A review by thechronicreader
Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell

challenging emotional reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I love Shakespeare so I was intrigued by Hamnet as soon as I heard about it, as it’s a fictionalized imagining of what his family’s life may have been like. The star here was Maggie O’Farrell’s descriptive writing. This was one of the most vividly visually descriptive books I’ve ever read. I feel more like I’ve watched a movie than read a book because her writing painted such clear pictures in my mind. Swipe for some short quotes from the book as examples. Highly recommend for lovers of Shakespeare, historical fiction, and beautiful writing.
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