual analysis. But then I’d reach another stunning visual in the book and be content again.
And because I wouldn’t be a true Buffalonian if I didn’t mention it, I loved that Snodgrass included insight and quotes from players in Delaware Street’s Shakespeare in the Park. Snodgrass giving the stage (pun intended) to Buffalo, NY, lovers of Shakespeare warmed my heart.
I’d like to once again thank City of Light Publishing for this ARC in exchange for a review; this was an incredibly fun book, even for someone who doesn’t typically reach for nonfiction titles.