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A review by laurenrussell
Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
This took awhile for me to really get into, but once I did, I thoroughly enjoyed it (i don’t think it was the books fault). this book to me is a case study on grief. the alternating chapters on past and present paint a vivid picture, especially how knowing the past makes the present so much more devastating. i honestly was not expecting how impactful this was, I even teared up at the hamlet playbill reveal and how cruel it was for agnes to learn it’s weighing heavy on me. i wasn’t sure what i was getting into!
as always, maggie o’farrells writing is superb. before reading, i had read reviews of it being bulky and wordy but i think it comes down to preference. the writing is deeply immerse and paints a mood vibrantly. one of my favorite parts of this book was the chapter on the flea, and how it tracked the flea’s journey in a domino-effect. the descriptions of grief are unmatched. i’m not really sure what to say—i feel empty lol.
a heavy but rewarding read.
as always, maggie o’farrells writing is superb. before reading, i had read reviews of it being bulky and wordy but i think it comes down to preference. the writing is deeply immerse and paints a mood vibrantly. one of my favorite parts of this book was the chapter on the flea, and how it tracked the flea’s journey in a domino-effect. the descriptions of grief are unmatched. i’m not really sure what to say—i feel empty lol.
a heavy but rewarding read.