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Ophelia

by Lisa M. Klein

3.79 · rating details · 2,836 ratings · 442 reviews

In this re-imagining of Shakespeare’s famous tragedy, it is Ophelia who takes center stage. A rowdy, motherless girl, she grows up at Elsinore Castle to become the queen’s most trusted lady-in-waiting. She catches the attention of the captivating, dark-haired Prince Hamlet, and their love blossoms in secret. But bloody deeds soon turn Denmark into a place of madness,...more

Paperback, 328 pages

Published December 26th 2007 by Bloomsbury Publishing PLC (first published October 31st 2006)

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Mar 29, 2008

Katie Wornson rated it

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Shelves: started-and-quit

Yeah...they do stuff. Was good 'till that point. I can see the writer's reasoning for putting that section in there, but I thought it ruined the story.

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Jul 08, 2009

Julia rated it

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Shelves: 2009, indulgences

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Dec 16, 2008

Yolanda rated it

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Jun 13, 2008

Yosafbridg rated it

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I won't rehash my love of all things Shakespeare and the particular love i have for his play Hamlet here (although my reading of the particular young adult novel Ophelia by Lisa Klein did prompt a viewing of all six of my various Hamlet dvds for their sundry interpretations~it is always better to view performances than just to read over the text and i felt it all needed slight refreshing so i pulled i started by rereading the text itself then decided to pull out all five of my Hamlet dvds and wa...moreI won't rehash my love of all things Shakespeare and the particular love i have for his play Hamlet here (although my reading of the particular young adult novel Ophelia by Lisa Klein did prompt a viewing of all six of my various Hamlet dvds for their sundry interpretations~it is always better to view performances than just to read over the text and i felt it all needed slight refreshing so i pulled i started by rereading the text itself then decided to pull out all five of my Hamlet dvds and watch those instead.

I started with the Kenneth Branagh version because that is the first version to actually use the full text of the play. It is set in Denmark, though in the nineteenth century (somehow i feel a bit iffy with the whole messing around with the bard thing~but then i think~how anachronistic was old Will to begin with? and i rethink my whole thinking...) Overall i liked the Branagh version (though, of course, i did have a few quarrels with it~can anyone ever do a film of something you love ever fully to your liking?~i found Ophelia a tad too "knowing", if that is in fact the word...).

I've always been fond of Franco Zeffirelli's Shakespeare and his Hamlet is no exception (tho i've somewhat soured on Mel Gibson now~i do love Helena Bonham-Carter as Ophelia and the locations here are wonderful). Olivier is brilliant as always~i can see why he is who he is (was?), but of course (tho how you can leave out Rosencrantz and Guildenstern is beyond me...) and i also really like Richard Burton's dress rehearsal version. I must say i'm not a huge Ethan Hawke fan but i did like his Hamlet (even if it was set in "modern"~well year 2000, god how time does fly~New York). And then there is the Russian Grigori Kozintsev's Hamlet, beautifully sparse and spare (just as imagine ninth century Denmark), it is also beautifully Russian… (i would also love to get my hands on a Ralph Fiennes Broadway production~so i'm just a little obsessesed~but this was probably enough for a single film festival...)

I think that Lisa Klein might be a slightly better author than Lisa Fiedler (what is it about the name Lisa and making feminists out of Shakespearean heroines~even when there already are a few feminist Shakespearean heroines already?). I’m actually quite struck by many of the similarities of the backstory in these novels. Klein doesn't seem to be stretching quite so much for her language anyway, and the book just seemed to flow much more naturally. Her Ophelia also seemed to be much more of a real feminist than did Fiedler’s (who’s felt more like what every young girl dreamed of being in a strong female~but maybe that is appropriate to a young adult novel.) And is there really a textual basis for Ophelia being an expert herbalist (other than her “there’s rue for you..” speech?~much of which content was more common knowledge than it is today) Not that i didn’t love the detail but it was common to both novels. I did have some problems with the setting tho~seemed to be more Elizabethan than the ninth century Danish i wanted it to be (there i go again...)

I really liked the relationship developed between Ophelia and Gertrude, as well as between Hamlet and Ophelia. Familial relationships seem to be more realistic than in Fiedler’s book (and no obnoxious father reworking...) The end is somewhat predictable (although about half of the novel takes place after the end of the play) from too many clues laid out along the way (and doesn’t seem entirely in keeping with the point of the novel~tho i suppose some concessions must be made.) ‘nough said? Too much?
(less)

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Oct 23, 2010

Kay-c added it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery, romance, book-i-own

IF you are familiar with the original version which is written by Shakespeare and it's original Title is "HAMLET" then i recommend you this book.

The original were all about vengeance and This book is about lies and betrayal and also vengeance. IF the original were all about hamlet who is the original protagonist then this book is the opposite. It foretell about Hamlet's Lover who became his wife in this story Ophelia. And of course it goes to the real flow of the story but t...more

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Dec 08, 2011

Lauren rated it

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Lisa Klein's Ophelia is a tightly-written and lively spin-off of Hamlet in novel form, as told from (you guessed it) Ophelia's perspective. The plot begins years before Hamlet's timeline and ends years after, allowing for Ophelia's character to be drawn out much more fully from Shakespeare's sketchy and puzzling portrayal.

Klein chose to set the novel not in the period of Hamlet's Denmark, but in the period of Shakespeare's writing of the play. Interwoven with the plot of Hamlet are all...more

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Nov 22, 2011

Brittany Flaming rated it

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The true character of Ophelia is a literary mystery that can never be answered. That someone would attempt to answer this question is a commendable effort. Too bad the attempt is in vain.
If Lisa Klein wanted to pay tribute to the great play that is Hamlet and let Ophelia also have a say, well she failed. Not only does she disregard the mystery and brilliance of Hamlet the Prince by giving some of his best lines to Ophelia, but she makes him to be a foolish, mad prince seeking revenge and ...more

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Jul 20, 2011

Rebecca rated it

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Shelves: ya

Seriously, this is Hamlet fanfic, with Ophelia/Horatio as the OTP.

I can't help but compare this (unfavorably) to Ursula K. LeGuin's Lavinia. Both examine a famous male-dominated text from the perspective of the extremely marginalized love interest. But LeGuin brilliantly turns the story on its head. Her Lavinia has a strong enough voice of her own to really bring a new perspective to the Aeneid. I felt like the original gained new depths as a result.

Ophelia, on the other...more

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Jun 24, 2011

Jasmyn9 rated it

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Shelves: fiction, historical-fiction, young-adult, hamlet, nook, book-battle-2011

Most of us have read, if not at least heard of, the story of Hamlet. The danish prince's tale has captured the imagination of many, but what of the beautiful Ophelia? Where did she come from and why did she behave the way she did. Lisa Klein takes a look into the life of Ophelia before the start of Hamlet, and follows her through the tragic tale.

Ophelia's story is interesting, and Klein did a fantastic job of molding her story into the framework of Hamlet. But there was just something ...more

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Dec 30, 2010

Karissa Eckert rated it

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I am a big fan of Hamlet and I have always wondered what the rest of Ophelia's story is. When of saw this reimagining of Hamlet, from Ophelia's prospective, I was wary but interested. Unfortunately, while decently written, the story was just plain boring and at sometimes forced.

The story starts from Ophelia's point of view earlier than the play, back when the court of King Hamlet was a happy place. There is even a brief meeting with Yorick the jester. It seems okay, the author tries to...moreI am a big fan of Hamlet and I have always wondered what the rest of Ophelia's story is. When of saw this reimagining of Hamlet, from Ophelia's prospective, I was wary but interested. Unfortunately, while decently written, the story was just plain boring and at sometimes forced.

The story starts from Ophelia's point of view earlier than the play, back when the court of King Hamlet was a happy place. There is even a brief meeting with Yorick the jester. It seems okay, the author tries to stay true to the writing style of Hamlet but also tries to make it easily readable. This was okay and overall better than trying to mimic Shakespeare. Unfortunately the author forces in famous parts from the original play. She tries to put them in word for word and they seem strange and stilted in with the rest of the story. It is just plain odd.

The back history and Ophelia's life after where the original play ends seem kind of boring. I am sure that the author means Ophelia to seem spirited and rebellious. To me though Ophelia's story seems rather plain; Ophelia takes what seems to me to be a rather typical route of women that were shunned in that time period. There is no stretch of the imagination here. I wonder if that is meant to make the story more realistic or maybe more in keeping with the times? The tragedy of Hamlet is in itself fanciful so I don't understand why you wouldn't stay with that and make Ophelia have a more interesting part in it all.

Despite all the things I didn't like there were some things I did like. I did like that the author stayed true to the major plotline of Hamlet. I liked the glimpse of the court before King Hamlet's death. And, although it was not in keeping with a tragedy, I liked the hopeful ending. Although even this rankled a bit because after having Ophelia rail against the men in her life it seemed odd for the author to hint that Ophelia would feel more complete with the addition of a man to her life. Maybe this was meant to be ironic. It also bothered me that the characters in this book seemed less passionate than in the play; you would think a book would give more license to character development.

All in all this may be a book I could have never really loved no matter who the writer was. It is an almost insurmountable task to fill-out a story written by Shakespeare. I applaud the author for the attempt. I just wish it was a more interesting and more well-written attempt. As it stands this book was okay, but nothing more. I don't think I will read anything more by this author, her writing style definitely didn't grab and take hold of me. (less)

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Apr 29, 2010

Clary Fray rated it

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You get sucked in instantaneously to this cunning and devilishly smart novel called OPHELIA. The main character, Ophelia, is headstrong, determined, and lovestruck. When the wonderful and beautiful Hamlet enters her life, Ophelia is hypnotized.Even though he is a prince and she is the Queens lowest lady-in-waiting, the two stop at nothing to be together. When Hamlet's father is poisoned, the Queen becomes very grief stricken, going to Ophelia for support and a welcome ear. Then the notorious Kin...more

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Mar 07, 2010

Kelly rated it

Shelves: 2010, class, seattle

A sweet, smart retelling of Shakespeare's Hamlet, from the perspective of Ophelia. The story begins when Ophelia is just a child and her father Polonius is seeking the favor of King Hamlet, the young Prince Hamlet's father. Her role at court and her budding love affair with Hamlet make up the first third of the book. The action of Hamlet comprises the middle third of Ophelia, while the final section of the book tells of the title character's escape from Elsinore.

Klein creates an Ophe...more

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Jun 13, 2009

Kerrie rated it

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Hamlet is my favorite Shakespearean tragedy, hands down, so when I saw this I was intrigued. I enjoyed the first 3/4 of it, and hated the end. I loved hearing Ophelia's point of view on the courtship and romance, and thought it interesting some of the liberties Klein took.

What was particularly interesting to me was how big of a role the herbs and flowers took in this retelling. I supposed because I'm lazy I never took the time to look up what each of the flowers and herbs were u...more

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May 28, 2009

Angie rated it

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Klein took on a pretty steep challenge in re-writing what many would consider to be the greatest piece of literature in the English language, and I'm not sure the results are satisfactory. Yes, the story of Hamlet has been retold many times from Strange Brew to The Lion King to The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, but it is another thing to go right into the original and try to retell it from another point of view. I'll tell you right now, this is no Rozencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead. That compar...moreKlein took on a pretty steep challenge in re-writing what many would consider to be the greatest piece of literature in the English language, and I'm not sure the results are satisfactory. Yes, the story of Hamlet has been retold many times from Strange Brew to The Lion King to The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, but it is another thing to go right into the original and try to retell it from another point of view. I'll tell you right now, this is no Rozencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead. That comparison may not be fair, R&G are Dead being an absurdist tragicomedy and Ophelia being a teeny-bopper romance. I do appreciate the premise of Ophelia---who doesn't want to know more about what was up with Hamlet and Ophelia? And yet...I so often found myself cringing. The idea of Hamlet dressing up like shepherd to secretly meet with Ophelia, then chasing her through a maze in the garden, and delivering lines such as, "'You amaze me, Ophelia.....I am lost, and you are found. For at the center of this twisting path, I have discovered...you.' He began to fumble for his words. 'You, Ophelia, whom I would love. If you...could love me.'" Obviously, I don't expect Klein to write like Shakespeare, but I find moments like this rather cheesy and false. Hamlet fumbles for words? Maybe this is supposed to show how lovestruck he is, but he doesn't even struggle for words while fighting for his life with his mother falling dead on the sidelines...if there's one thing Hamlet does well, it's use words. I'm also not sure if the places where Klein throws in references to lines from the original play (at times other than when the lines actually come up in the action of the original) are cute or just make me want to groan. For example, young Hamlet comes upon the child Ophelia and the young Laertes quarreling and says, "They are kin, you see, but not so kind to each other." Okay, I think the groan wins. I'm afraid I found the dialogue throughout to be stilted. It's okay when Klein puts Shakespeare's words in when they should come; though sometimes she seems to be really stretching things...like when Hamlet tells Ophelia, "Get thee to a nunnery," we're supposed to imagine that maybe he meant that literally, and he was urging her to go to a nunnery for her own safety. There's a double meaning in that line (as "nunnery" was also slang for "brothel"), but that's not it. As far as Klein's portrayal of the characters... First, Claudius is a drunkard poacher, then he's an evil mastermind...hmmm... Gertrude is wise, kind, and powerful. Then she's ditzy. Then she's kind again, but helpless. She's inconsistent. Polonius is, as he should be, a long-winded, busy-body, social climber, but I don't know if the uncaring father Klein presents jives with how he seems to me in the play. Laertes is mostly just an oblivious jerk, which isn't the impression Shakespeare gives me at all (oblivious, maybe...jerk, no). Hamlet makes a whole lot less sense than he does even in the original (and that's saying something); yeah, he's supposed to be conflicted, and we're supposed to be able to attempt to psychoanalyze him until the cows come home, but he's just utterly incomprehensible in this book. Ophelia herself...well, as far as Klein's objective to provide a more feminist picture, her Ophelia doesn't go mad and commit suicide, and she does point out double standards and do some speaking up for the unfair ways women are treated, but I can't say she's terribly appealing. Fortinbras...Klein gives us a coincidental back story revealing that he's a scum bucket, and we're told he's ruining Denmark. However, my reading of the play has led me to find him noble; his grievances with Denmark are not unfounded, but he is respectful of the scene he comes upon at the end, and I'm left with some hope that he'll pick up the pieces. One character I do like how Klein handles is Horatio. Hamlet's long suffering sounding board, he's always kinda been my favorite character, and I think Klein does him some justice. As far as Ophelia's plot goes, after we leave the main action of the original play behind and go with a not-really-dead Ophelia to a convent in France, I feel like we leave the story behind to read about nuns and strange stigmata moments. I also found it odd that Klein set the action at the time when the play was actually written, rather than earlier. Despite my many complaints, I was not bored. If I were twelve, I may really have thought this book was swell, yet I'm grateful this wasn't my earliest exposure to the masterpiece. I should mention that Klein is not without credentials. She's is an expert on Renaissance studies and a professor who has taught Hamlet several times. (less)

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Jan 12, 2009

Jaemi rated it

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Shelves: ya-fiction, favorites

There seems to be something in the tragedy of Hamlet that speaks to us all. I think I myself have seen three different movie versions, though I never did make it all the way through the one I most wanted to see. Reviving Ophelia and Ophelia Speaks are both still on my shelf from when I read them years ago. Lisa Klein, who once taught English, has here given us yet another version of the story.

Through Ophelia's own eyes we watch her life unfold. The loss of her mother at birth, a hard...moreThere seems to be something in the tragedy of Hamlet that speaks to us all. I think I myself have seen three different movie versions, though I never did make it all the way through the one I most wanted to see. Reviving Ophelia and Ophelia Speaks are both still on my shelf from when I read them years ago. Lisa Klein, who once taught English, has here given us yet another version of the story.

Through Ophelia's own eyes we watch her life unfold. The loss of her mother at birth, a hardened father, a dear brother. But her father's courtly aspirations soon separate Ophelia from what little family she has, leaving her stranded amongst ladies who want little to do with her. Still, her matron Elnora is kind, and she has Queen Gertrude's favor. In these things she is happy, and for a time, learns to keep it so.

While she will never take to her sewing, and is still prone to speak her mind, Ophelia has learned the arts of observance and wit. And Elnora, much pleased with her cures, has left her to study not only herbs, but whatever she chooses as often as she likes. The life of study, which she knew growing up, more suits her.

But still life at the castle feels like nothing more than a cage to her. A sentiment which Prince Hamlet, returned from study abroad, commiserates with. Though each knows it to be wrong, still the pair are drawn together with a strength it is beyond them to deny. Horatio, Hamlet's most trusted friend, becomes their only ally.

For a time, all is well. They have their love, and while hiding it strains Ophelia, and indeed causes her to lose the Queen's favor for a time, she would not give it up for anything. But upon the heels of their secret wedding comes much woe.

King Hamlet is slain. Too close to his passing, his Queen remarries his lustful brother, who is not fit to rule. Hamlet, claiming to have been told the truth by none other than his father's spirit, becomes possessed with revenge. A path down which Ophelia cannot follow.

Soon all are drawn into the plot. The gentle Horatio, Ophelia's father. Indeed, having stumbled upon the truth, and after showing her perhaps the largest kindness he ever has, her father is killed. By none other than her own husband. A sorrow she cannot fully express, as no one knows. And while Hamlet tried to come to her himself, his wretched state left him barred entry.

On and on the madness continues. While first a pretense, Hamlet is soon lost to his mind. Ophelia, following with her own pretense, hoping with it to win invisibility, at times seems lost as well. And is also brought to realize that she works against herself--drawing more attention rather than less.

With the help of trusted Horatio, she devises a plan. Brewing a potion, she fakes her own death--though a little too closely for comfort. The life she knew being lost for all time, Ophelia flees to France, where she is taken in at a convent.

Long fearful of her past, she does not fully divulge the truth to anyone until the birth of her son has come to pass. Those who did not already know some of the truth are quickly won over when they hear the news. And while the past will always haunt her and the future will bring fear, Ophelia has learned much through her entrance to motherhood, and looks on each new day as a gift.

_________________

I really, really enjoyed this book. I think it's a great take on the historic Tragedy, and wouldn't be surprised to find schools putting it to good use. Klein should be much pleased with her Ophelia, who transcends, despite all odds.(less)

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Dec 14, 2010

Sensitivemuse rated it

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When I first started reading this book I loved it. The chemistry between Hamlet and Ophelia was there and it was definitely interesting. It’s a total different take on the play and an interesting view on the characters within. It was interesting how background information is provided (as how Ophelia and Hamlet met for the first time) and how they spent their childhood years. So although it does deviate from the original play it’s not so much or goes too far out of context. For a while at least. ...moreWhen I first started reading this book I loved it. The chemistry between Hamlet and Ophelia was there and it was definitely interesting. It’s a total different take on the play and an interesting view on the characters within. It was interesting how background information is provided (as how Ophelia and Hamlet met for the first time) and how they spent their childhood years. So although it does deviate from the original play it’s not so much or goes too far out of context. For a while at least.

The parts with Ophelia and Hamlet in love are well done. As mentioned before the chemistry is there and Hamlet stays true as there is definitely emotion and passion. I do have a problem with Ophelia later on. She becomes needy and really clingy. It got annoying and although there’s lots of miscommunication between her and Hamlet, all she really had to do was ask him what the problem was instead of whining about it constantly and forgetting about it when he started to “act” normal. Hamlet did sort of reveal his agenda to Ophelia, but perhaps he didn’t spell it out for her and she just assumed Hamlet stopped loving her altogether. For crying out loud Ophelia. You were raised like a tomboy and that sort of thing affected you when you could have just approached Hamlet and even punched him if you wanted to? That kind of contrast was a little too outrageous for me. I found Laertes different. I never really expected him to be quite the jerk portrayed in the book and always thought of him as an older brother who was protective towards Ophelia. I thought that was a little skewed.

So, I have to say, the first half of the book was good. Despite some character flaws with Ophelia. The little twist with her finding out who really murdered the King was good, and her relationship with Gertrude proved interesting as well. However Gertrude also got moody, and whiny. It was as if the female characters just suddenly developed a syndrome to become this way all throughout the novel. Of all the characters in the book though, I really liked Horatio, he seems to be the only character that stays constant and true throughout the entire book without the severe personality changes.

Now we get to the last half. I can’t believe I actually went through with it too. I admit the alternate ending to Ophelia’s fate was rather interesting but the story just went to a halt and started to crawl. There were pages and pages of Ophelia’s time at a convent which did nothing to advance to plot and had me baffled as to wondering where this was going. It was borderline preachy as Ophelia tries to “find” herself while her time at the convent. I didn’t care for this part. In fact I skimmed through most of it because it was extremely boring. I actually skimmed the last 50 or so pages until the very last few to see the outcome of Ophelia. I rather figured it would end up that way, as the book slightly hinted at it. It was satisfactory, but reading dozens of boring pages isn’t worth it. Also the theme of revenge is just so overdone in this book. Sure, it’s the main theme, but it’s just so overplayed and over exaggerated it makes the emotion fake.

So, would I recommend this? yes, and no. Yes, if you’re not a Shakespeare fan. You might just enjoy it. No if you’re a very perfectionist type and love Shakespeare. Like me you’d probably wonder who is this whiny girl (who is also a tomboy) and what has she done to Ophelia. Also, the last half of the book might just put you off of the whole thing. It’s very frustrating and unfortunate as it has good potential but just fell apart. It could have definitely been better.(less)

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Oct 21, 2010

Vilija Pauliukonis rated it

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Shelves: young-adult

This book, while a worthy attempt, did not live up to expectations. I think it's a great idea to write Ophelia's story because I've always had a soft spot for and a casual fascination with the character. However, this is the author's first novel--and it shows. The pacing is awkward and inconsistent: the first quarter is spent on Ophelia's early life (and it's not very interesting). Then she and Hamlet are thrown together with too little chemistry and almost no romantic development, and then poof...more

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Feb 21, 2010

Kim rated it

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Shelves: historical-fiction, teens

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Aug 04, 2009

Bex rated it

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Shelves: 2009

Okay so I think my star rating needs some explaining.

I loved Part 1 and most of Part 2. If the book had stopped there I would have given this 3-4 stars. Probably 4. But now, the book continues for another 100 pages of the most boring rambling "Finding God" story arch which doesn't so much arch as drivels along in a slow straight line.

I thought the whole last third of the book was so bad, the entire story gets 1 star.

I had to skim through most of the...more

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Nov 16, 2011

Olivia rated it

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Recommends it for: Romance/Adventure Readers

In this stunning novel, Lisa Klein writes her own twist on Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Klein portrays the story in the perspective of Ophelia, a young women in queen Gertrude’s court. We listen as Ophelia tells her dramatic story of her forbidden love for Prince Hamlet, who later becomes immersed in the madness, murder and the treachery unfolding in Denmark. Our heroine is wise beyond her years and looks deeply into the drama occurring in the castle. She begins to doubt her own sanity as her love begi...more

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Jan 12, 2011

Fifi rated it

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Shelves: spine-crackers, read-in-2011

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Aug 09, 2011

Amanda rated it

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There's always two sides to a story, and Ophelia is one of those sides often not told. It seems that there is much more to Shakespeare's Hamlet than most thought. Ophelia is about a young girl named Ophelia and her love of a boy named Hamlet. But this is no ordinary boy; this is Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Their loves blossoms, but it soon becomes apparent to Ophelia that her love for Hamlet is jeopardizing her life and she must make the hardest decision of her life. Many famous books and plays, ...more

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Mar 16, 2009

Steph Su rated it

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Shakespeare’s tragedy, Hamlet, is practically required reading for every English student. But how much is really known about Ophelia, Hamlet’s “girl,” who goes mad and commits suicide in the original play?

Lisa Klein offers us a different perspective on the undeveloped Shakespearean character. Ophelia is a strong-willed and beautiful young woman living in the often treacherous world of court intrigue. For the most part shunned and used by her father and brother, the once tomboyish and...moreShakespeare’s tragedy, Hamlet, is practically required reading for every English student. But how much is really known about Ophelia, Hamlet’s “girl,” who goes mad and commits suicide in the original play?

Lisa Klein offers us a different perspective on the undeveloped Shakespearean character. Ophelia is a strong-willed and beautiful young woman living in the often treacherous world of court intrigue. For the most part shunned and used by her father and brother, the once tomboyish and willful Ophelia grows into a lady with wit and passion under the wings of court women such as Queen Gertrude. Yet she sometimes feels separate from the rest of the ladies when they speak of things such as love and marriage.

That is, of course, until she crosses paths with Prince Hamlet. Their attraction for one another is undeniable, and Ophelia soon finds herself spiraling downwards into love. But when, after the suspicious death of his father the king, Hamlet’s passion for Ophelia turns into a dreadful passion for revenge, Ophelia must carve out her own path, with or without her love, if she wants to live.

It is refreshing to have one of Shakespeare’s usually passive female characters retold as a strong personality. Ophelia is very much a modern woman stuck in the early seventeenth century; you can find hearty doses of feminism and religious zeal in many passages throughout. Supporting characters, however, are incompletely sketched, and I never felt any real connection with Ophelia and Hamlet’s love for one another.

About half of the book focuses on what actually occurs in the play; the rest is about Ophelia’s attempt to survive away from Elsinore. Because she ends up at a convent, the second half of the book is very much focused on religion and finding peace with oneself, so much so that at times it can begin to sound preachy. Likewise, Ophelia seemed to approach the reliving of her past at arm’s length, and that, I think, unfortunately detracted from the story’s intimacy and appeal.

Overall, however, Ophelia is an interesting way to reapproach a familiar piece of literature. If you’re looking for something pro-feminism with period language that sounds genuine, pick this one up.(less)

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Jan 12, 2011

Amy rated it

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I had such mixed feelings about this book. I loved it and hated it at the same time.
Like the author, I was never satisfied with the character Ophelia and the place she has in literature. I always thought that there was more to her than Shakespeare lets on. She always seemed such a mystery to me. In that sense, I loved how Lisa Klein took the frame of Shakespeare's play and filled in the details of Ophelia. I thought that the story she made for Ophelia was believable and it fit very well wi...moreI had such mixed feelings about this book. I loved it and hated it at the same time.
Like the author, I was never satisfied with the character Ophelia and the place she has in literature. I always thought that there was more to her than Shakespeare lets on. She always seemed such a mystery to me. In that sense, I loved how Lisa Klein took the frame of Shakespeare's play and filled in the details of Ophelia. I thought that the story she made for Ophelia was believable and it fit very well with the original Hamlet.
Being a Shakespeare fanatic and having read and studied Hamlet about 8 times, I could tell that Klein knew the play well. I could tell that she understood the subtleties of the characters written by Shakespeare. I could tell that she was trying to give the famous lines their appearance in book without writing them all out word for word from Shakespeare. I am not sure if this bothered me or not. I was glad that she didn't just copy Shakespeare, but at the same time, I wanted to read Shakespeare's lines word for word because they are written so beautifully and I believe no one will ever compare with him. Perhaps someone who hasn't read Hamlet over and over, wouldn't even have noticed the author's attempts to say the same things that Shakespeare said, but in different ways, but I just kept thinking of the real lines in my head. At the same time, it was kind of fun for me to see if I could pick out these lines.
The main thing that prevents me from giving this a higher rank, are the couple sensual scenes and references. I don't think they were necessary at all and it made the book way less appropriate for teens, who I think could have really learned a lot from this book. I also think the end got a little bit tiresome and long. It dragged on a bit.
Overall, I loved the idea of the book and how it dispels the "Ophelia Syndrome" and the weak, confused character who says and means, "I do not know, my lord, what I should think." This book certainly makes me think of Shakespeare's play in a new light and makes me love the original play even more. I can't wait to read Hamlet for the 9th time. :)
(less)

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Sep 25, 2009

Ariel rated it

· review of another edition

Recommended to Ariel by: Julie Romeis

Ophelia not only tells the story of Hamlet from Ophelia's perspective, with fabulous feminist commentary, but also expands the story so that it goes on beyond Shakespeare's ending for Hamlet. She sets the story in a real world place and time- for example, when Hamlet goes abroad, he is traveling to real places. The writing, though, is what really blew me away. She is poetic and Shakespearean in her style, yet still funny and accessible. She says she tried to use words in her writing that wer...more

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Nov 06, 2011

Megan rated it

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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jun 04, 2010

Janell Ramos rated it

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Lisa Klein has written a lovely tale that brings Ophelia a life of her own. It shouldn't be compared to Shakespeare's writing--it was not meant to be. If you are familiar with Hamlet, then you will take a deeper meaning from certain events...(no spoilers here) But some of the other story elements that made Shakespeare's Hamlet such a powerful tragedy--the apparition of his murdered father, Hamlet's madness and torment are seen only through the veiled understanding of the main character: Ophelia....more

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Aug 06, 2010

Ari Noth rated it

· review of another edition

Wow. This book was beyond incredible. Although reading it I had felt the ending was a bit incredible. Lisa Klein is a genius with twisting the classic tragedy known as Hamlet. For any who know the story of Hamlet knows it basically comes down to Hamlet and Ophelia fall in love, his father is murdered, he goes insane, Ophelia kills herself, and everyone else is slaughtered. However Ophelia brings a completely different twist on that. Still the original story folds out, only in Ophelias point of v...more

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Nov 07, 2009

Lauren Fidler rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: shakespeare, sappy-tacky-sentimental-pap, metafiction, total-disregard-for-preexisting-myt

2.5 stars

here is my essential question: do i love metafiction or do i hate it? i really don't know and this book isn't helping me decide.

first off, i was sort of...miffed...by the premise. i am a die-hard hamlet fan (by which i mean i love shakespeare's play, not that i'm about to get a poisoned rapier and go to town). furthermore, i LOVE ophelia. and i don't think shakespeare does her any unnecessary disservice. there i said it. lisa klein's whole premise in writing this...more2.5 stars

here is my essential question: do i love metafiction or do i hate it? i really don't know and this book isn't helping me decide.

first off, i was sort of...miffed...by the premise. i am a die-hard hamlet fan (by which i mean i love shakespeare's play, not that i'm about to get a poisoned rapier and go to town). furthermore, i LOVE ophelia. and i don't think shakespeare does her any unnecessary disservice. there i said it. lisa klein's whole premise in writing this story is that she, too, claims to love ophelia but she feels that billy the bard mistreats her more than, well, everyone in the play seems to. so, in a move that totally lacks any hubris whatsoever, she decided to write this prosaic version instead. pun on prosaic intended.

then, to add insult to injury, she rewrites ophelia's ending.

gah. i understand that the target audience of this book is 13-16 year old girls who practically demand a happy ending (cough, cough, twilight, cough, cough), but the original source is profoundly tragic. to alter or deviate from that is to spit in the face of the original (in my opinion) - there is just no enhancement to shakespeare's text here.

furthermore, the writing here is nothing special; it's not bad...it's just ordinary. lisa klein is a former professor and she clearly knows the rules of grammar, but she lacks the panache of a truly great writer. and let's just be honest, if you are going to take on the bard, you better have a few tricks up your sleeve. perhaps too frequently, klein manipulates famous quotes from the play, but like this novel, her efforts merely come off as a hollow homage to the spirit of the original.

p.s. the post-hamlet bit is just very...weird. i'm fairly certain ophelia gets mixed up with st. theresa of avila, which, well, makes no sense historically. oh, and a rip-off of christine de pizan. and maybe i'm just reading into that because of my degree in medieval lit, but still. it added insult to the injury that is the premise of this book to begin with.(less)

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Dec 11, 2008

Ilana rated it

· review of another edition

This was a story based on the real Hamlet story by Shakespere told by Ophelia's POV. And Ophelia is motherless girl who soon lives in the castle ruled by queen Gertrude. She works for her and soon meets Hamlet and they fall in love. They have to keep their love in secret because Hamlet is the prince of Denmark and Ophelia is working for the queen.
I can connect to this because in the book the Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley, the character named Morgaine had been tried to be sent to...more

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“What is a man's life but a prelude to his death? And what is death but a long sleep, a most welcome forgetfulness.” — 16 people liked it

“Alone in my chamber, I fairly trembled with excitement. How could it be that I, who had never been kissed before, had kissed the Prince of Denmark himself, not once but many times? Did he really speak to me of love? It was beyond belief that I, humble Ophelia, should be wooed by Prince Hamlet. Surely I had imagined it.” — 10 people liked it

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