A review by jenny_wren
Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell

challenging dark emotional sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

This is a lovely book but it's just so sad! It speculates on the origin of William Shakespeare's Hamlet based on the very little known about his family. Its written with a dual timeline which explores the early days of marriage and then the later years as parents to young children- Hamnet being one of them. 
I enjoyed this story but found it a difficult read. It's sad- heartbreaking actually but is sensitively written and pulls on the heartstrings! Set in the late 1500's it feels authentic. You can imagine what life was like then, and how hard it was. This is a boom that will stay with me for a long time. 
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