Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell - Goodreads

Drawing on Maggie O'Farrell's long-term fascination with the little-known story behind Shakespeare's most enigmatic play, HAMNET is a luminous portrait of a ... Goodreadshelpsyoukeeptrackofbooksyouwanttoread. Startbymarking“Hamnet”asWanttoRead: WanttoRead saving… WanttoRead CurrentlyReading Read Othereditions Enlargecover WanttoRead saving… Errorratingbook.Refreshandtryagain. Ratethisbook Clearrating 1of5stars2of5stars3of5stars4of5stars5of5stars OpenPreview SeeaProblem? We’dloveyourhelp. Letusknowwhat’swrongwiththispreviewof HamnetbyMaggieO'Farrell. Problem: It’sthewrongbook It’sthewrongedition Other Details(ifother):   Cancel Thanksfortellingusabouttheproblem. ReturntoBookPage Notthebookyou’relookingfor? Preview—Hamnet byMaggieO'Farrell Hamnet by MaggieO'Farrell(GoodreadsAuthor) 4.27  ·  Ratingdetails ·  123,628 ratings  ·  16,338 reviews ANewYorkTimesNotableBook(2020)BestBookof2020:Guardian,FinancialTimes,LiteraryHub,andNPRDrawingonMaggieO'Farrell'slong-termfascinationwiththelittle-knownstorybehindShakespeare'smostenigmaticplay,HAMNETisaluminousportraitofamarriage,atitsheartthelossofabelovedchild.Warwickshireinthe1580s.Agnesisawomanasfearedassheis ANewYorkTimesNotableBook(2020)BestBookof2020:Guardian,FinancialTimes,LiteraryHub,andNPRDrawingonMaggieO'Farrell'slong-termfascinationwiththelittle-knownstorybehindShakespeare'smostenigmaticplay,HAMNETisaluminousportraitofamarriage,atitsheartthelossofabelovedchild.Warwickshireinthe1580s.Agnesisawomanasfearedassheissoughtafterforherunusualgifts.ShesettleswithherhusbandinHenleystreet,Stratford,andhasthreechildren:adaughter,Susanna,andthentwins,HamnetandJudith.Theboy,Hamnet,diesin1596,agedeleven.Fouryearsorsolater,thehusbandwritesaplaycalledHamlet.Award-winningauthorMaggieO'Farrell'snewnovelbreathesfull-bloodedlifeintothestoryofalossusuallyconsignedtoliteraryfootnotes,andprovidesanunforgettablevindicationofAgnes,awomanintriguinglyabsentfromhistory. ...more GetACopy AmazonOnlineStores ▾AudibleBarnes&NobleWalmarteBooksAppleBooksGooglePlayAbebooksBookDepositoryAlibrisIndigoBetterWorldBooksIndieBoundThriftbooksLibraries Hardcover,372pages Published March31st2020 byTinderPress MoreDetails... OriginalTitle Hamnet ISBN 1472223799 (ISBN13:9781472223791) EditionLanguage English Characters AnneHathaway,HamnetShakespeare,WilliamShakespeare Setting Warwickshire,England England Stratford-upon-Avon,Warwickshire,England LiteraryAwards NationalBookCriticsCircleAwardforFiction(2020),Women'sPrizeforFiction(2020),AndrewCarnegieMedalNomineeforFiction(2021),WalterScottPrizeNomineeforHistoricalFictionShortlist(2021),GoodreadsChoiceAwardNomineeforHistoricalFiction(2020) ...more WaterstonesBookoftheYear(2020) ...less OtherEditions(62) AllEditions | AddaNewEdition | Combine ...LessDetail EditDetails FeaturedNotes&Highlights Maggie -author 13notes&13highlights FriendReviews Toseewhatyourfriendsthoughtofthisbook, pleasesignup. ReaderQ&A Toaskotherreadersquestionsabout Hamnet, pleasesignup. PopularAnsweredQuestions AnythoughtsonwhyShakespeareistheonlycharacternevermentionedbyname? 12likes · like 11monthsago Seeall7answers YakkitheYakkicorn Iinterpreteditthisway:EveryoneknowswhoWilliamShakespeareisbyhisdeeds,notwhohewasasaperson.Thebook'sfocuswasonW.Shakespeare's…moreIinterpreteditthisway:EveryoneknowswhoWilliamShakespeareisbyhisdeeds,notwhohewasasaperson.Thebook'sfocuswasonW.Shakespeare'swife,referredtoasAgnesinthebook.IfW.Shakespeare'snamewasmentioned,thefocuswouldbeonhim,asheisthebetterknownperson,underminingthebook.Butbyneverseeinghisname,wearen'tdistractedbyit.Also,I'dliketoreiteratethatthisbookismainlyaboutAgnes.WeseeW.Shakespearethroughhereyes:nottheadoringfans,theEnglishroyalty,theactorswhopreformedhisplays,buthiswife.AgnesseesW.Shakespeareasherhusbandandthefatherofherchildrenfirst,andthegreatplaywrightsecond.AndasIhavesaid,"thegreatplaywright"comeswithawholesetofmemorycues:calligraphyonyellowedpaper,dozensofplays,men(andlaterwomen)intightsanddresses,etc.Bynotseeinghimportrayedasthegreatplaywrightfirst,weavoidthosecuesandgettoseehimasarealpersonwithrealattributesandflaws.Inessence,wegettoseehisfictionalizedcharacterasahuman,notasetofplays.(less) flag Iamconfused. Is"Hamnet"thesamebookas"HamnetandJudith"? 13likes · like oneyearago Seeall6answers Merrily "Hamnet"waspublishedunderthetitle"HamnetandJudith"intheU.K.…more"Hamnet"waspublishedunderthetitle"HamnetandJudith"intheU.K.(less) flag Seeall39questionsaboutHamnet… ListswithThisBook Anticipated2020LiteraryFiction 582books — 1,330voters 2021:WhatWomenBornInThe1970sReadIn2021 6,779books — 611voters Morelistswiththisbook... CommunityReviews Showing1-30 Averagerating 4.27  ·  Ratingdetails  ·  123,628 ratings  ·  16,338 reviews AllLanguagesBahasaIndonesia‎(1) Català‎(56) Dansk‎(6) Deutsch‎(10) Eesti‎(3) English‎(15210) Español‎(328) Français‎(23) Italiano‎(21) Latviešuvaloda‎(2) Lietuviųkalba‎(23) Magyar‎(1) Nederlands‎(96) Norsk‎(2) Polski‎(4) Português‎(33) Pусскийязык‎(4) Română‎(35) Slovenčina‎(14) Slovenščina‎(1) Suomi‎(2) Svenska‎(31) hrvatski‎(1) Íslenska‎(1) česky,čeština‎(1) Ελληνικά‎(5) българскиезик‎(5) српскијезик‎(5) українська‎(1) العربية‎(2) ไทย‎(1) Morefilters  |  Sortorder StartyourreviewofHamnetWriteareview Apr01,2020 HannahGreendale ratedit itwasamazing Shelves: women-s-prize-nominee, historical-fiction, best-of-the-year, women-s-prize-winner, adult, fiction 2020BestBooksoftheYear[#02of11]Quiteoften,theWomen'sPrizeforFictionlonglistcontainsonebookmorefancifulthantherest.Theroguebookinthelineupusuallyhasuniquequalitiesthatmanifesteitherasrobustlyricismorasstrangeyetscintillatingcontent.Occasionally,thelonglistoffersabookwithbothqualities(think2017Women'sPrizelonglistnominee,TheLonelyHeartsHotelbyHeatherO'Neill).It'squitepossibleHamnetbyMaggieO'Farrellisthisyear'srogueconten 2020BestBooksoftheYear[#02of11]Quiteoften,theWomen'sPrizeforFictionlonglistcontainsonebookmorefancifulthantherest.Theroguebookinthelineupusuallyhasuniquequalitiesthatmanifesteitherasrobustlyricismorasstrangeyetscintillatingcontent.Occasionally,thelonglistoffersabookwithbothqualities(think2017Women'sPrizelonglistnominee,TheLonelyHeartsHotelbyHeatherO'Neill).It'squitepossibleHamnetbyMaggieO'Farrellisthisyear'sroguecontender.O'Farrell'swritingstyleisalyricaldreamscape.Wheretheaverageauthormentionsthepresenceofkittens,O'Farrellwritesofkittens"withfaceslikepansiesandsoftpadsontheirpaws."Someauthorswouldstopatsayingacharactercollectedhoney,O'Farrelldescribesthehoneyflowing"slowassap,orange-gold,scentedwiththesharptangofthymeandthefloralsweetnessoflavender."Youraverageauthornotesaplumorchard,butO'Farrellinvitesreaderstoseeplumswith"red-goldjacketsneartoburstingwithsweetness."Hamnetisafeastforthesenses;aseven-coursemealforreadershungryforbookswrittenwithskillfulembellishment.Unfortunately,theroguebookfilledwithlyricismrarelymakestheshortlist.Andthisyear'sjudgeshavealreadystatedthey'relookingforawinnerthat'srelevantandtimely,soHamnet-whichventurestoconveytheperilousdaysduringwhichWilliamShakespeare'syoungchildrenstruggletosurvivetheBlackDeath-atfirstseemedlikeitwasn'tacontenderfortheshortlist,havingnorelevancetothemodernday.That'snolongerthecase.Verdict:Hamnetisadevastatingbook,asupsettingandvividasthecurrentglobalpandemic.Anabsolutemustread. Itistohimshespeaksinherdisorderedmind,notthetrees,notthemagiccross,notthepatternsandmarkingsoflichen,noteventohermother,whodiedwhiletryingtogivebirthtoachild.Please,shesaystohim,insidethechamberofherskull,pleasecomeback.Ineedyou.Please.Ishouldneverhaveschemedtosendyouaway.Makesurethischildhassafepassage;makesureitlives;makesureIsurvivetocareforit.Letusbothcomethroughthis.Please.Letmenotdie.Letmenotendupcoldandstiffinabloodiedbed. -Fifthreadfromthe2020Women’sPrizeforFictionlonglist. ...more flag 695likes · Like  · seereview Viewall97comments Feb07,2020 RomanClodia ratedit itwasok Shelves: skim-read-to-end I'mclearlyinaminorityhere(again!)butIfoundthisunengagingandflat.There'stoomuchindirectspeechandthewholestoryfeelsverydistancedratherthanimmediate.O'Farrelltalksintheforewordabouthowshe'swantedtowritethisbookfordecades,andtheresultisthatitfeelslaboured,weighteddownwithexpectationthatdoesn'tcometofruitionforme.IespeciallyhatedtheportrayalofAgnesasoneofthosealmostwitchy'wisewomen'whoaboundinhistoricalfiction:fey,wit I'mclearlyinaminorityhere(again!)butIfoundthisunengagingandflat.There'stoomuchindirectspeechandthewholestoryfeelsverydistancedratherthanimmediate.O'Farrelltalksintheforewordabouthowshe'swantedtowritethisbookfordecades,andtheresultisthatitfeelslaboured,weighteddownwithexpectationthatdoesn'tcometofruitionforme.IespeciallyhatedtheportrayalofAgnesasoneofthosealmostwitchy'wisewomen'whoaboundinhistoricalfiction:fey,withpreternaturalsenses,aherbalistasacodefor'female'power...it'sverypredictable,verycommon,veryPhilippaGregory!ThevauntedconnectiontoShakespeareistangentialatbest,andtheideathatthedeathofHamnetilluminatesthewritingof'Hamlet'issparse.TheclaimmadeinthenovelthatShakespearewassotraumatisedthatheneverwroteaboutplagueisnotquitetrue:'Thouartaboil,aplaguesore,anembossedcarbuncleinmycorruptedblood'(KingLear);'Aplagueonbothyourhouses'(Romeo&Juliet)arejustacoupleofexamples.Itisthecasethatcensorsatthetimewouldn'tletnaturalisticrepresentationsoftheplaguepass(playhouseswereoneofthefirstpublicspacestobeclosedwhenoutbreaksoccurred)butthatappliestoallElizabethan/Jacobeandramatistsandisastructurallimitationratherthananindicationofpersonalgrief.Abookwhichisnotforme,then,butclearlyotherreviewershavelovedit. ...more flag 802likes · Like  · seereview Viewall112comments Debra Itwasarelieftoreadyourreview,andthatoftheotherswhodonotrateordidnotenjoythisbook.Iagreewitheverypointyoumake,andwhilet Itwasarelieftoreadyourreview,andthatoftheotherswhodonotrateordidnotenjoythisbook.Iagreewitheverypointyoumake,andwhiletherewerebriefflashesofcleverinsightandobservation,therewasfartoomuchthatstruckmeastrite.IdidlikethecharacterisationofShakespearehimself,though-itsomehowchimedwiththeideaofhimthatIcarry,sothat'sprobablywhy! ...more updated Jan03,202209:50PM · flag Jan Phew!Ithoughtitwasjustme. Jan08,202210:12AM · flag Jan11,2021 Nataliya ratedit itwasok  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: 2021-reads Soapparentlybeingcriticallyacclaimedandawardwinningstilldoesn’tmakeagoodbook,evenwhenittriesthishard. “Everylifehasitskernel,itshub,itsepicentre,fromwhicheverythingflowsout,towhicheverythingreturns.” Sincethisoverwrittenandoverwroughtbookhasnotyetmetanadjectiveorametaphorthatitdidn’tlikeandimmediatelyadopt(usuallyinneatsetsofthrees)toaddtotheneverendinglistofdescriptorspurplingitsmelodramaticprose,I’llthrowoutafew Soapparentlybeingcriticallyacclaimedandawardwinningstilldoesn’tmakeagoodbook,evenwhenittriesthishard. “Everylifehasitskernel,itshub,itsepicentre,fromwhicheverythingflowsout,towhicheverythingreturns.” Sincethisoverwrittenandoverwroughtbookhasnotyetmetanadjectiveorametaphorthatitdidn’tlikeandimmediatelyadopt(usuallyinneatsetsofthrees)toaddtotheneverendinglistofdescriptorspurplingitsmelodramaticprose,I’llthrowoutafew,justtogiveyouataste.Overwritten,overwroughtandmelodramaticIalreadyused.Thereare,however,stillallofthese:superfluous,ornate,overlylyrical,flowery,meandering,long-winded,cliche-laden,monotone,repetitive,sentimental,pretentious,andsimplyoverdone.Whenonewordwouldsuffice,twelvewillbeused. “Themomentshehasfearedmost,theeventshehasthoughtabout,mulledover,turnedthiswayandthat,rehearsedandre-rehearsedinhermind,duringthedarkofsleeplessnights,atmomentsofidleness,whensheisalone.” TheproseissopurplethatevenPrinceatthepeakofhiscareerwouldhavestayedawayfromit. “Shegrowsupwithahidden,privateflameinsideher:itlicksather,warmsher,warnsher.” Whenitcomestothemeatofthestory,it’scertainlyavegetarianoption.See,Icandoametaphor,too!**(Nooffensemeanttomyvegetarianbrethren.Iblamethemetaphor.)Inastrangeandgratingaffectation,O’FarrellchoosestokeepWilliamShakespeareunnamed,referringtohimonlyasaLatintutor,husband,father,son,butneverevenallowinghimtohaveafirstname.It’snotdoneforanybigrevealsashisidentitywouldhavebeenclearafewpagesinregardless,evenwithoutallthemarketingandeventhetitlepointingrighttohim.Ifthat’sawaytobringhimdownapegsothathismostlyunknownwifegetsaspotlight,thenit’sstrangeandoffputting.Youdon’tgivethevoicetothevoicelessbyshuttingupothers.It’sjustdismissive.—————— “Theybeghertostop,nottotouchpeople’shands,tohidethisoddgift.Nogoodwillcomeofit,herfathersays,standingoverAgnesasshecrouchesbythefire,nogoodatall.Whenshereachesuptotakehishand,hesnatchesitaway.Shegrowsupfeelingwrong,outofplace,toodark,tootall,toounruly,tooopinionated,toosilent,toostrange.Shegrowsupwiththeawarenessthatsheismerelytolerated,anirritant,useless,thatshedoesnotdeservelove,thatshewillneedtochangeherselfsubstantially,crushherselfdownifsheistobemarried.Shegrowsup,too,withthememoryofwhatitmeanttobeproperlyloved,forwhatyouare,notwhatyououghttobe.” ThisisanovelaboutAnne-orAgnes-Hathaway,WilliamShakespeare’swife,whoremainedbehindinStratford-upon-AvonwhileherhusbandchangedthecourseofEnglishliteratureinLondon.WeknowshewasafewyearsolderthanWilliam,hadthreechildren,livedapartfromShakespeareforyears,andwaseventuallybequeathedhissecond-bestbedintheBard’swill.Thisbookhadenoughartisticlicensetobreathelifeintoher—andyetitchosetogowithaclicheuponcliche.O’FarrellchoosestomakeAgnesawildspirit,possiblepart-dryad,eccentricandintouchwithnature,ahealerandaherbalist,possessingalmostunerringprecognition.She’sspecialandintuitiveandquirkyinthatforce-of-naturenewstrong-womanfemininestereotypethatdoeshernofavors. “Sheisrarelywrong.Aboutanything.It'sagiftoracurse,dependingonwhoyouask.' Therestofthecharactersremainflatandunderdeveloped,existingasmerelyabackground.Evenourtitularcharacter,theunfortunateHamnet,isbarelyasketchofaboy,makingithardtocareforhimandhisultimatefate.Insteadofcharacterdevelopment,weblunderthroughbogsandthicketsofexcessivemetaphorsanddescriptions*thatslowdownthepaper-thinplottoglacialpace—ooooh,whataprettymetaphor!Shiny!-interruptedincongruouslybyachapterthat,forreasonsunknown,decidestochartacourseofbubonicplaguefleastotheshoresofEngland—unlessthewholepointwasforadiscerningreadertoappreciativelychuckleatthepresenceofamerchantfromVeniceinthatchapter.(Seriously,plagueoutbreakswereacommonoccurrenceatthattime.Whocareshowthatparticularonegotthere?Itwasn’tthefirstoneoranunusualone.Atleastthechapterwokemeupfromsnoozingoverthisbookmonotony-butstillunnecessary.)*Almosteverypageislikethis:“Severalstreetsaway,theowlleavesitsperch,surrenderingitselftoacooldraught,itswingssilentlybreastingtheair,itseyesalert.Toit,thetownappearsasaseriesofrooftops,withgulliesofstreetsinbetween,aplacetobenavigated.Themassedleavesoftreespresentthemselvesasitflies,thestraywispsofsmokefromidlefires.Itseestheprogressofthefox,aman,sleepinginthedoorwayofatavern,scratchingatafleabiteonhisshin;itseesconeysinacageatthebackofsomeone’shouse;horsesstandinginapaddockneartheinn;anditseesJudith,steppingintothestreet.” Andallthatpoorcharacterizationandtiredarchetypes,combinedwithoverwrittenornamentalprose,putawallbetweenthecharactersandme,areader.Ijustcouldnotconnectwiththem.Itmademefeeldetachedfromthem,alwaysobservingfromadistancebutneverfeelingorcaringonadeeperlevel.—————Andnowit’sasgoodofatimeasanyfor aquicksampleofridiculousplotpointsthat,inthisboggeddownandpoorlypacednarrative,literallywentnowhere. -What’sthepointofAgnes’precognitionandstrangedryad-ishorigins?Ilikemymagicalrealismasmuch,oractuallyprobablymore,thanthenextperson,butwhatwasthepointofincorporatingthishere? ‘Someonewhoknowseverythingaboutyou,beforeyouevenknowityourself.Someonewhocanjustlookatyouanddivineyourdeepestsecrets,justwithaglance.Someonewhocantellwhatyouareabouttosay–andwhatyoumightnot–beforeyousayit.Itis,’hesays,‘bothajoyandacurse.’ -WhatwiththeinsistenthintsatillegalsheepskinsdealingsofShakespeare’sfatherandinvolvingAgnes’brotherinshadydealingsasapreconditionformarriageconsentthatwereneverfollowedupandjustpeteredout?-WhyallthefrettingaboutAgnesnotrealizingthatit’sHamnetandnotJudithwhowoulddie?It’snotlikeshehadpowertodoanythingaboutit,notthattimelyattentionwouldhavehelped.-Whywriteaboutthatdamnkestrelanywayifweneverhearanythingaboutitafterthewedding?Wasitfulfillingthewitch’sfamiliarpartuntilO’Farrelllostherinterestinthatstoryline?-Whyswitchthefocusfromabusivefathertothejealousmother-in-lawjusttohaveallthesestorylinesfizzleout?Also,whatwasthepointofmentioningHamnethavingbeenhitbyhisgrandfatherwhenJudithfellill,allthereferencestothecutabovehiseyebrow,andnopayoff?Iwashalf-waitingforthedamncuttogetinfectedandkillhim(insteadofaplague).-Whyohwhywerewetreatedto“thishouseisshapedlikealetter“A”eyeroll-worthybitofdialogue???-WhywouldAgnesfreakoutthatherhusbandwouldusetheirdeadson’snameinaplay?Whyseeitasanoffenseandnotalovingtribute?-Whyarethosefraternaltwinswrittenasidentical?-Andfinally,mymostburningquestion.Whathappenedtoallthoseapplesthatneededtobestoredproperlybutwerealldisturbedduringthatcringeworthybarnsexscene?Didtheyallspoil?Andiftheydidn’t,whywasIsubjectedtoreadingaboutthembouncingaroundliketherewasasmallearthquakefromthesteamysex????————Theclimaxofthisstory,asyou’dpredict,hingesuponShakespearewriting“Hamlet”afewyearsafterhissonHamnetdies.It’srightthereinthebookblurb,makingsurewedon’tfailtospottheblatantsimilarityinthenames.Andthatclimaxwasasunderwhelmingasonecouldonlyimagine,hingingonweakandtenuousconnectionsandcompletelyout-of-characterobservationsbyAgnes,andexistedbecauseitwassupposedto,regardlessofwhetheritfeltorganictothestory. “Hehas,Agnessees,donewhatanyfatherwouldwishtodo,toexchangehischild’ssufferingforhisown,totakehisplace,toofferhimselfupinhischild’ssteadsothattheboymightlive.Shewillsayallthistoherhusband,later,aftertheplayhasended,afterthefinalsilencehasfallen,afterthedeadhavesprunguptotaketheirplacesinthelineofplayersattheedgeofthestage.” Atthebeginning,IthoughtthatitsprosewasaninterestinglystyledintroductionintomeanderingandabitfeverishmindofHamnet,butasthenarrativeploddedon,Inotedmoreirritation,eventuallyslidingintoimpatienceandfinallysettlingintothatreadingcurse—atiredboredom.Inolongercaredwhatwouldhappen,onlyhowlongitwouldtakemetoreachtheendofthebook.Andthatcomesfromsomeonewithadecenttoleranceforoverwriting,givenmygeneralloveforValente,MievilleorThisIsHowYouLosetheTimeWar.2stars.Overwritten,overwrought,overhyped.————BuddyreadwithStephenandAllie. ...more flag 563likes · Like  · seereview Viewall187comments Nataliya Sherylwrote:"IhaveveryspecificfeelingsaboutwhatIread,butIcan’talwaysfindthewordstodescribethem.Yourreviewcovereditforme.Wel Sherylwrote:"IhaveveryspecificfeelingsaboutwhatIread,butIcan’talwaysfindthewordstodescribethem.Yourreviewcovereditforme.Wellsaid."Thanks,Sheryl!I’mgladtobethemouthpieceforthosedisappointedwiththisbook. ...more Jan05,202201:22PM · flag TomHardin SeemstheAuthorhastheaudacitytobecreativeaboutamuchdiscussedsetofunknownsandfinallycomestotherealizationthatherhusbandWillhas SeemstheAuthorhastheaudacitytobecreativeaboutamuchdiscussedsetofunknownsandfinallycomestotherealizationthatherhusbandWillhashisowncreativewaytorememberhisbelovedsonHamnetthh ...more Jan12,202209:31AM · flag Jul29,2020 ElyseWalters ratedit itwasamazing Hamnetwaswonderful.MyfavoriteMaggieO’Farrellnovel,sofar!Itgrabbedmefromthestart....andIwasn’texpectingitto.Ireallyenjoyedit—Ican’timagineanyreaderwhowouldn’tlikeit.Nottoworryifyou’reShakespeare-challenged.Imean‘really’don’tworry.(Idid)....needlessly.Thetitleseemsalittlemisleading-butforthosewhohaven’treadthisyet....I’llsaynomore.Greatbooktogoinblind.Notonlydoesitnotdisappoint—it’sSURPRISINGLYMAGNIFICENT.....Thewritingi Hamnetwaswonderful.MyfavoriteMaggieO’Farrellnovel,sofar!Itgrabbedmefromthestart....andIwasn’texpectingitto.Ireallyenjoyedit—Ican’timagineanyreaderwhowouldn’tlikeit.Nottoworryifyou’reShakespeare-challenged.Imean‘really’don’tworry.(Idid)....needlessly.Thetitleseemsalittlemisleading-butforthosewhohaven’treadthisyet....I’llsaynomore.Greatbooktogoinblind.Notonlydoesitnotdisappoint—it’sSURPRISINGLYMAGNIFICENT.....Thewritingisgorgeous....the‘story’-family-situations-areraw,intense,andintimate.Thestoryissad....(Iwassoclosetobawlinginonepart),filledwithlossandgrief...butsoooheartfelt—staggeringimpressive-clever-andsimplybrilliant.Thisbookdeservesallthepraiseit’sgetting...AndIrepeat....NOTHINGTOBEWORRIEDABOUT(I’msohappythatMaggiewrotethisbook-forEVERYTYPEOFREADER. ...more flag 376likes · Like  · seereview Viewall47comments Jun30,2020 AngelaM ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: 2020-favorites, edelweiss-reviews IhavetoadmitthatIwasalittlenervousgoingintothisonefortworeasons.Isometimeshaveahardtimewithfictionalizedaccountsofrealpeople.I’malwaysquestioninghowrealistictheyareandatthesametimehavingtokeepremindingmyselfthatthey’refiction.PerhapsbecausenotmuchisknownaboutShakespeare’swifeAnneorAgnes,herbirthname,assheiscalledinthenovel,thatIfoundtheimaginingtobesocaptivating.EventhoughIstillwonderedhowmuchmightbetrue,O’ IhavetoadmitthatIwasalittlenervousgoingintothisonefortworeasons.Isometimeshaveahardtimewithfictionalizedaccountsofrealpeople.I’malwaysquestioninghowrealistictheyareandatthesametimehavingtokeepremindingmyselfthatthey’refiction.PerhapsbecausenotmuchisknownaboutShakespeare’swifeAnneorAgnes,herbirthname,assheiscalledinthenovel,thatIfoundtheimaginingtobesocaptivating.EventhoughIstillwonderedhowmuchmightbetrue,O’Farrell’sbeautifulrenditionstandsasbrilliantstorytelling.TheotherthingthatworriedmeisthatthisnoveljustseemedsodifferentfromtheothernovelsbyMaggieO’Farrell.She’soneofmyfavoritewritersandIdidn’twanttobedisappointed.Iwasn’tintheleastandafterthinkingaboutthisforabit,Ihadtoupmyoriginalfourstarstofive.Whileit’sadifferentkindofstorythanwhatshehaswrittenbefore,IfoundthesamebeautifulwritingandstunningdepictionofemotionthatIlovedinallherothernovels.Thebardhimselfisnotthemaincharacteronthisstage.Hisnameisnotmentionedonce.HeisthesonofJohnandMary,thehusbandofAgnes,thefatherofSusannaandtwinsHamnetandJudith,butnevercalledbyname.Thefocusisnotonhisplays,exceptforone,titledafterhissonHamnet,whointhebookdiesatelevenoftheplague.HowweseetheplayintheendthroughAgnes’seyesandheartwasoneofthemostmovingscenesofthenovel.ThisfeltfromthebeginningformelikeAgnes’sstory.Herstorybeginsinanisalmostfairytalelikeway,asagirlbelongingtoaforest,rememberinghermother,learningthepowerofplantsandthemeaningofherpremonitions.ShemeetstheLatintutor,sonoftheglovemakerandwhentheymarry,shemovestoHenleyStreetinStratfordwithhim.Thenarrativealternativesfrom1596justbeforeHamnetdiesandwithAgnes’searlylife,thetimeoftheirmarriageandtheyearsinbetween.Lifeinthesetimesandinthisplacefeelshistoricallyaccurate,evenifwereallyneverwillknowthedetailsoftheirfamilylife,thedeathoftheirson.Themostrealisticthingofallwasthestunningportrayalofafamily’sgrief,especiallyamother’sgrief.AsAgnespreparesforHamnet’sburial,whenshegoestohisgraveorcan’tbeartopartwithhisclothes,Ifeltthedepthofhergrief.IlovedreadingaboutStratford,thefamilyhouseandAgnes’sbirthplace.AlthoughIdon’trememberdetails,IwasthereonHenleyStreetaroundthirtyyearsagoatShakespeare’sbirthplacehouseandAnne(Agnes)Hathway’shousewhichisonthepropertythereaswell.IfeltawarmconnectionknowingthatIhadbeenthereonce.IrecommendthistoloversofhistoricalfictionandmostdefinitelytofansofMaggieO’Farrell.IreceivedanadvancedcopyofthisbookfromKnopf(RandomHouse)throughEdelweiss. ...more flag 359likes · Like  · seereview Viewall121comments Aug07,2020 Jenna ratedit likedit Shelves: historical-fic UnpopularopinionaheadIhadnodesiretoreadHamnetwhenIfirstheardofit.Shakespearegetsmarried,theyhavekids,onedies,hewrites"Hamlet". Nope,notinterested.Thenseveralofmyfriendswroteamazingreviewsandreeledmein.Iwasstillhesitantbutthought,Whynot?JustgiveitatryandDNFifit'snotinteresting.Letmetellyou.InthebeginningIwasmesmerizedbyMaggieO'Farrell'swriting.Thedescriptionsmadeeverythingsovivid,thesettingandcharactersleaptoffthe UnpopularopinionaheadIhadnodesiretoreadHamnetwhenIfirstheardofit.Shakespearegetsmarried,theyhavekids,onedies,hewrites"Hamlet". Nope,notinterested.Thenseveralofmyfriendswroteamazingreviewsandreeledmein.Iwasstillhesitantbutthought,Whynot?JustgiveitatryandDNFifit'snotinteresting.Letmetellyou.InthebeginningIwasmesmerizedbyMaggieO'Farrell'swriting.Thedescriptionsmadeeverythingsovivid,thesettingandcharactersleaptoffthepage.Wow,Ithought,Icanseewhyeveryonelovesthissomuch!Unfortunately,asquicklyasIfellinlovewithMs.O'Farrell'swriting,Ijustasquicklyfellbackoutoflove.Partlythiswasduetothestoryitselffailingtointerestmeasitprogressed.IwasthinkingofDNF'ingbutthencametheflea!Who'dhavethoughtafleacouldbesointeresting!Icouldn'tgetenoughofthatlittlebugger,asitmadeitswayfromAlexandria,EgypttoStratford,England.Sointentonsurvivingandsuckingbloodandunwittinglyspreadingpestilence. IgottagiveMaggieO'Farrellcreditforthat,forturningatiny,nasty,virus-carryingfleaintoaninterestingcharacter.Thattakestalent. Sadly,Iwasn'tastakeninbyallofthestory.TherewereplacesIwasimmersedbutthenI'dgopagesandpageswishingthebookwouldjustendalready.MaybeI'mcoldbutIhavelittlepatienceforbooksintentonmaximizingthetearfactor. IfyouhavemoreofaheartthanIapparentlydo,andifyou'reafanofhistoricalfiction,youwillprobablylovethisbook.It'swrittenbeautifullyanddescriptively.IttellsnotsomuchaboutShakespeare(whoisnevermentionedbyname)butabouthiswifeandchildren.NotmuchisknownaboutanyofthemyetMaggieO'Farrellbringsthemtolifewithhervividimaginationandmeticulouswriting. Itprobablydeservesthe4and5starsI'veseeneveryoneelsegiveit,butIwasboredthroughtoomuchofittograntitanymorethan3.  ...more flag 278likes · Like  · seereview Viewall98comments Andrea Jennawrote:"Andreawrote:"IthinkpeoplewhoarehopingtolearnsomethingaboutShakespearearesurelygoingtobedisappointedwiththisnovel.I Jennawrote:"Andreawrote:"IthinkpeoplewhoarehopingtolearnsomethingaboutShakespearearesurelygoingtobedisappointedwiththisnovel.I’mabout25%throughandwhileI’menjoyingit,itseemsmore..."Okay,thefleawasgood. ...more Jan09,202205:45AM · flag Jenna Andreawrote:"Okay,thefleawasgood."Gladyouenjoyedittoo:)Ifonlytherestofthebookwereasgood.... Andreawrote:"Okay,thefleawasgood."Gladyouenjoyedittoo:)Ifonlytherestofthebookwereasgood.... ...more Jan09,202206:07AM · flag Aug26,2020 Candi ratedit reallylikedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: historical-fiction “Whatisgivenmaybetakenaway,atanytime.Crueltyanddevastationwaitforyouaroundcorners,insidecoffers,behinddoors:theycanleapoutatyouatanymoment,likeathieforbrigand.”Withoutadoubt,thisisabrilliantlyimaginednovelwrittenbyonewhoisquicklybecomingafavoriteauthor.I’mafraidI’llhavetoexplainmyselffornotsingingitspraisesaseffusivelyasIwouldhaveliked,butI’llgettothatlater.Therearealotmorepositivestothisthantherearenegativ “Whatisgivenmaybetakenaway,atanytime.Crueltyanddevastationwaitforyouaroundcorners,insidecoffers,behinddoors:theycanleapoutatyouatanymoment,likeathieforbrigand.”Withoutadoubt,thisisabrilliantlyimaginednovelwrittenbyonewhoisquicklybecomingafavoriteauthor.I’mafraidI’llhavetoexplainmyselffornotsingingitspraisesaseffusivelyasIwouldhaveliked,butI’llgettothatlater.Therearealotmorepositivestothisthantherearenegatives,afterall.IdidjustprofessthatO’Farrellisedgingherwaytothetopofmylistafterjusttwobooks!“She,likeallmothers,constantlycastsoutherthoughts,likefishinglines,towardsherchildren,remindingherselfofwheretheyare,whattheyaredoing,howtheyfare.”AnneHathaway,calledAgneshere,waswedtoWilliamShakespeare.Aboveall,thisisherbook,notShakespeare’sandnotHamnet’s,despitethetitle.Infact,O’FarrellneveruttersShakespeare’snamedirectly;heisalwayscalled‘husband’or‘father’.Agnes,however,isfrontandcenter,andwhatabsorbedmefullywasthethemeofmotherhood–thejoys,thedoubts,thefears,thesorrows.Amotherconstantlyquestionswhethersheisdoingenoughforherchildren.Thereloomsacertaintythatsurelyyoucoulddomoreifyouonlytriedharder.Withlittleknowledgetobuildon,O’Farrellhasshapedoneofthemostfascinatingmothersintheliteraryworld.Agnesisofanotherrealmentirely,itseems.Sheremindedmeofasprite,soetherealinnature.Starvedforloveasachildafterhermother’sdeath,Agnesmakesfriendswithnature–theanimalsandtheforestbecomehercompanions.Shelearnstodivinetruthsabouttheessenceofothersbasedonwhatshecangleanfromtheirhands.“Ifasked,thegirl–awoman,now–wouldremovethefalconer’sgloveandholdyourhand,justforamoment,pressingthefleshbetweenthumbandforefingerwhereallyourhand’sstrengthlay,andtellyouwhatshefelt.Thesensation,somesaid,wasdizzying,draining,asifshewasdrawingallthestrengthoutofyou;otherssaiditwasinvigorating,enlivening,likeashowerofrain.”TheplotalternatesbetweenAgnes’syouth,courtshipandpregnancieswiththetimewhentragedystrikesin1596.Aparent’sgreatestfearisfinallyrealized.Irememberwhenmychildrenwereyoungandsomeillnessoranotherwouldstrike.Icouldn’tsleep,remainingconstantlyalerttoanycriesinthenight,anychangeinbreathing.Surely,Ithought,Icouldbedoingmoretorelievetheirsuffering.“Thetrickisnevertoletdownyourguard.Neverthinkyouaresafe.Nevertakeforgrantedthatyourchildren’sheartsbeat,thattheysupmilk,thattheydrawbreath,thattheywalkandspeakandsmileandargueandplay.”Thefirstthree-quartersofthisnovelcompletelycaptivatedme–theatmosphere,thepacing,theshadowhoveringoverhead.“Thereisasensationofchange,anagitationofair,asifabirdhaspassedsilentlyoverhead.”Theexplorationofbothamotherandafather’sgriefishandledwiththecareandknowledgeofwhatIamcertaincomesfromO’Farrell’sownexperiences.Ihavereadhermemoir,IAm,IAm,IAm:SeventeenBrusheswithDeath.Sheunderstandsforeboding,fear,andheartache.Shewriteswhatsheknowswithclarity.WhatImissed,however,wasacompleteconnectiontoherwords.I’vebeentryingtopinpointwhatexactlylackedformehere.IhavecertainlybeenablubberingfooloverthelastfewnovelsI’veread,butnotthisone!Ishouldhavebeenweepingbuckets!Perhapsitisthethirdpersonpointofviewinthisone,comparedwithhermemoirwhichwhollysucceededinbaringO’Farrell’sheartandsoultothereader.Iwentintothisoneexpectingthesame.HadInotreadtheotherfirst,IsuspectIwouldhavehadabiggersoftspotforHamnet.Butdon’tletthatstopyoufrompickingthisup.It’sworthyofyourtimeandaveryfineworkofhistoricalfiction–nevertriteandaltogetherunique.“Everylifehasitskernel,itshub,itsepicenter,fromwhicheverythingflowsout,towhicheverythingreturns.” ...more flag 265likes · Like  · seereview Viewall106comments Jun01,2020 Beata ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: favorites Anemotionally-chargednovelaboutgriefafterthedeathofachild.Ittakesamasterauthortocreateastorywithscantbackgrounddocumentsthatgoesdeep,deepintoareader'sheart.IadmiretheworldsMsO'FarrellcreatedofAgnes,ofherchildhood,lifewithherhusband,andofmotherlyloveandpain...SomescenesweresomovingthatIfeltphysicalsensationwhilereadingthem.Forareadertoexperienceanovelinthiswayisagiftfromtheauthor. Anemotionally-chargednovelaboutgriefafterthedeathofachild.Ittakesamasterauthortocreateastorywithscantbackgrounddocumentsthatgoesdeep,deepintoareader'sheart.IadmiretheworldsMsO'FarrellcreatedofAgnes,ofherchildhood,lifewithherhusband,andofmotherlyloveandpain...SomescenesweresomovingthatIfeltphysicalsensationwhilereadingthem.Forareadertoexperienceanovelinthiswayisagiftfromtheauthor. ...more flag 240likes · Like  · seereview Viewall48comments Sep23,2020 Violetwells ratedit likedit There'sanincrediblypowerfulandpoignantmomentinHilaryMantel'sWolfHallwhenCromwell'stwoyoungdaughtersdiesuddenlyoftheplague.Yousensethatscenemighthavehadaprofoundinfluenceonthebirthofthisnovel.Itscentraleventisaplaguedeath.LikeMantel'snovels,it'swritteninthepresenttense,it'srichwithdetaileddescriptionandittakesafamousfigurefromhistoryasitsprotagonist.WhereMantelwasdaringandadventurouswithherimaginativeidentificationwit There'sanincrediblypowerfulandpoignantmomentinHilaryMantel'sWolfHallwhenCromwell'stwoyoungdaughtersdiesuddenlyoftheplague.Yousensethatscenemighthavehadaprofoundinfluenceonthebirthofthisnovel.Itscentraleventisaplaguedeath.LikeMantel'snovels,it'swritteninthepresenttense,it'srichwithdetaileddescriptionandittakesafamousfigurefromhistoryasitsprotagonist.WhereMantelwasdaringandadventurouswithherimaginativeidentificationwithCromwell,O'FarrellisdecidedlytimidwithheridentificationwithShakespeare-sheevenbacksofffromevernaminghim-notsurprisingsinceitwouldbeacolossalactofhubristobelieveyoucanrummagethroughthemindofoneofhumankind'sforemostgeniuses.Soit'snotsomuchWilliamsheseekstoportrayashiswifeAgnes.Agnesisoutrageouslyidealised.A21stcenturycompositeofthewomenwithknowledgeofthehealingpropertiesofplantsasakindoffantasysuperhero.O'Farrellgrantsherfairystorypowersofdivination.ShedoeshandletheotherworldlytonequitewellsoIdidn'thaveaproblemsuspendingdisbeliefthoughIcanimaginesomewill.Thatsaid,this21stcenturyhabitofgrantingwomenpowersofmagicalthinkinginperiodsofhistorywhenwomenhadsolittleotherpowerirritatesmeunlessthetoneismischievouswhichitisn'there.Afascinatingconundrumthisnarrativethrowsupishowpetty,especiallywithhindsight,personalfeelingappearsinthelightofartisticachievement.HowreallycanwesympathisewithAgnes'feelingsofabandonmentwhenweknowwhatherhusbandwasachievingasaconsequenceofdistancinghimselffromher?Infact,it'shardnottogetirritatedwithher.Forme,theauthordidn'tquitehaveaholdonthisconundrumwhichiswhythefinalstretchofthisnovelfailedtoliveuptoitsearlypromise.WedosympathisewithAgnes,butonlyuptoapoint.Becauseultimatelywe'reinestimablymorehappythatShakespeareproducedhisplaysthanbotheredaboutwhosefeelingshemighthavehurttoaccomplishthisachievement.Sometimeswhenanovelbeginstolosefizzyoucanfindtheexplanationinmath.Formostofthenovelwegetsimilarlysizedchaptersofalternatetimelines.Whenthetimelinesmeetthisstructurecollapsesandwegetanendlessratherramblingchapterwhichcontinuesfordozensofpagesuntiltheendofthebook.Agnes'emotionsbegantobaffleme.Sheseemedtobarelyknowherhusband.Itbecomesapparentthatthisisanecessaryplotdeviceforthedenouementofthenovel'sthemeofbereavementtowork.Theendingthoughwasfancifullysentimental.I'mnoShakespeareexpertbutsurelyoneofthegreatenigmasabouthimishowconclusivelyheerasedhispersonalityfromhiswork.There'ssomethingforcedandself-indulgentlyblinkeredaboutO'Farrell'sattempttofindhiminHamlet.Essentially,you'lllearnnothingmuchaboutShakespeareherethatyouwon'tfindonWikipedia.ExceptthisoneinsightO'FarrellbelievesshehasabouttheeffectthedeathofhischildhadonhimandhowthiscanbereadintothepagesofHamlet.I'mafraidIdidn'tbuyitatall.Overall,HamnetprovidedmewithsomeenjoyablelightentertainmentwhilegrapplingwiththeenigmacodesofProustandPynchonbutit'salongwayfromrivallingHilaryMantelinsheddinglightonapivotalmanofhistory. ...more flag 205likes · Like  · seereview Viewall30comments Oct15,2020 emma ratedit likedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: non-ya, 2-and-a-half-stars, eh, literary-fiction, historical, reviewed, unpopular-opinion Onceuponatime,IsaidIwouldratethisbookdependingonhowmemorableitis.Today,whenIlookedatthenextreviewIhadtowriteinmylineup,IforgotI'devenreadthisbook.Soit'sgoingtobea2.5starsituationfromme.Idon'treadhistoricalfictionveryoften,becausetheveryIDEAoflivinginatimebeforeshowersandreadilyaccessibledessertsandtherighttovoteismoredisturbingtomethananyhorrornovel,butsomethingaboutthisbookpiquedmyfancy.Maybeit'sthatw Onceuponatime,IsaidIwouldratethisbookdependingonhowmemorableitis.Today,whenIlookedatthenextreviewIhadtowriteinmylineup,IforgotI'devenreadthisbook.Soit'sgoingtobea2.5starsituationfromme.Idon'treadhistoricalfictionveryoften,becausetheveryIDEAoflivinginatimebeforeshowersandreadilyaccessibledessertsandtherighttovoteismoredisturbingtomethananyhorrornovel,butsomethingaboutthisbookpiquedmyfancy.Maybeit'sthatweirdtitle.Maybeit'sthatlovely-lyfloralHonthecover.Maybeit's...Idon'thaveathirdthing.Buttherewassomething.IhadaperfectlyO.K.timereadingthis.Ireaditfairlyquickly,Iwasneitherborednornotbored,IappreciatedthefactthatIliveinabuildingwithlightsandanoperationalrefrigeratormorethanIdoonyouraverageday.Butotherthanthat,Idon'thaveanytakeawaysfromthis.Itwasafairlyemotionlessreadforme.Norealconnectiontoanycharacters.Nosadnessatanyofthe3-4tragiceventsthathappenwithinthestoryline.ItwasjustabookthatIreadandthenforgotabout.Bottomline:Aperfectlyaverageratingforaperfectlyaveragebook.-----------------pre-reviewgod,iamsogladiwasn'tborninthe16thcentury.reviewtocome/willratedependingonhowmemorablethisis-----------------tbrreviewnexttimeifeellikemylifeisbad,i'mgoingtoimaginebeingayoungboynamedHAMNETin1580senglanddyingoftheplague.andthenyourdadwritesaplaywithatitlethat'salmostyourname.couldbeworse. ...more flag 200likes · Like  · seereview Viewall20comments Jul05,2020 AmaliaGkavea ratedit itwasamazing Shelves: britain, british-literature, england, elizabethan, literary-fiction, united-kingdom, edelweiss-books, favorites, northern-irish-literature, shakespeare *Thereisagoldenphraseineverylanguage.''Inmyopinion''.Someofyouneedtostartusingit...* ‘’ThenJudithisinacrowd.Itisnight-time,cold;theglowoflanternspunctuatesthefreezingdark.ShethinksitistheCandlemasfair.Sheisinandalsoaboveacrowdonapairofstrongshoulders.Herfather.Herlegsgriphisneckandheholdsherbyeachankle;shehasburiedherhandsinhishair.ThickdarkhairhehaslikeSusanna’s.Sheusesthesmallestofherfingerstotapt *Thereisagoldenphraseineverylanguage.''Inmyopinion''.Someofyouneedtostartusingit...* ‘’ThenJudithisinacrowd.Itisnight-time,cold;theglowoflanternspunctuatesthefreezingdark.ShethinksitistheCandlemasfair.Sheisinandalsoaboveacrowdonapairofstrongshoulders.Herfather.Herlegsgriphisneckandheholdsherbyeachankle;shehasburiedherhandsinhishair.ThickdarkhairhehaslikeSusanna’s.Sheusesthesmallestofherfingerstotapthesilverhoopinhisleftear.Helaughsatthis-shefeelstherumbleofit,likethunder,passfromhisbodytohers-andshakeshisheadtomaketheearringrattleagainstherfingernail.’’ ThefranticstepsofayoungboydisturbthepeacefulsummerdayinatowninWarwickshire.Hishouseechoeshisalmosterraticsearchforanymemberofhisfamily.Butthehouseisempty.Hisparentsnowheretobefound.Hebegsthedustyroadsofthevillagetobringhimhelpbecausehisbelovedtwinsisterisdying.HebegsFatetoexorcisetheBlackRiderwhohasdecidedtoresideintheirhouse,lookingforavictimtosnatch. ‘’TheLatinverbsrollonandonaroundhim,likeafenlandfog,throughhisfeetupandoverhisshoulders,pasthisears,toseepoutofthecracksinthewindowlead.Heallowsthechantedwordstomergeintoanoralblurthatfillstheroom,righttoitshigh,blackenedrafters.’’ DearGod,whatamasterpiece!Whenevery‘’writer’’whowantstopassHistoricalRomancescribblesas‘’Literature’’,whenridiculousplaysandevenmoreridiculousfilmdaretomeddlewiththeBardandespeciallywithhiswife’senigmaticfigure,onecan’thelpbeingapprehensive.Butnotwhenyouareinthegracious,blessedhandsofMaggieO’Farrell.WhatcanIpossiblysayaboutHamnet?Anodetowomanhood,motherhood,familyandthefragilityofdailylifethatshouldneverbetakenforgranted. ‘’Thetreescouldbeseenfromthebackwindows,tossingtheirrestlessheadsonwindydays,shakingtheirbareandtwistedfistsinwinter.’’ O’FarrellbringsusthetragicstoryofShakespeare’sfamily,focusedonhissonandhiswife,twoincrediblecharacters.Herwritingisquiet,mystifying,haunting.Abreathofahazy,lyricalsummerandthesadnessofgoldenautumn.ThereisbeautyandtherearepainandDeath.Physicallossandthethwartingofthedreamsofyouth.Thelossoffaithandtheunimaginablehorroroflosingachild.HamnetisrichinliterarybeautyandO’Farrellinsertsbrief,poignantscenesthatdefinethetoneandthespiritofthestory.TheterrifyingfigureofthePlagueDoctor,awoman’sunbreakablebondwithNature,William’swanderlust,thesequenceofthecomingofthepestilenceinWarwickshire,abrother’sacheforhissister’sordeal,amother’sdespair,afather’shelplessness,thecriesforaghostofabelovedpresence. ‘’Shehasacertainnotorietyintheseparts.Itissaidthatsheisstrange,touched,peculiar,perhapsmad.Hehasheardthatshewandersthebackroadsandforestatwill,unaccompanied,collectingplantstomakedubiouspotions.’’ PerhapsthemostdemandingaspectinthisnovelisthecharacterizationandO’Farrellcreateswonders.Agnes(seethemovingAuthor’sNotethatclarifieswhy‘’Anne’’became‘’Agnes’’)isanextraordinarycharacter.Intelligent,brave,sensitive,deeplyconnectedwithNature,firminherbeliefs.Williamisagentleman,tryingtobalancehisloveforherandhiscalling.Hamnetisoneofthemostmoving,developedandmemorablecharacters.Hispainandsenseofhelplessnessandthefactthatweknowhisfatewillbreakyourheart.Hissisters,SusannaandJudith,areequallyenchantingandbeautifullydrawn. ‘’I’llwalkbackwards,’’hesays,backingaway,‘’soIcankeepyouinmysights.’’‘’AllthewaytoLondon?’’‘’IfIhaveto.’’Shelaughs.‘’You’llfallintoaditch.You’llcrashintoacart.’’‘’Sobeit.’’ ItissaidthatthistragiclosswasthedrivingforcebehindthecreationofHamlet.TheBardwouldbeproudofMaggieO’Farrell’smasterpiece.AndIdon’tneedtotireyoumore.Thefollowingextractsspeakforthemselves. ‘’Summerisanassault.Thelongevenings,thewarmairwaftingthroughthewindows,theslowprogressoftheriverthroughthewindows,theslowprogressoftheriverthroughthetown,theshoutsofchildrenplayinglateinthestreet,thehorsesflickingfloesfromtheirflanks,thehedgerowsheavywithflowersandberries.’’ ‘’Autumn,whenitcomes,isterribletoo.Thesharpnessontheair,earlyinthemorning.Themistgatheringintheyard.Thehensfussingandmurmuringintheirpen,refusingtocomeout.Theleavescrispingattheiredges.HereisaseasonHamnethasnotknownortouched.Hereisaworldmovingwithouthim.’’ ‘’Night-timeinthetown,adeep,blacksilenceliesoverthestreets,brokenonlybythehollowliltofanowl,callingforitsmate.Abreezeslipsinvisibly,insistentlythroughthestreets,likeaburglarseekinganentrance.Itplayswiththetopsofthetrees,tippingthemoneway,thentheother.Itshiversinsidethechurchbell,makingthebrassvibratewithasinglelownote.Itrufflesthefeathersofthelonelyowl,sittingonarooftopnearthechurch.’’ ManythankstoKnopfPublishingGroupandEdelweissfortheARCinexchangeforanhonestreview.Myreviewscanalsobefoundonhttps://theopinionatedreaderblog.word... ...more flag 179likes · Like  · seereview Viewall15comments Jul26,2020 jessica ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition wow.thisstoryissomethingelse.ipickedthisuponawhimandidonotregretit.veryearlyon,ithoughtthisbookwouldbetoo‘description’heavyformypersonalliking.thereareparagraphsuponparagraphsofverydetaileddescription,soiwasunsureifiwouldconnectwiththiskindofnarrative(especiallybecauseitswritteninpresenttense).butslowly,andeversurely,ibecamecompletelyabsorbedbytheend.itdefinitelycreepeduponme.whatilovemostaboutthis,though,ish wow.thisstoryissomethingelse.ipickedthisuponawhimandidonotregretit.veryearlyon,ithoughtthisbookwouldbetoo‘description’heavyformypersonalliking.thereareparagraphsuponparagraphsofverydetaileddescription,soiwasunsureifiwouldconnectwiththiskindofnarrative(especiallybecauseitswritteninpresenttense).butslowly,andeversurely,ibecamecompletelyabsorbedbytheend.itdefinitelycreepeduponme.whatilovemostaboutthis,though,ishowittakesoneseeminglyinsignificantpointinhistoryandturnsitintoamomentofpurpose,motivation,andacceptance.backinshakespearestime,childrendyingwasnotuncommon,butitsfascinatingtoseeandspeculateathowthedeathofonechildcouldcausesuchanimpact,notonlyontheimmediatefamily,butbeyondthat.ireallylikehowMOFlaysthefoundationforanneandwilliamsrelationship,andimagineshowthatrelationshipchangesthroughtheircommongrief.imreallyquitehappythatienjoyedthissomuchmorethanithoughtiwould.↠4.5stars ...more flag 167likes · Like  · seereview View2comments May28,2020 Marchpane ratedit reallylikedit Shelves: read-in-2020, 2020-releases WINNEROFTHE2020WOMEN’SPRIZEFORFICTIONGrieffillstheroomupofmyabsentchild,Liesinhisbed,walksupanddownwithme,Putsonhisprettylooks,repeatshiswords,Remembersmeofallhisgraciousparts,StuffsouthisvacantgarmentswithhisformThen,haveIreasontobefondofgrief?—WilliamShakespeare(TheLifeandDeathofKingJohn)NooneknowswhatcausedthedeathofHamnetShakespearein1596,atthetenderageofeleven.Likewise,littleisknownabouthismotherAgnes(ak WINNEROFTHE2020WOMEN’SPRIZEFORFICTIONGrieffillstheroomupofmyabsentchild,Liesinhisbed,walksupanddownwithme,Putsonhisprettylooks,repeatshiswords,Remembersmeofallhisgraciousparts,StuffsouthisvacantgarmentswithhisformThen,haveIreasontobefondofgrief?—WilliamShakespeare(TheLifeandDeathofKingJohn)NooneknowswhatcausedthedeathofHamnetShakespearein1596,atthetenderageofeleven.Likewise,littleisknownabouthismotherAgnes(akaAnneHathaway).Hamnetimaginesthelivesbehindthesehistoricalfootnotes.Hamnet’sfather—WilliamShakespeare—remainsnamelessinO’Farrell’snovel,andapartfromoneperformanceofHamletitdoesn’tengageexplicitlywiththeBard’swork.Ratherthanovertreferences,thereareshroudedones:twinsswappingplaces;Agnesappearingtobedressedasaboy;asuspectedwitchnamedforaRowantree.Itmaydisappointsomereadersthatthisrichveinisnotexploitedfurther.Instead,thefocusisondomesticlifeinStratford—courtship;birthingbabies;Hamnet’sconnectionwithhistwinJudith;thefamily’sprofoundanguishattheboy’sdeath.Equally,thestoryisnotover-burdenedwithhistoricalfacts,whicharealtered,elided,orgiventhemerestsubtlenod,whenrequired.HamnetandJudithSadler,thetwins’namesakes,popupbrieflyas‘thebaker’andhiswife.Thereisanobliquereferencetothefamous‘second-bestbed’bequeathedlaterbyShakespearetoAgnes.Moreattentionisgiventoanimals—squirrelsandcatsandbirdsandbeesandfleasandamonkey—thenovelteemswithtinycreaturesandtheirfleetinglives.Creativelicensebendstothenovel’spurpose.Forinstance,stagingHamletin1600(theactualdateisunknown)thusduckingthedeathofShakespeare’sfatherin1601,andanyinfluencehispassingmayhavehadontheplay.ItmightseemimplausiblethattheplumroleofHamletwouldgoto‘alad—halfwaybetweenmanandboy’andnotsay,RichardBurbage,butthistooservesO’Farrell’saimofmappingHamletdirectlytothedeathoftheboyHamnet.Thisattemptedlinktothefamousplayisalovelypoeticideabuthistoricallyunconvincing.Hamnetisanimaginativeworkofhistoricalfictionandaneloquentmeditationongriefandloss.Itsoarsintheintimatemoments,suchaswhenAgnesentersthegraveyard‘withthreechildrenandsheleavesitwithtwo’.Notaspot-the-referencebookforShakespearenerds,butratheralovelyexpressionofthetragicmode. ...more flag 164likes · Like  · seereview Viewall8comments Aug01,2020 Karen ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition Ilovedthisstory!ThisisaworkoffictionaboutWilliamShakespeareandAnnHathaway,theirfamily,andthedeathoftheironlysonHamnetwhodiedat11yrsofage.It’sthestoryofamarriage,andgrief....ofwhatlifewaslikein16thcenturyEnglandinthetimeoftheBlackDeathplague.Itwasasensual,beautifulandmagicalstory.TheheartofthebookisHamnet’smotherandyoufeeleverythingalongrightwithher! flag 160likes · Like  · seereview Viewall66comments Jul24,2020 nastya ratedit didnotlikeit Shelves: irish, historical-fiction ThisbookandIareenemies,foes,nemeses.Ididnotdnfitonprincipletoknowifmyloathingwasjustifiedtilltheend,finale,conclusion.(Spoileralert-itwas.)Agnesisthewisewoman,oracle,witch,fay,elf,sorceress.Iwaswaitingforhertogototheoceanonenightandturnintoaselkieandswimaway.Butalas.:(Sheis,sheis,sheistheultimate“notlikeothergirls”girl,woman,Other.Shakespeare,latintutor,husband(it’saverysmartdecisionnottonamehim,yousee)te ThisbookandIareenemies,foes,nemeses.Ididnotdnfitonprincipletoknowifmyloathingwasjustifiedtilltheend,finale,conclusion.(Spoileralert-itwas.)Agnesisthewisewoman,oracle,witch,fay,elf,sorceress.Iwaswaitingforhertogototheoceanonenightandturnintoaselkieandswimaway.Butalas.:(Sheis,sheis,sheistheultimate“notlikeothergirls”girl,woman,Other.Shakespeare,latintutor,husband(it’saverysmartdecisionnottonamehim,yousee)tellsherexactlythat,that’swhyheisintoher,cherishesher,adoresher.Abouttheprose:everydescriptionhasatleast3adjectives;everyfeelingorsmellorobjectdescriptionhas3similes;everythinganycharacterseesconjuressomelyricalflashback.Whereyoucanuse2wordstodescribesomething,Maggiewilluse25.Itdrovememad,irritated,bored.“Itisalovebasedongivingandreceivingaswellashavingandsharing.Andthelovethattheygiveandhaveissharedandreceived.Andthroughthishavingandgivingandsharingandreceiving,wetoocanshareandloveandhaveandreceive.”MaggieO’Farrell,no,sorry,JoeyTribbiani ...more flag 143likes · Like  · seereview Viewall46comments Aug16,2020 Cheri ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: 1500-s, women-s-prize-nominee, 2020, library-book, literary-fiction, england, favourites, historical-fiction ’Rememberme.’ Wordsfailme,oratleastwordsthatwouldbeworthyenoughofthislookintoanothertime,atimethathasanalmostuncannyresemblance,insomeways,tothecurrentplaguethathasfallenuponus.Butitisalsosomuchmorethanthat,asitexposesthegriefthataccompaniesthelossofthelifeofachild,andhowquickly,andinvisiblythisplaguetravelsfromoneplace,onecreaturetoanotheragainandagainoverashortperiodoftime,tolandonaninnocentperson,a ’Rememberme.’ Wordsfailme,oratleastwordsthatwouldbeworthyenoughofthislookintoanothertime,atimethathasanalmostuncannyresemblance,insomeways,tothecurrentplaguethathasfallenuponus.Butitisalsosomuchmorethanthat,asitexposesthegriefthataccompaniesthelossofthelifeofachild,andhowquickly,andinvisiblythisplaguetravelsfromoneplace,onecreaturetoanotheragainandagainoverashortperiodoftime,tolandonaninnocentperson,andtakesomanylivesintheprocess.Itisastoryoflove,andhope,andperhapsthelossofboth,atleastforatime,aswell.Perhaps,eventheultimategiftoflove.’Couldhepullofftheirtrick,theirjoke,justoncemore?Hethinkshecan.Hethinkshewill.Heglancesoverhisshoulderatthetunnelofdarkbesidethedoor.Theblacknessisdepthless,soft,absolute.Turnaway,hesaystoDeath.Closeyoureyes.Justforamoment.’But,again,becauseitisaboutlifeandsharedbyO’Farrell,itisnotdiscountingthesweetaltogether,thisstoryhadmefeelingeverything.Hasmefeelingitallstill.Ifnothingelse,O’Farrell’swordscoverbothofthoseterritoriesaswellastheseeminglynormaldailyinsandoutsoflife.’Shewalksback,moreslowly,thewayshecame.Howodditfeels,tomovealongthesamestreets,therouteinreverse,likeinkingoveroldwords,herfeetthequill,goingbackoverwork,rewriting,erasing.’Andthenthereistheguilttheonesleftbehindfeel,they‘why.’Whythem?Whynotme?Itisheartrendinglyfelt.TheonesectionofthisthatstoodoutformeasIwasreadingthisisonethatI’msurewasfeltbyeveryoneelsethathasreadthis,asitsharesthestoryofhowthisplaguefirstbegins,aboy,amonkey,threefleasthatfallfromthemonkey,andthusbeginstheroutethatwillendthelivesofmany.IremaininaweofO’Farrell’sabilitytobringsomuchbeautytosuchaheartrendingstory.Manythanks,onceagain,tothePublicLibrarysystem,andthemanyLibrariansthatmanage,organizeandkeepitrunning,fortheloanofthisbook! ...more flag 143likes · Like  · seereview Viewall76comments Apr06,2020 Gumble'sYard-GoldenReviewer ratedit itwasamazing Shelves: 2020, 2020-women-longlist, 2021, 2020-ntb, 2020-women-shortlist IreadthisaheadofaBookGroupinJune2021havingpreviouslyreaditinearlyApril2020(justafterthestartoflockdown).InthecommentsbelowthereviewIhaveaddedmynotesfromtheauthor’sbrilliantlyproducedinterviewwithPeterFlorenceatthe2020virtualHayFestival.ThisbookwasonmyradarsincetheGuardian’sAlexPrestoninhis2020previewsaiditwasthebookthatmightbeatHilaryManteltoherthirdBooker.ThebookofcoursebeatHiliaryMantelwonthe2020Women'sP IreadthisaheadofaBookGroupinJune2021havingpreviouslyreaditinearlyApril2020(justafterthestartoflockdown).InthecommentsbelowthereviewIhaveaddedmynotesfromtheauthor’sbrilliantlyproducedinterviewwithPeterFlorenceatthe2020virtualHayFestival.ThisbookwasonmyradarsincetheGuardian’sAlexPrestoninhis2020previewsaiditwasthebookthatmightbeatHilaryManteltoherthirdBooker.ThebookofcoursebeatHiliaryMantelwonthe2020Women'sPrize,the2020Waterstone'sBookoftheYear(fromtheUK'sbestbookseller),theNationalBookCriticsCircleAward(oneoftheveryfewUSawardsopentoUKwriters),the2021BritishBookAwardsBestFiction"Nibbie"andsoon.Itwasalso,totheconsiderabledeterimentoftheBookernotevenlonglistedforthatprize(whichwasdistinguishedin2021onlybyitsWinner).ThatomissionIthinkresultedinitsunusualshortlistingforthe2020GuardianNotTheBooker(unusualinthattheGuardianwebsiteBTLvoteswhichareusedtopickhalfthatshortlistarenormallydominatedbyauthorandpublisherleadcampaignsonsmallbooks)-aprizeforwhichthejudges(ofwhichIwasone)decideditwastoogoodtobeawinner.--------------------------------------------------------Mythematicthoughtsonthebook-includingsomeextensivequotes,bestreadaftercompletionofthebook.COMPARISONSTOMANTEL(ANDGREGORY)–STYLEOFFIRSTTWOTHIRDSAndcomparisonstoMantel’sbookareinevitable–abooksetinthe16thCentury,featuringafamousEnglishmeninanunfamiliarway,andwritteninathirdpersonpointofviewpresenttense.Acomparisonmadeevenmoreinevitablewhenthebook’sopeninglinesincludeaconfusedchildandthewords“Hestumblesashelands,fallingtohiskneesontheflagstonefloor”whichtothereaderimmediatelyevokesMantel'sopeningwordsofhetrilogy“hehasfallen;knockedfulllengthonthecobblesoftheyard”whichfollowthenow-famous”Sonowgetup”.Therehoweverthetwobooksdepart–bothinsubjectmatterandstyle.WhereasCromwellisthesolefocusofMantel’sbook(s),somuchsothatthethirdpartystyleisreallyascloseaspossibletoafirstpartynarrative;Shakespeare,whilefeaturingasapointofviewcharacter,isverymuchatertiaryone(andinfactonlyeverreferredtoinindirectterms(thetutor,thehusband,thefather),withthenarrativeinitiallystartedbyhissonHamnet(twintoJudith)andlargelysustainedbyhiswife–Agnes(perhapsbetterknowtousasAnnHathaway).Withasanasideathrowawaylinelaterinthebookwhichlinkstoalmostallweknowofher(viathereferenceinherhusband’swill) [She]refusestogiveupherbed,sayingitwasthebedshewasmarriedinandshewillnothaveanother,sothenew,granderbedisputintheroomforguests. Agnesherselfisportrayedasfollowingherdeadmotherassomethingofawhitewitch/folkandnaturalhealer/forestfolk/mysticaldiviner.IwasinevitablyremindedlessofMantelandmoreofthatothergreatmoderndaychronicleroftheTudorCourt–PhilippaGregory,andinparticularherCousinsWarseriesandparticularlythecharacterofJacquettaofLuxembourgandherrelationshipwithElizabethWoodvillein“WhiteQueen”and“LadyoftheRivers”.Thatisnottodamnthebookwithfaintpraise,bothbooksareexcellent,butitwasalittleunexpectedinapurelyliterarynovel.LikeGregory,O'Farrellusesthisasawayforafemaletogainstrongagencyinafundamentallypatriarchalsociety(atleastinthissectionweseethatAnne'spregnancy,resultingmarriageandevenWill'smovetoLondonareallengineeredbyher).AndwhileMantel’stalesustainsthroughoutasenseofimmediacy,ofimminentperil,ofeverpresentdangerinacourtsubjecttothearbitrarycapricesofatyrant,forthefirsttwothirdsofthebook,thisiswritteninanindirect,verydistancedstyle.Thestyleofcoursereflectsthecharacter–notanecessarilyparanoidman-of-the-world,painstakinglyawareoftheprecariousnessofhisascentandthemultitudewishinghisfall;butinsteadsomeonewhoisbytheirveryidentityother-worldly,possessedofbothancientknowledgeandforesightandwhothereforeoperatesatanecessaryremovefromboththehereandthenow.Thisstylethoughdoesmakethefirsttwothirdsofthebookattimesarathertoolanguidexperience.MIRRORINGOneinterestingbreakisasectionwherewetracethecourseoftheplague ForthepestilencetoreachWarwickshire,England,inthesummerof1596,twoeventsneedtooccurinthelivesoftwoseparatepeople,andthenthesepeopleneedtomeet.ThefirstisaglassmakerontheislandofMuranointheprincipalityofVenice;thesecondisacabinboyonamerchantshipsailingforAlexandriaonanunseasonablywarmmorningwithaneasterlywind. Andthisaccountisverycleverlymirroredalittlelater–inanaccountoftheconvolutedpassageofalettersenttoShakespearetellinghimofJudith’sseeminglyimminentdeathwithevensomesmalldetailsmirrored(suchassomeunevenlybalancedbaskets).Mirroringbeingacrucialthemeofthebook–withJudithandHamnetasslightlyoddtwins(seeminglyidenticalotherthanintheirsex) It’slikeamirror,hehadsaid.Orthattheyareonepersonsplitdownthemiddle.TheirtwoHefeelsagainthesensationhehashadallhislife:thatsheistheothersidetohim,thattheyfittogether,himandher,liketwohalvesofawalnut.Thatwithoutherheisincomplete,lost.Hewillcarryanopenwound,downhisside,fortherestofhislife,whereshehadbeenrippedfromhim.Howcanhelivewithouther?Hecannot.Itislikeaskingthehearttolivewithoutthelungs,liketearingthemoonoutoftheskyandaskingthestarstodoitswork,likeexpectingthebarleytogrowwithoutrain.Tearsareappearingonhercheeksnow,likesilverseeds,asifbymagic.Heknowstheyarehis,fallingfromhiseyesontoherface,buttheycouldjustaseasilybehers.Theyareoneandthesame.‘Youshallbewell,’shemurmurs.Hegripsherfingersinanger.‘Ishallnot.’Hepasseshistongueoverhislips,tastingsalt.‘I’llcomewithyou.We’llgotogether.’ Ideaswhichtheauthorexpandsintoaplotpointwhichofcoursedrawsontheuseofmistakenidentityanddoublesintheirfather’swork: Thentheideastrikeshim.Hedoesn’tknowwhyhehadn’tthoughtofitbefore.ItoccurstoHamnet,ashecrouchesthere,nexttoher,thatitmightbepossibletohoodwinkDeath,topulloffthetrickheandJudithhavebeenplayingonpeoplesincetheywereyoung:toexchangeplacesandclothes,leadingpeopletobelievethateachwastheother. MODERNDAYRESONANCEAnotherfascinatingaspectofthisfirstsection–whicheffectivelyleadsuptothe(reallife)deathofHamnet–isthemanyaccidentalresonanceswithourpresentdaysituation,resonanceswhichIsuspectincreasethealreadyhighchancesofthisbookwinningliteraryprizeacclaim.ThewaytheplaguespreadsnotjustinEnglandbutalsoinNorthernItaly(andthelinksbetweenthetwo) Thefleasthatleaptfromthedyingratsintotheirstripedfurcrawldownintotheseboxesandtakeupresidenceintheragspaddingthehundredsoftiny,multi-colouredmillefioribeads(thesameragsputtherebythefellowworkerofthemasterglassmaker;thesameglassmakerwhoisnowinMurano,wheretheglassworksisatastandstill,becausesomanyoftheworkersarefallingillwithamysteriousandvirulentfever). TheinadequacyofPersonalProtectiveEquipmentforEnglishmedicalstaff: Itistall,cloakedinblack,andintheplaceofafaceisahideous,featurelessmask,pointedlikethebeakofagiganticbird.‘No,’Hamnetcries,‘getaway.’..Thenhisgrandmotheristhere,pushinghimaside,apologisingtothespectre,asifthereisnothingoutoftheordinaryaboutit,invitingittostepintothehouse,toexaminethepatient.Hamnettakesastepbackwardsandanother.Hecollideswithhismother,‘Don’tbeafraid,’shewhispers.‘Itisonlythephysician.’‘The...?’Hamnetstaresathim,stillthereonthedoorstep,talkingwithhisgrandmother.‘Butwhyishe...?’Hamnetgesturestohisface,hisnose.‘Hewearsthatmaskbecausehethinksitwillprotecthim,’shesays.‘Fromthepestilence?’Hismothernods.‘Andwillit?’Hismotherpursesherlips,thenshakesherhead.‘Idon’tthinkso.’ Lockdowns Thespectreisspeakingwithoutamouth,sayinghewillnotcomein,hecannot,andthey,theinhabitants,areherebyorderednottogoout,nottotaketothestreets,buttoremainindoorsuntilthepestilenceispast. Theguiltyupsideoftheeventsforchildrenofbusyparents IftheplaguecomestoLondon,hecanbebackwiththemformonths.Theplayhousesareallshut,byorderoftheQueen,andnooneisallowedtogatherinpublic.Itiswrongtowishforplague,hermotherhassaid,butSusannahasdonethisafewtimesunderherbreath,atnight,aftershehassaidherprayers.Shealwayscrossesherselfafterwards.Butstillshewishesit.Herfatherhome,formonths,withthem.Shesometimeswondersifhermothersecretlywishesittoo. Misplacedfaithinunlikelytreatments(hydroxychloroquinanyone?) ‘Madam,’thephysiciansays,andagainhisbeakswingstowardsthem,‘youmaytrustthatIknowmuchmoreaboutthesemattersthanyoudo.Adriedtoad,appliedtotheabdomenforseveraldays,hasproventohavegreatefficacyincasessuchasthese. Andtherealisationthatwhatevercontingencyplanninghealershavedoneispowerlessinthefaceofwhattheyareconfrontedwith Shethinksofhergarden,ofhershelvesofpowders,potions,leaves,liquids,withincredulity,withrage.Whatgoodhasanyofthatbeen?Whatpointwastheretoanyofit?Allthoseyearsandyearsoftendingandweedingandpruningandgathering.Shewouldliketogooutsideandripupthoseplantsbytheirrootsandflingthemintothefire.Sheisafool,anineffectual,pridefulfool.Howcouldsheeverhavethoughtthatherplantsmightbeamatchforthis? FINALTHIRD&GEORGESAUNDERSAnyfrustrationattheslightlyslowpaceofthefirstparts,isreallyovercomeinthefinalsection,whichdealswiththeaftermathofHamnet’sdeath.FollowingonfromAgnes’srealisationboththatherhealingpowerswereinadequateinthefaceofplagueandthatherforesighthasactuallymisleadherandforcedhertoconcentrateonthewrongrisks(JudithratherthanHamnet)sheisthrustbackintotherealworldandtheremovaloftimeandplaceistakenaway.Whatwegetinsteadisafierceandpainfulexaminationofthegriefofamotherandamoreobliqueexaminationofhowthatgriefplayedoutintheworkofherhusband.Ofthewayitunmoorsallofourpretensionstocontrol Whatisgivenmaybetakenaway,atanytime.Crueltyanddevastationwaitforyouaroundcorners,insidecoffers,behinddoors:theycanleapoutatyouatanymoment,likeathieforbrigand.Thetrickisnevertoletdownyourguard.Neverthinkyouaresafe.Nevertakeforgrantedthatyourchildren’sheartsbeat,thattheysupmilk,thattheydrawbreath,thattheywalkandspeakandsmileandargueandplay.Neverforamomentforgettheymaybegone,snatchedfromyou,intheblinkofaneye,borneawayfromyoulikethistledown. ThatincludesamovingburialscenewhichcannothelpremindthereaderofanotherBookerwinner-“LincolnintheBardo” Itisevenmoredifficult,Agnesfinds,toleavethegraveyard,thanitwastoenterit.Somanygravestowalkpast,somanysadandangryghoststuggingatherskirts,touchingherwiththeircoldfingers,pullingather,naggingly,piteously,saying,Don’tgo,waitforus,don’tleaveushere. Andthenmovesintohelplessness AndAgnesfindsshecanbearanythingexceptherchild’spain.Shecanbearseparation,sickness,blows,birth,deprivation,hunger,unfairness,seclusion,butnotthis:herchild,lookingdownatherdeadtwin.Herchild,sobbingforherlostbrother.Herchild,rackedwithgrief. HAMNETANDHISFATHER’SWORKAgnesrealisesthatratherthanbringingherfamilytogether–herhusbandwillinsteadmoveawayfromherandbeabsorbedinhiswork(herinfluenceoverhimdecliningwithherpowers)–leavinghernotsomuchforLondonbut ‘theplaceinyourhead.Isawitonce,alongtimeago,awholecountryinthere,alandscape.Youhavegonetothatplaceanditisnowmorerealtoyouthananywhereelse.Nothingcankeepyoufromit.Noteventhedeathofyourownchild.Iseethis,’ That(andthiswasoneoftheinspirationsforthewritingofthisbook)thathewillneverreferenceplaguedirectlyinhiswork(ashasalreadybeennotedbyhisdaughtereveninhisspeech) ItisalsoplagueseasonagaininLondonandtheplayhousesareshut.Thisisneversaidaloud.Judithnotestheabsenceofthiswordduringhisvisits. ThataplaywrightwhogavesomanywordstotheEnglishlanguageisnotevenavailabletohelphisfamilyfindthewordsthattheyneed Whatistheword,Judithaskshermother,forsomeonewhowasatwinbutisnolongeratwin? But,inatourdeforceendingtothisexcellentbookthathewillexaminethedeathinhisownwayandviahismostfamousplay. Hamlet,here,onthisstage,istwopeople,theyoungman,alive,andthefather,dead.Heisbothaliveanddead.Herhusbandhasbroughthimbacktolife,intheonlywayhecan.Astheghosttalks,sheseesthatherhusband,inwritingthis,intakingtheroleoftheghost,haschangedplaceswithhisson.Hehastakenhisson’sdeathandmadeithisown;hehasputhimselfindeath’sclutches,resurrectingtheboyinhisplace.‘Ohorrible!Ohorrible!Mosthorrible!’murmursherhusband’sghoulishvoice,recallingtheagonyofhisdeath.Hehas,Agnessees,donewhatanyfatherwouldwishtodo,toexchangehischild’ssufferingforhisown,totakehisplace,toofferhimselfupinhischild’ssteadsothattheboymightlive. Overall-magnificent ...more flag 130likes · Like  · seereview Viewall23comments Apr13,2021 Jen ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: 5-star-favourites Atlast,IambaptizedintotheO’Farrellworld.Andwhatanawesomediscovery.IwasalittlenervouspickingthisoneupwhenIheardShakespeare.Ididn’tthinkIwantedtoreadthis,butholymoly,Iwouldhavemissedoutonthisexquisitewritingandfabulous,yetheartwrenchingstory.Thisisaremarkabletaleoflove..Ofmanandwomanandparentsandchildren.Adevastatingdeathofatwinatthecentre.Thedivisionthatcomeswithloss.AndanewappreciationforthatthatspeechIwas Atlast,IambaptizedintotheO’Farrellworld.Andwhatanawesomediscovery.IwasalittlenervouspickingthisoneupwhenIheardShakespeare.Ididn’tthinkIwantedtoreadthis,butholymoly,Iwouldhavemissedoutonthisexquisitewritingandfabulous,yetheartwrenchingstory.Thisisaremarkabletaleoflove..Ofmanandwomanandparentsandchildren.Adevastatingdeathofatwinatthecentre.Thedivisionthatcomeswithloss.AndanewappreciationforthatthatspeechIwasforcedtolearnbackingrade11.Tobeornottobe....IwillRemember.Thiswillgodownasoneofmyalltimefaves!5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ...more flag 131likes · Like  · seereview Viewall63comments Mar24,2020 Ceecee ratedit itwasamazing MaggieO’FarrellisanauthorI’vealwaysenjoyedreadingbutIthinkHamnetwillbeoneofmyfavourites.In1596Hamnet/Hamlet(namesareinterchangeable)thesonofWilliamShakespearedied,causeunknown.Thiscaptivatingstorytakesusbackwardsandforwardsfrom1580to1599tothewritingofHamlet.In1580ourwouldbeactorandplaywrightistransfixedbyhisfirstsightofAgnes(Anne)Hathawayashetrieswithoutgreatsuccesstotutorherreluctantstepbrothers.Wegetaglimpseofh MaggieO’FarrellisanauthorI’vealwaysenjoyedreadingbutIthinkHamnetwillbeoneofmyfavourites.In1596Hamnet/Hamlet(namesareinterchangeable)thesonofWilliamShakespearedied,causeunknown.Thiscaptivatingstorytakesusbackwardsandforwardsfrom1580to1599tothewritingofHamlet.In1580ourwouldbeactorandplaywrightistransfixedbyhisfirstsightofAgnes(Anne)Hathawayashetrieswithoutgreatsuccesstotutorherreluctantstepbrothers.WegetaglimpseofhislifeathomewithhistempestuousandviolentfatherJohnwhoisaglovemaker,motherMaryandsisterEliza.WewatchaslovegrowsbetweenWilliamandAgneswhohasaCinderellalifewithherharshstepmotherJoan,whoiscontemptuousofAgnes’skillswithherbsandmagicalpowers.Weareinvitedtotheirweddingandglimpsetheirfamilylife.YouholdyourbreathastheeventsunfoldthatleadtoHamnet’sdeathandit’simpactuponthemandweareintheaudienceatthepremieroftheplayinhisname.Wheretostart?Thisissowellwrittenandinastyleappropriatetothecentury.It’slively,vividandcaptureslateElizabethantimessowellthatyoufeelyouhavebeentransportedback.Youaredazzledbythesights,yousmellthepungentsmellsandareawitnesstotheharshandhardrealityofthetimes.Theimagesaresocolourfulasarethecharacters.Agnesiswonderful,WilliamisanenigmabutAgnesunderstandshimwell,HamnetisacleverdreamerandsoclosetotwinsisterJudiththeyarehalvesofawhole.Thiswonderfulstorylineincludesmagicalbeliefs,mythsandsuperstitionsofthetime.It’sanemotionalridetooasthere’shatred,selfishness,bitterness,fear,anger,agonyandoverwhelmingsadnessbutalsodeeplove.YoucometounderstandhowWilliamendsupinLondonandseveraldaysjourneyfromhisfamilyandhowhegetsdrawnintowritingandtheworldoftheatre.Theendingisespeciallyaffectingandisaverypowerfulendtoataleyoufeelconnectedto.Overall,thisbookisstunninglybeautiful.IlovethisperiodandShakespeare’splays(somemorethanothers!)andwasluckyenoughlastsummertoseeaproductionofHamletattheRoseTheatreinYork,areplicaofanElizabethanplayhouse,soIguessMaggieO’Farrellalready‘hadme’!!However,itdoesn’tmatterifyouarenotafanoftheworkoftheBardbecausethisisstorytellingatitsbest.Highlyrecommendedandaneasyfivestars!!ThankstoNetGalleyandespeciallytoHeadlineGroupfortheprivilegeoftheARC. ...more flag 127likes · Like  · seereview Viewall38comments May10,2020 ✨jami✨ ratedit itwasok Shelves: fiction, historical-fiction, adult, 2020-reads Everyoneseemstolovethisbut...notforme.MaybetakemyopinionwithagrainofsaltsinceI'mnotoriouslypickywithhistoricalfiction,andespeciallyoneswhichfictionaliserealpeopleandevents.MaybeIjustwentintoitwiththewrongexpectationsgivenit'smarketedas"theheart-stoppingstorybehindShakespeare'sHamlet"andit's....reallynotthat.Thestorynevergrippedme.itboastsitselfastheilluminatingstorybehindShakespeare'sHamlet,butthelinksMaggieO'Farrell Everyoneseemstolovethisbut...notforme.MaybetakemyopinionwithagrainofsaltsinceI'mnotoriouslypickywithhistoricalfiction,andespeciallyoneswhichfictionaliserealpeopleandevents.MaybeIjustwentintoitwiththewrongexpectationsgivenit'smarketedas"theheart-stoppingstorybehindShakespeare'sHamlet"andit's....reallynotthat.Thestorynevergrippedme.itboastsitselfastheilluminatingstorybehindShakespeare'sHamlet,butthelinksMaggieO'Farrelldrawsseemtenuousatbest.Really,thisstoryisaboutAgnes/AnneHathaway,andherexperienceraisingherchildrenwhileherhusbandisawayinLondonwriting.IthoughttheportrayalofAgnes/Annewasclicheandboring.Anotherreviewerputitperfectly"IespeciallyhatedtheportrayalofAgnesasoneofthosealmostwitchy'wisewomen'whoaboundinhistoricalfiction:fey,withpreternaturalsenses,aherbalistasacodefor'female'power...it'sverypredictable,verycommonSomereviewersalsopraisedthewritingbutIfounditoverwroughtandtedious.Ididn'tfeelIparticularlygotagreatgriporsenseofthetimeperiodorsettingthroughthewriting.Allinall,Ijustdidn'tfindthisstorygrippingorinterestingorilluminating.Iwentintoitforit'sShakespeareconnectionbutit'sreallymoreofasliceoflifefromElizabethanEnglandanddespitemomentsofinterest,likethechapterabouttheplaguearrivinginEngland,orthefinalchaptersasAgneswatchesaproductionofHamlet,therewaslittleherethatexcitedme.ButI'mquitedisappointedbecauseIhadreallyhighhopesforthis! ...more flag 127likes · Like  · seereview Viewall8comments Jul21,2020 RonCharles ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: novels-about-art, historical-fiction OnAug.11,1596,WilliamShakespeare’sonlyson,Hamnet,wasburied.Hewas11yearsold.Almostnothingmoreisknownabouttheboy’sbrieflife.Fourcenturieslater,hisdeathisacrateronthedarksideofthemoon.Howitimpactedhistwinsisterandhisparentsisimpossibletogauge.Nolettersordiaries—iftherewereany—survive.Theworld’sgreatestpoetdidnotimmortalizehislostchildinverse.Instead,wehaveonlyafewtantalizingreferencesinShakespeare’splays:thelamen OnAug.11,1596,WilliamShakespeare’sonlyson,Hamnet,wasburied.Hewas11yearsold.Almostnothingmoreisknownabouttheboy’sbrieflife.Fourcenturieslater,hisdeathisacrateronthedarksideofthemoon.Howitimpactedhistwinsisterandhisparentsisimpossibletogauge.Nolettersordiaries—iftherewereany—survive.Theworld’sgreatestpoetdidnotimmortalizehislostchildinverse.Instead,wehaveonlyafewtantalizingreferencesinShakespeare’splays:thelamentsofgrievingfathers,therecurrenceoftwinsand,ofcourse,atragedycalled“Hamlet.”Butasidefromthename—avariantofHamnet—attemptstodrawcomparisonsbetweenthatmasterpieceandtheauthor’ssonareodorous.We’restuck,asweusuallyare,projectingourownsympatheticsorrowonthecalamitiesofothers.TothisunfathomablewellofgriefnowcomesthebrilliantIrishwriterMaggieO’Farrellwithanovelcalled“Hamnet”toldwiththeurgencyofawhisperedprayer—orcurse.UnintimidatedbythepresenceoftheBard’scanonorthepaucityofthehistoricalrecord,O’FarrellcreatesShakespearebeforetheradianceofvenerationobscuredeveryonearoundhim.Inthisbook,Williamissimplya....Toreadtherestofthisreview,gotoTheWashingtonPost:https://www.washingtonpost.com/entert... ...more flag 125likes · Like  · seereview View2comments Jul02,2020 DianeBarnes ratedit itwasamazing Shelves: favorites Well.IwaslookingforsomethingverydifferentfromthesouthernnovelIhadjustfinishedandtheoneIwantedtostartsoon,togivemeachangeofpace.So,anovelsetinthesixteenthcenturyaboutShakespeare'swifeandfamilypromisedthat.IhavealsobeenwantingtoreadsomethingbyMaggieO'FarrellasIhavereadsomewonderfulreviews,sohernewestofferingcheckedthatbox.IknewfromthefirstpagethatIhadchosenwell.WhatIdidn'trealizewasthatthisisaworkofart.An Well.IwaslookingforsomethingverydifferentfromthesouthernnovelIhadjustfinishedandtheoneIwantedtostartsoon,togivemeachangeofpace.So,anovelsetinthesixteenthcenturyaboutShakespeare'swifeandfamilypromisedthat.IhavealsobeenwantingtoreadsomethingbyMaggieO'FarrellasIhavereadsomewonderfulreviews,sohernewestofferingcheckedthatbox.IknewfromthefirstpagethatIhadchosenwell.WhatIdidn'trealizewasthatthisisaworkofart.Anysuperlativeadjectivewillworkhere.Thisauthorhastakenamanwithaninstantlyrecognizablenametheworldover,who,ironically,notmuchisknownaboutexceptforafewfactstakenfrompublicrecordsof400yearsago,andshehasmadehimcometolife,withoutmentioninghisnameevenonce.Moreimportantly,hiswifeandchildren,hisparents,brothersandsisters,andthevillageofStratfordonAvonareturnedintorealpeople,realplaces.Thewritingpulledmein,beautifullyshowingmethecourtshipandmarriageofWillandAgnes(Anne)Hathaway,herpregnancies,dailylife,hisdecisiontoleavehisfamilyandgotoLondon,thedeathoftheir11yearoldson,Hamnet,andthegriefofthemotherandfamily,especiallyhistwin,Judith.ThelackoffactsknownaboutWilliamShakespeareenabledO'Farrelltogivefreereintoherimagination,usingthosefactsasgroundworktoweaveaplausibletaleabouthowitmighthavebeen,whatmighthavehappenedandwhy.LestyoudismissthisbookbecauseyouhavenointerestinShakespeare,letmejustexplainthatneitherdidI.However,thisisgoingonmyfavoriteslistandmightpossiblybethebestbookI'vereadthisyear.Itcastaspellthatdidn'tletupfromfirstpagetolast.Highlyrecommendedforanyonelookingforgreatwritingcombinedwithagreatstoryandgreatcharacters. ...more flag 125likes · Like  · seereview Viewall47comments Jan04,2022 AnneBogel ratedit itwasamazing Inhersweepingnovel,MaggieO’FarrelltakesafewhistoricallyknownfactsaboutShakespeare’swifeandfamilyand,fromthisspareskeleton,buildsoutalush,vividworld.Youshouldknowthisbookisdevastating,andIconsumedthebetterpartofaboxofKleenexwhilereadingit.Yetwithitscaptivatingcentralcharacterandevocativestorytelling,Ididn’twanttoleaveShakespeare’sworld—orputdownO’Farrell’swriting.ThestorycentersonAgnes,Shakespeare’swife,whoistornapart Inhersweepingnovel,MaggieO’FarrelltakesafewhistoricallyknownfactsaboutShakespeare’swifeandfamilyand,fromthisspareskeleton,buildsoutalush,vividworld.Youshouldknowthisbookisdevastating,andIconsumedthebetterpartofaboxofKleenexwhilereadingit.Yetwithitscaptivatingcentralcharacterandevocativestorytelling,Ididn’twanttoleaveShakespeare’sworld—orputdownO’Farrell’swriting.ThestorycentersonAgnes,Shakespeare’swife,whoistornapartbygriefwhentheirsonHamnetdiesatage11.Soonafter,ShakespearewritesHamlet—andO’Farrellconvincinglypositsthatthetwoeventsarecloselytied.Inherdistinctivestyle,O’FarrellItakesyoutotheheartofwhatreallymattersinlife,makingyoufeelsuchadeepsenseoflossforHamnetthatyouwon’tlookatyourownlifethesameway. ...more flag 125likes · Like  · seereview Viewall6comments Kathleen O'Farrell'sdescriptionofplumshangingonatreewassobeautifulthatIhadtoreadthatshortpassageoverandoveragain. O'Farrell'sdescriptionofplumshangingonatreewassobeautifulthatIhadtoreadthatshortpassageoverandoveragain. ...more Jan07,202209:58PM · flag ChristineYoussefChrzanowski Thiswasoneofmytopthreereadsattheendof2020somuchsothatIgiftedittomyauntwholivesdowntheroadfromStratfordUponAvon(shelov Thiswasoneofmytopthreereadsattheendof2020somuchsothatIgiftedittomyauntwholivesdowntheroadfromStratfordUponAvon(shelovedittoo)andafellowreaderfriendina2020Christmasbookexchange.Ijustcan’tgetenoughofbooksthatshinealightonfemalecharactersorfemalewomeninhistorythathavebeensomewhatignored.IneedtoreadmoreO’Farrellbooks. ...more Jan08,202209:00PM · flag Oct03,2020 DianeS☔ ratedit itwasamazing Shakespeare'sHamlet,howitcametobeaswellashowShakespearebecamewell,Shakespeare.Inthisexcellentretelling,imaginativetaleallisunveiled.Ifyouarelookingforahappylittlestory,thisisnotone.If,however,youarelookingforastorythatisbrilliantlywritten,withscenesvividlypainted,withemotionssohonesttheyareraw,charactersbroughttolife,thanyouneedlooknofurther.Iwasbroughtintolivessoartfullyportrayed,thatIfeltwiththem,livedwiththem Shakespeare'sHamlet,howitcametobeaswellashowShakespearebecamewell,Shakespeare.Inthisexcellentretelling,imaginativetaleallisunveiled.Ifyouarelookingforahappylittlestory,thisisnotone.If,however,youarelookingforastorythatisbrilliantlywritten,withscenesvividlypainted,withemotionssohonesttheyareraw,charactersbroughttolife,thanyouneedlooknofurther.Iwasbroughtintolivessoartfullyportrayed,thatIfeltwiththem,livedwiththemandwantedtochangethingssotheycouldfindhappiness.Thegriefexpresseduponthelossofachildwassearing.TheeffectsofthePlague,likeourCovid,frightening.IlovedAgnes,herhealingtouchthatcouldhelpsomany,butnottheonethatmatteredtoherthemost.Hardnottodrawcomparisonswithourpresentday,andourmanylosses,confusion.Thisisanauthorwhosebookshaveneveryetletmedown.Somanyhaverisentothetop,andthisonetoodeservesalltheaccoladesithasreceived. ...more flag 120likes · Like  · seereview Viewall13comments Jul28,2020 Debbie ratedit reallylikedit Shelves: edelweiss, favorite-authors, mostly-not-set-in-u-s, historical-fiction, 2020-runners-up SquirmedlikeawormWait,don’tgetexcited—itwasn’tthestorythatmademesquirmlikeaworm.Itwasmetryingtoratethisbookthatsentmeintosquirm-land.Iyelledatmyself,“Stopwigglingandjustwhisper4already!...Really,whatisthebigeffingdeal?It’sMaggieO’Farrell,that’swhatthebigeffingdealis.Although3starskeptscreaminginmyhead,IfinallywentwithwhatIknowisrightinthisworld:Igaveita3.5butroundedupto4.Truly,O’Farrelldoesn’twriteanything SquirmedlikeawormWait,don’tgetexcited—itwasn’tthestorythatmademesquirmlikeaworm.Itwasmetryingtoratethisbookthatsentmeintosquirm-land.Iyelledatmyself,“Stopwigglingandjustwhisper4already!...Really,whatisthebigeffingdeal?It’sMaggieO’Farrell,that’swhatthebigeffingdealis.Although3starskeptscreaminginmyhead,IfinallywentwithwhatIknowisrightinthisworld:Igaveita3.5butroundedupto4.Truly,O’Farrelldoesn’twriteanythingthat’sjustmiddleoftheroad.Ican’tgiveita3,Ijustcan’t.ThisisatotallymadeupstoryabouthowShakespearecameupwiththeideatowriteHamlet.Letmejustsaythatithadsomethingtodowithapersonaltragedy.Thebookistoldfromhiswife’spointofview.I’mnotgoingtosaymore,incaseyouwanttogointothisoneblind.Don’taskmewhy,butIusuallydon’tliketoreadanythingsetinthedarkages(inthiscase,the16thcentury).SoIwaswary.Butloandbehold,Ididjustfinewiththetimeperiod.IendedupbeinghappythatIgotthechancetoimaginewhatlifewaslikebackthen.Lifewassotough,anddeathwasalwaysrightaroundthecorner.JoyJar-O’Farrell’slanguagealwaysslaysme—itfitsthecontoursofmysoul.Manyofhersentencesarelongflow-ylists,sortof,withwordsthatjumpandmakeherimagescomealive.Herproseissosweet,sorhythmic,somesmerizing.Thisisthenumber1reasonIjustcan’tgivethisbook3stars.-Astandoutfleascene:WewatchafleatravelfromEgypttoEnglandonamonkey.Thatdoesn’tsoundlikemuch,butbelieveme,you’llbesittingontheedgeofyourseatwhileyouwatchthatlittlebuggergoplaces.It’shardformetoshutup,butI’llsaynomorebecauseIdon’twanttogiveyouevenahintofwhatgoeson.Thisteensystorywithinthestoryispuregold.-Goodbones,goodcharacters—andallthatjazz.ComplaintBoard-OnceUponaTimeIgotalittlebored.Thiswholestoryseemslikeitshouldhavestartedwith“OnceUponaTime...”Ithadthatfeeltoit.Thenarrationisthirdperson,andthat’sallfineandgood.I’mjustnotabigfanofnarratedstories;oftenthey’retoolong(formyADDattentionspan),andclumpsofdescriptivetextaren’tpunctuatedwithenoughdialogueanddrama.Infact,I’dsaythere’salittledetail-itisgoingon.AnarratedstoryformeusuallylackstheintimacythatIsocrave;it’sdenseanddistant.Abigproblemisthatreadinglongparagraphsofdescriptivetextslowsmedown;ittakesawhileformybraintoformtheimages.Isometimesfeellikemybrainisstuttering.-Alittlewoo-woomakesmeboo-hoo.Thereisn’talotofwoo-woo,butthere’senoughtobugme.Themaincharacterissortofamedicinewoman.Igettiredoftheprescientwomanrunningaroundwithahandfulofherbsandawoo-woowayofsensingthings.Attheend,Shakespeare(whohasonlyasmallrole)evensensessomeone’spresence.ItbugsmeinanybookIread,anditseemslikeagimmick.Idon’tunderstandwhyawriterthrowsitin.Ditchthewoo-woo,please.-Goodgrief!Forme,thesecondhalfofthebookisweak.It’smostlyaboutgrief,withnothingreallyhappening.Formethatgotold;thestorylostitsmomentum.Itwasanexcellentstudyingrief,butIwantedsomedrama,evenalittle.Please?-Dosomething!Saysomething!Iwantedalittlemoreactionanddialogue,whatcanIsay?-Thisbookwon’tcheeryouup,I’lltellyouthat.Themajorgistisakiddying.Howsadisthat?Idon’trequireHallmarkorhappydances,butthetoneissomberforthewholebook,withnoletup.O’Farrelldoesn’teverdressherwordsinpolyester;shegoeswith500-threadcotton.They’realwaysbeautifulandclassy,butherethere’snotenoughcolor.IlikedO’Farrell’sotherbooksmore.AsIobnoxiouslykeeprepeating,Iwanteddialogue.Therewerechancestohaveconversationsandtheyweremissed.Iwaschompingatthebitforspokenwords.IknowIwhineandwhine,butIadoreO’FarrellandI’mnotintheleastsorrythatIreadthisone.I’minaweofhercreativity;ImarvelathowsheimaginedShakespeare’sfamilylifeandwovethisfascinatingtaletogether.Herlanguageistodiefor,andmandoessheknowhowtoputsentencestogether.Andthesentencesleadtobrilliantparagraphsandthentoawholefeastofastorythatisincrediblyrich.I’mnotsquirminglikeawormanymore;writingthisreviewmademeknowthatgivingit4starswastheonlywaytogo.ThankstoEdelweissfortheadvancecopy. ...more flag 109likes · Like  · seereview Viewall48comments Apr26,2020 Hugh ratedit itwasamazing Shelves: read-2020, modern-lit, womens-prize-winners WinneroftheWomen'sPrize2020Thisisanotherverystrongcontenderforthisyear'sWomen'sPrize.Itisahistoricalnovel,butbecausetheeventsandlivesO'FarrelldescribesarealmostentirelyundocumentedshehasmuchmorefreedomtoimaginedetailsthanHilaryManteldoesinTheMirror&theLight.Asshealsoexplainsinherafterword,O'Farrellchangedafewminordetailsandnames,butthereishistoricalevidencefromherfather'swillforherchoicetonamehermostimportantchara WinneroftheWomen'sPrize2020Thisisanotherverystrongcontenderforthisyear'sWomen'sPrize.Itisahistoricalnovel,butbecausetheeventsandlivesO'FarrelldescribesarealmostentirelyundocumentedshehasmuchmorefreedomtoimaginedetailsthanHilaryManteldoesinTheMirror&theLight.Asshealsoexplainsinherafterword,O'Farrellchangedafewminordetailsandnames,butthereishistoricalevidencefromherfather'swillforherchoicetonamehermostimportantcharacterAgnes,ratherthanAnneHathaway.Shakespearehimselfplaysasupportingrole,becauseatheartthebookisaboutStratford,andforthefamilytherewhathedoesinLondonisalmostunknown.Thebookisdividedintotwoverydifferentparts.Inthefirst,theeventsthatledtothedeathofHamnetalternatewiththestoryofWilliamandAgnes'scourtshipandearlymarriage.Thesecond,whichformsasinglelongchapter,dealswiththeaftermathofthedeathandfocusesparticularlyonAgnesandhergrief.Overall,thisisanimpressiveandmovingbook.Wewillneverknowhowclosetorealityitgets,butapartfromafewsupernaturalelementsthestoryismostlyplausible.IwouldnotbesurprisedordisappointedifthiswinstheWomen'sPrizeandgoesontofurtherrecognitionfromtheBooker. ...more flag 102likes · Like  · seereview Viewall4comments Jan12,2021 Linda ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: fiction, favorites, history, 5-star-winners, nature-themes, historical-fiction, maggie-o-farrell Oh,simply,oh....."Shegrowsupfascinatedbythehandsofothers.....Aperson'sability,theirreach,theiressencecanbegleaned.Allthattheyhaveheld,kept,andalltheylongtogripisthereinthatplace.Itispossible,sherealises,tofindouteverythingyouneedtoknowaboutapersonjustbypressingit."MaggieO'Farrellgiftsuswithanovelthatseepsintothosetinycrevicesofthepersonalexperience.Shehasusgraspingthosehandsthatrevealmuchabouttheirgrip,theirrou Oh,simply,oh....."Shegrowsupfascinatedbythehandsofothers.....Aperson'sability,theirreach,theiressencecanbegleaned.Allthattheyhaveheld,kept,andalltheylongtogripisthereinthatplace.Itispossible,sherealises,tofindouteverythingyouneedtoknowaboutapersonjustbypressingit."MaggieO'Farrellgiftsuswithanovelthatseepsintothosetinycrevicesofthepersonalexperience.Shehasusgraspingthosehandsthatrevealmuchabouttheirgrip,theirroughenedtexture,theirdutiesincaringgently,andtheircapabilitytostrikeoutinbrutalharm.O'Farrellimplementstheforeverimprintoftouchuntilthistouchisbutamemory.ThenovelHamnetbringsustoEnglandin1580wheretheBlackPlaguehasadeathholdonboththerichandthepoor.WeareintroducedtoplaywrightShakespeare'sfamily,althoughheisnevermentionedbyname.ThebardbeginshislifeasaLatintutorwhoisnothingmorethanafailureandadisappointmenttohisfather,John.Thebardissubjectedtoemotionalandphysicalabusebyhisoverbearingfather.ItisthisbreakawayspiritthatfindshiminafieldmesmorizedbythesightofAgnes,afreespiritguidedbyNatureinallthings.Whensheisfoundwithchild,aquickmarriageandresidenceinhisfather'shouseisthesolution.....andthebeginningofamultitudeoftrialsandtragedies.O'FarrellweavesherstorywithShakespeareontheperiphery.Histhreadintertwineshereandthere.ButtheheartofthissagalieswithinAgnesherself.Weexperienceherspiritcagedatmosttimesunderthecallofdutyandresponsibility.Agnesisrenownedforherabilitytocombinedriedherbsandpotionsforthecureofcommonailmentsortoeasethecallofdeath.AndwewillstandintheshadowsandcastoureyesuponAgnesassherailsuponherfrustrationandagonywhenallherastuteknowledgefailstosaveherbeautifulson,Hamnet....anunspeakablelossthattwistsamother'ssoul."Deathisviolent.Deathisastruggle."ButO'Farrellwillsoftenthelossasthoseofyoukindredspiritsmayknow:"Shehasseensomething.Aflicker,ahint,amotion,imperceptible,butthere,unmistakably.Itwaslikethepassageofabreezethroughcorn,liketheglancingofareflectionoffapane,whenyoupullthewindowtowardsyou--thatunexpectedstreakoflightpassingthroughtheroom."Apresencethatneverreallyleavesatall.Ireadandrereadpassagesthroughoutthisexceptionalnovel.Therichlydevelopedprosewillfindplaceswithinyourselfthatcomeatmomentsunexpected.Weallhavedifferentindividuallevelswithinthatabsorbgrieforjoyonapersonallevel.Thosereceptorsmaylieclosetothesurfaceoraretappeddeeplyintodarkenedcorners.O'Farrelldrawsintothelivesofpeopleforwhomhistoryhasn'tdictatedvolumes.Butshebrilliantlycreatesparallelsbetweenthehumanspiritofthepasttothoseofusinthepresent.Justreadthelasttwowordsofthisnovel.Justdo. ...more flag 104likes · Like  · seereview Viewall16comments Sep11,2020 Dem ratedit reallylikedit ThisisMaggieoFarrell’ssecondHistoricalfictionnovel.HavingreadandLovedTheVanishingActofEsmeLennox,IwasveryexcitedtoreadHamnet.HamnetisafictionalisedaccountofofWilliamShakespere’ssonHamnetandfamilyandwhilelittleisknownabouthissonHamnet,MaggieOFarrell’shistoricalfictionnovelisbeautifullyimaginedandwrittenandasareaderIenjoyedreadingaboutthisforgottenchildandthefamilyofthefamousplaywright.It’sthestoryofthebondbetweent ThisisMaggieoFarrell’ssecondHistoricalfictionnovel.HavingreadandLovedTheVanishingActofEsmeLennox,IwasveryexcitedtoreadHamnet.HamnetisafictionalisedaccountofofWilliamShakespere’ssonHamnetandfamilyandwhilelittleisknownabouthissonHamnet,MaggieOFarrell’shistoricalfictionnovelisbeautifullyimaginedandwrittenandasareaderIenjoyedreadingaboutthisforgottenchildandthefamilyofthefamousplaywright.It’sthestoryofthebondbetweentwins,ofgriefandlossandhowafamilycopesafterthedeathofachild.MysixthnovelbyMaggieOFarrellandIlovehowdiversesheisasawriter.Idon'talwaysloveherbooksbutIdoalwaysenjoyreadingthemifthatmakessense.Herdescriptionsaresovivid,thatafterIhadfinishedreadingthenovelIbrowsedtheinternetforthehousethatthecharacterslivedinandtheimageswereextremelyclosetowhatIimaginedfromherdescriptions.IlovedthecharacterofAgnesandherhealingabilities,herstrengthandabilitytocope.Areallyinterestingandwellwrittenhistoricalfictionstory.AwonderfulsenseoftimeandplaceanddescriptionofStratford-Upon-AvonandLondonofthe1590sissowelldipicted.CertainlyabookIwillrememberayearfromnowandamgladtohavepurchasedahardcopyofthisoneformyreallifebookshelf.Thisisaslowburnofaread,thestrengthofthenovelliesinthedescriptivewritingandthecharacterisation.OnfinishingthenovelIwasratingthisone3.5butroundeditupto4asIthinkitisabookthatIwillrememberalongtimefromnow. ...more flag 94likes · Like  · seereview Viewall14comments Apr25,2020 Neale ratedit itwasamazing Shortlistedforthe2020Women'sPrizeforFiction.WilliamShakespearewroteHamletfouryearsafterhissonHamnetdiedattheageofeleven.HamnetandHamletarethesamename.NowIwilladmitthatbeforeIreadthisnovel,IdidnotevenknowShakespearehadason,letalonethathetragicallydiedattheageofeleven.Yes,tosaymyknowledgeofShakespearewasrudimentarywouldbeacompliment.However,Ibelieveyoudon’thavetoknowanythingaboutShakespeare,whohewas,hislife,his Shortlistedforthe2020Women'sPrizeforFiction.WilliamShakespearewroteHamletfouryearsafterhissonHamnetdiedattheageofeleven.HamnetandHamletarethesamename.NowIwilladmitthatbeforeIreadthisnovel,IdidnotevenknowShakespearehadason,letalonethathetragicallydiedattheageofeleven.Yes,tosaymyknowledgeofShakespearewasrudimentarywouldbeacompliment.However,Ibelieveyoudon’thavetoknowanythingaboutShakespeare,whohewas,hislife,hisfamily,toenjoythisnovel.“Enjoy”mayseemtobeaninappropriateverbtousewiththisnovel.Thisnovelisgutwrenching.Itwilltearyourheartintomillionsoflittlepieces,detritusfromanarrativethathasthepowertobreakyoursoul.Asitsaysinthesynopsis,Shakespeare’ssondiedin1956attheageofeleven.YetthenovelisnotaboutHamnetorhisdeath,itisaboutgrief.Grief,andthewayitripsandtearsapartlives,changingthemforever.GriefandhowaMother,aFather,afamilydealwithit.Theheartofthenovelmaybeaboutthegriefandhowitchangestheparent’slivesforever,butthereisalsoawonderfulstorythatO’Farrellhasconstructedaroundthisheart.ThenovelopenswithHamnetcomingdownastairwaytobegreetedwithanemptyhouse.Heleavesthehousetoenterhisgrandparent’shouse.Tohisrighthisgrandfather’sworkshopisempty.Tohisleftadininghallalsoempty.Silenceishisonlyanswerwhenhecallsout.Whereiseverybody?Evenaftercallingoutthenamesofeverybodywhoresideinthehousehiscriesgounheeded.Anoisebreakshimfromadaydreamhehadenteredunknowingly,andherealiseshehasenteredhisgrandfather’sworkshop.AworkshopthatforHamnetisoutofbounds.Heretreats,hearinganoiseintheparlourandfinallyfindshisgrandfather,whoheaccidentlystartles.HisgrandfatherhasbeendrinkingandangrilyadmonishesHamnet.Hisfather’swordsrunthroughhishead,“Stayawayfromyourgrandfatherwhenheisinoneofhisblackhumours”.So,onlyafewpagesintothebookandalarmbellsstartringinginthebackofthereader’smind.Youcanalmostfeelwhatisgoingtohappennextbeforeyoureyesevenreadthewords.Hisfather’sfearsandwarningsprovejustifiedwhenhisgrandfathercloutshimacrosstheheadwithhiscup.Shoutingathimthattheblowwasforcreepinguponhim.Again,thereaderalreadyknowsfromthisterribleandsuddenactofviolencewhattypeofmanthegrandfatheris.WelearnthatHamnet’stwinsisterJudithisdesperatelyillandherillnessiswhyHamnethasbeenlookingforsomebodytohelp.Thispartofthenoveltakespartinthepresent.thenextchapterwillreturntothepastbeforeShakespeare,whoisnevernamedinthenovel,isyettowedAgnes,Hamnet’smother.Thisstructureisusedfortheentiretyofthenovelalternatingbackandforthbetweenpastandpresent.Bothpartsofthenovel,pastandpresentareextremelyinteresting.TherearetouchesofmagicalrealismwithAgnesbeingportrayedashavingthepowertoseethefutureandspirits.Andherextensiveknowledgeanduseofherbsandtincturesenhancespeople’sperceptionthatsheisabitofawitch.ThechaptersthattakeplaceinthepastareusedtobuildAgnesandShakespeare’shistory,buttheyalsotellthestoryoftheplagueandO’farrell’sideaofhowthispestilencewastransferredtoJudith.Thechaptersthattakeplaceinthepresentarealmostexclusivelyusedtodescribetheincredible,indeliblepainthattheparentsaregoingthroughandhowtheymanage,orperhapsfailtomanagewithit.O’farrell’sproseisstunningandpoetic.ThepassagesusedtodescribeAgnes’griefandspiralintodesolationaresomeofthebestIhavereadinquiteawhile.WhatO’farrelldoeswiththeplay“Hamlet”,andwhyShakespearehaswrittenitthewayhehas,concludesthebookin,althoughtremendouslysorrowfulandheartbreaking,abrilliantending.Makenomistake,thisisanovelsteepedinmiseryandmelancholy,butonethatisbeautifully,almostpoeticallywritten.5Stars! ...more flag 89likes · Like  · seereview Viewall35comments Oct13,2020 DaveSchaafsma ratedit itwasamazing Shelves: grief, books-loved-2020, fiction-21st-century, historical-fiction 10/20/20:IaddedsomenotesformyselfattheendoftheoriginalreviewafterIlistenedtoHamletagainandsawafilmversionoftheplay."Horatio,Iamdead,thouliv'st;reportmycausearighttotheunsatisfied"--HamletHamnetbyMaggieO’Farrellisadevastatingandbeautifulbook.Youhavetoreadit.IguesswecancallitTudorhistoricalfiction,writteninlyricalElizabethanprose,whereplumswear"red-goldjacketsneartoburstingwithsweetness."Lyricaldescriptionthroughout.S 10/20/20:IaddedsomenotesformyselfattheendoftheoriginalreviewafterIlistenedtoHamletagainandsawafilmversionoftheplay."Horatio,Iamdead,thouliv'st;reportmycausearighttotheunsatisfied"--HamletHamnetbyMaggieO’Farrellisadevastatingandbeautifulbook.Youhavetoreadit.IguesswecancallitTudorhistoricalfiction,writteninlyricalElizabethanprose,whereplumswear"red-goldjacketsneartoburstingwithsweetness."Lyricaldescriptionthroughout.Shereveals/remindsusofthescanthistoricalfactsthatguideher:Inthe1580sawomanweknownowasAnneHathawaybutwhowasactuallynamedAgneshasthreechildren:Susanna,andtwinsJudith,bornsickly,andHamnet,whoisstrongeralwaysbutneverthelessdiesin1596ateleven.FouryearslaterAgnes’shusbandwritesaplaycalledHamlet(andwelearnthatatthistimethenamesHamletandHamnetwereinterchangeable).Thenovelisinonesenseanovelaboutgrief,overthelossofayoungson,sotheproserisestothelevelofemotionappropriatetothat.Ithasgorgeouswriting,nothingquitelikeO’Farrell’sIAm,IAm,IAm(whichIlikedalot;I’mjustsayingIAmiswrittenincontemporaryprose,thoughitalsoskirtsthewallofdeathateveryturn).HamnetissetinatimeofTheBlackPlague,whichO’FarrellassumesmayhavekilledAgnes'youngson.Andshewritesthisduringatimewhenhundredsofthousandsarebeingkilledby(oneof)ourowndeadlyplagues.Shemeanstosay:Thisiswhatitmeansandhasalwaymeantforamotherandfathertolosetheirchild.Andwhynotseethislossprimarilyfromthemother'sperspective?!WehaveathousandbiographiesofWilliamShakespeare;thenon-writerwife,whohadherowndepthandevenpossiblypsychicpowers,O’Farrellsuggests,isworthlisteningtoaswell,andknowing.She’sus,andwe’llneverhaveabookwrittenaboutus.Ormaybemorespecificallyitisaboutawoman,writtenfromherperspective,assolittlewaswrittenaboutorbywomenforcenturies.“Whatisgivenmaybetakenaway,atanytime.Crueltyanddevastationwaitforyouaroundcorners,insidecoffers,behinddoors:theycanleapoutatyouatanytime,likeathieforbrigand.Thetrickisnevertoletdownyourguard.Neverthinkyouaresafe.Nevertakeforgrantedthatyourchildren'sheartsbeat,thattheysupmilk,thattheydrawbreath,thattheywalkandspeakandsmileandargueandplay.Neverforamomentforgettheymaybegone,snatchedfromyou,intheblinkofaneye,borneawayfromyoulikethistledown.”Well,griefoverthelossofachild:Youneverrecoverfromit.Andyet,aswithGeorgeSaunders’salsoanguishingLincolnintheBardo,theinevitablegriefanddepressioncanhavetransformativepowers.Then,whenLincolnlosthisyoungson,SaunderspresumesitmadeLincolnintothekindofmanwhocouldempatheticallyleadanation.InHamnetitisinpartabouthowanactor/playwrightknownmainlyasthehusbanduseshisgrieftowriteoneofthegreatestplayseverwritten.YetthenovelisoneprimarilyaboutAgnes,whosehusbandworksinLondon,doinghistheaterwork,actingandwritingandtryingtokeepatheatretroupealive.Sherealizesthereis“moreinhimthananyoneshehaseverknown,”andyetsheresentshim,too,attimes,forobsessivelybeingawayfromthefamilytoliveintheeverexpandingworldsinsidehisheadwhileshestayshomewithherchildren.Andhersondiesandthishusbandalmostimmediatelyleavesformanymonthsafterthefuneralwithlittlecontactwithher.Howcanitbejustified?Theyneedeachothernow!Yetitiswhenthenovelturnstothehusband,toacknowledgethathetooisindevastatinggrief,thatthebookbeginstoturnamazingtome.I’lladmitthismayhavetodowiththegenderIsharewiththehusband,I'mnotsure.AndthefactthatIreallyaminterestedinhowShakespearealsocopedwithgrief,possibly,havinggrievedmyself.Heexperiencesloveandgriefdifferentlythanhiswifedoes.Hecan’ttalktoherabouttheloss;atfirst,hewritesacomedy,thenahistory,andnevertellshiswifeheiswritingaplaywiththeirson’snameon/init.AndO’FarrellpositsthatAgneshearsabouttheplay,andthoughsheisnotaliteraryperson,andhasneverseenoneofhisplays,travelstoLondontoseeit.Agnesinitiallyseestheplayinproductionasdefilingthememoryofherson.What,aboywhosefatherhasdied,andyetherHamnethasdied...AndherhusbandplaystheghostofHamlet’sfatherinit!?Herhusbandis..dead?Whatdoesthisliterarytwistingofthefactshavetodowiththeirson?Andyetshebeginstoseethattheplayisgrieftransformedinsomanyways,notabiographybutarichexplorationofmadness,grief,love,family,andsomuchmore.Iwasenthralledtoseetheturnofthenoveltotheplayasawaytoexploretheliteraryasawayofhelpinguslivethroughthedeathofthosewelove.Tohelpusunderstandthepoweroffictiontotransform.Andgriefinatimeofnationaltrauma,theplague,thenasnow!Oh,thisisoneofthebestbooksoftheyearthatIhaveread,withoutquestion,butitsortofcreptuponmeoverhalfthebook,bidingitstime,andfinallygrabbedmebytheheart.SomenotesonHamnet/HamletafterrereadingHamletinthelightofO'Farrell'snovel:Hamletusuallyisseenasaplayaboutrevengeormadnessbuttheplaysurelydoeshavealotaboutvariouspeoplegrieving,andwhatisappropriategrieving(forinstance,Hamletwondersifhismothertrulygrievesthelossofherhusband,havingremarriedsoquicklyafterwards,andweareledtodecidewhogrievesthelossofOpheliamore,HamletorherbrotherLaertes)soformyownnotesIaddsomequotes--inadditiontosomeabove--heretosupportthatclaim:“Rememberme.”TheghostofHamlet’sfathertoHamlet“Tobe,ornottobe:thatisthequestion...Todie:tosleep;Nomore;andbyasleeptosayweendTheheart-acheandthethousandnaturalshocksThatfleshisheirto,'tisaconsummationDevoutlytobewish'd."(suicidalideationatthelossofhisfather)“Nowcracksanobleheart.Good-night,sweetprince;Andflightsofangelssingtheetothyrest.”(referstoHamlet,butmaybealsoHamnet?)“Whensorrowscome,theycomenotsinglespies.Butinbattalions!”(griefoverthelossofseveralpeopleinthisplay)“Whatapieceofworkisaman!Hownobleinreason,howinfiniteinfaculty!Informandmovinghowexpressandadmirable!InactionhowlikeanAngel!Inapprehensionhowlikeagod!Thebeautyoftheworld!Theparagonofanimals!Andyettome,whatisthisquintessenceofdust?"(Hamlet,privatelygrievinghisdeadfather)“IlovedOphelia.Fortythousandbrotherscouldnot,withalltheirquantityoflove,makeupmysum.”--ThisisHamlet'sresponsetoLaertes“Sir,inmyhearttherewasakindoffightingThatwouldnotletmesleep.”(privateanguish)“Alas,poorYorick!Iknewhim,Horatio:afellowofinfinitejest,ofmostexcellentfancy:hehathbornemeonhisbackathousandtimes;andnow,howabhorredinmyimaginationitis!mygorgerimsatit.HerehungthoselipsthatIhavekissedIknownothowoft.Wherebeyourgibesnow?yourgambols?yoursongs?yourflashesofmerriment,thatwerewonttosetthetableonaroar?(again,adeadacquaintance,reflectedon)Weallexperienceandexpressourgriefsdifferently.AfterHamnet’sfuneralShakespearelefthiswifeandtwodaughtersformonths.Hewrotefuriously,butnottragedy,atleastatfirst--hewroteacomedy,andahistory,talesdistantfromhispersonalexperience,butwithinfouryearshewasmountingwhatisarguablyoneofthegreatestplaysinhistory,Hamlet,namedafterhissonHamnet.Ifyoulookatitcloselyit'saplayteemingwithgriefthatO'Farrellcontendstheplaywrightotherwisedidn'tadequatelyknowhowtoexpress. 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Share RecommendIt  |  Stats  |  RecentStatusUpdates Readersalsoenjoyed Seesimilarbooks… Genres Historical> HistoricalFiction 3,172users Fiction 1,940users Historical 564users LiteraryFiction 333users Audiobook 245users Adult 176users EuropeanLiterature> BritishLiterature 165users BookClub 123users AdultFiction 117users Novels 113users Seetopshelves… AboutMaggieO'Farrell MaggieO'Farrell 5,900 followers MaggieO'Farrell(born1972,ColeraineNorthernIreland)isaBritishauthorofcontemporaryfiction,whofeaturesinWaterstones'25AuthorsfortheFuture.Itispossibletoidentifyseveralcommonthemesinhernovels-therelationshipbetweensistersisone,anotherislossandthepsychologicalimpactofthoselossesonthelivesofhercharacters. MaggieO'Farrell(born1972,ColeraineNorthernIreland)isaBritishauthorofcontemporaryfiction,whofeaturesinWaterstones'25AuthorsfortheFuture.Itispossibletoidentifyseveralcommonthemesinhernovels-therelationshipbetweensistersisone,anotherislossandthepsychologicalimpactofthoselossesonthelivesofhercharacters. ...more BooksbyMaggieO'Farrell More… ArticlesfeaturingthisbookGoodreadsMembers'Top45BookClubPicks Look,weknowthere'salotofpressurewhenitcomestopickingabookforyourbookclub.You'llneedtopleasealotofdifferenttypesof...Readmore...57likes·6comments TriviaAboutHamnet 2triviaquestions Morequizzes&trivia... QuotesfromHamnet “Whatisgivenmaybetakenaway,atanytime.Crueltyanddevastationwaitforyouaroundcorners,insidecoffers,behinddoors:theycanleapoutatyouatanytime,likeathieforbrigand.Thetrickisnevertoletdownyourguard.Neverthinkyouaresafe.Nevertakeforgrantedthatyourchildren'sheartsbeat,thattheysupmilk,thattheydrawbreath,thattheywalkandspeakandsmileandargueandplay.Neverforamomentforgettheymaybegone,snatchedfromyou,intheblinkofaneye,borneawayfromyoulikethistledown.” — 44likes “Anyone,Elizaisthinking,whodescribesdyingas‘slippingaway’or‘peaceful’hasneverwitnessedithappen.Deathisviolent,deathisastruggle.Thebodyclingstolife,asivytoawall,andwillnoteasilyletgo,willnotsurrenderitsgripwithoutafight.” — 35likes Morequotes… Welcomeback.JustamomentwhilewesignyouintoyourGoodreadsaccount.