A review by laurareads87
The Death I Gave Him by Em X. Liu

challenging dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

The Death I Gave Him caught my attention immediately: a queer locked room Hamlet? Yes! It did not disappoint. The structure - the story told through a combination of essays, pager transcripts, camera footage, letters, and some fictional insertions - is brilliant and effective. The writing is beautiful and the tension is at times unbearable. While there won't be too much 'surprise' in the plot elements for any reader familiar with Hamlet, Liu's book is a novel exploration of the themes of the play - an ambitious work. Highly recommend.

Content warnings: anything you'd expect from a Hamlet reimagination - death, murder, blood, minor gore / injury detail, suicidal thinking, grief
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