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36th out of 115 books
—
21 voters
Dating Hamlet: Ophelia's Story
by
Lisa Fiedler
Ophelia lives to tell the tale of what happened at Elsinore
"The nights at Elsinore are longer than anywhere else.
I have stayed awake these many weeks, which has aided me greatly in my portrayal of one who has gone daft. For my skin is pale as fresh daisy petals, and my eyes sink inward, rimmed by bruise-like swells of purple. The servants and courtiers whisper that surely,...more
"The nights at Elsinore are longer than anywhere else.
I have stayed awake these many weeks, which has aided me greatly in my portrayal of one who has gone daft. For my skin is pale as fresh daisy petals, and my eyes sink inward, rimmed by bruise-like swells of purple. The servants and courtiers whisper that surely,...more
Hardcover, 192 pages
Published
November 1st 2002
by Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
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This book might have been interesting if I could have gotten past the writing. The horrible mixture of almost Elizabethan, overblown flowery language with 21st century "OMG, he's so cute I think I'm gonna die!!!1!" is so jarring that OMG, I think I'm gonna gag!!!!1!!
This is, of course, leaving aside that fact that a with most modern authors who try to write 17th century English, the author gets it wrong. Arguing that a sentence like "You have thy banana" (not an actual sentence from the book, bu...more
This is, of course, leaving aside that fact that a with most modern authors who try to write 17th century English, the author gets it wrong. Arguing that a sentence like "You have thy banana" (not an actual sentence from the book, bu...more
I have read Hamlet before and i was very curious as to how this book compared. Simply it is Ophelia's point of view of the events that happened in Hamlet. It was really intriguing to read from Ophelia's view because in Shakespeare's Hamlet i thought she wasn't delved into much. While reading i noted it was written for young adults because it had those YA cliches. However the one thing that made me keep reading it was the language, because the old english was unexpected. The author kept loyal to...more
It's the feminist version of Hamlet, complete with drug-induced halucinations, secret dads, almost-rape, and poison-that-isn't-really-poison (a la Romeo and Juliet).
The English teacher in me was at once intrigued and horrified by the liberties taken with the text of the play. It was daring - interesting - to give Hamlet and Ophelia a happy ending, solely based on Ophelia's cunning and brilliance. But really, I'm not sure I ever wanted Hamlet to get a happy ending. I never really liked him enoug...more
The English teacher in me was at once intrigued and horrified by the liberties taken with the text of the play. It was daring - interesting - to give Hamlet and Ophelia a happy ending, solely based on Ophelia's cunning and brilliance. But really, I'm not sure I ever wanted Hamlet to get a happy ending. I never really liked him enoug...more
This retelling of Shakespeare's classic tragedy gives the coveted position of protaganist not to the troubled prince of Denmark but to the plays much lamented victim Ophelia Hamlet's love interest.
The story starts out slow as most of the book is exactly like Shakespeare's play only from Ophelia's point of view. I would have to say the real action dosn't start until about Act four. When Hamlet is sent off to England it is left in Ophielia's hands to turn the inevitable tragedy into if not a comed...more
The story starts out slow as most of the book is exactly like Shakespeare's play only from Ophelia's point of view. I would have to say the real action dosn't start until about Act four. When Hamlet is sent off to England it is left in Ophielia's hands to turn the inevitable tragedy into if not a comed...more
If you are not familiar with Shakespeare's Hamlet, its unlikely that you will understand the finer nuances of Dating Hamlet: Ophelia's Story by Lisa Fiedler. And that's a shame, because Ophelia's take-charge attitude makes a huge difference in the plot. Suffice it to say that in Shakespeare's version, pretty much everybody ends up dead, while in Fiedler's version, only the obviously awful people buy the farm; plus, instead of stuffed shirt Polonius as a father, Ophelia learns that her real dad i...more
Ophelia never was one of my favorite Shakespearean heroines (perhaps because my acting teachers were often suggesting i play her~and i was always a little partial to Juliet~ever since we first read the play in ninth grade English). I always saw Ophelia as a bit weak and victim-like~i suppose i'm not the only one~and named a cat i got after my other "tough" cat Tiny disappeared when a roommate let her out into a strange neighborhood (i saw the cat as somewhat weak~that cat later became my baby wh...more
May 24, 2007
Lacey Louwagie
rated it
1 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
People who hate Hamlet
The School Library Journal review on the back of this book claims that, "Fans of the Bard will applaud this highly imaginative, lyrical text that plays with the story without damaging it."
The review is a BIG FAT LIE, for I have never seen a retelling damage the original story as much as this one has massacred Hamlet. In an attempt to make the telling "feminist," Lisa made EVERYTHING about Hamlet into an act. The premise of this book is that Ophelia and Hamlet together devised Hamlet's madness -...more
The review is a BIG FAT LIE, for I have never seen a retelling damage the original story as much as this one has massacred Hamlet. In an attempt to make the telling "feminist," Lisa made EVERYTHING about Hamlet into an act. The premise of this book is that Ophelia and Hamlet together devised Hamlet's madness -...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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This book began my foray into reading stories of this type, novels based on Shakespeare plays. I picked it up at a library book sale and it was well worth the buck. I'd say it may be even worth the full price but I'm pretty sure you can get it cheaper somewhere else.Who's got a need for a new hobby? Maybe me but of well. Anyways, this book is Hamlet from Ophelia's point of view and let me tell you. If you like alternate endings, this may be the book for you.
jujur niyh gw ga pernah bener-bener baca buku ini sendiri dengan mata kepala gw...tapi cuma dengan kuping aja..jadi, dulu pas jaman SD kelas empat di Surabaya tetangga gw seneng bgt nyeritain tentang Ophelia ini...secara nama anaknya aja Ophelia...dulu sih pernah dipinjemin bukunya...cuma secara gw masih SD kaga minat bgt sama yang kaya ginian...
untung bokapnya kak Feli (panggilan anaknya yg namanya Ophelia) itu suka bacain gw or nyeritain gw tentang Ophelia-nya Hamlet ini... udah lupa sih cerit...more
untung bokapnya kak Feli (panggilan anaknya yg namanya Ophelia) itu suka bacain gw or nyeritain gw tentang Ophelia-nya Hamlet ini... udah lupa sih cerit...more
I would have enjoyed this book more had I not already read Ophelia, which is a lot like this book.
I found the writing leaving something to be desired, but the plot line is creative. This would be great for middle schoolers, but I also recommend it to anyone who teaches Hamlet.
I found the writing leaving something to be desired, but the plot line is creative. This would be great for middle schoolers, but I also recommend it to anyone who teaches Hamlet.
Aug 27, 2012
Bill Daisley
added it
Alternate history ? I was intrigued by both the point of view and the placement of the story in modern times... while not the best writing & certainly not Shakespear... I enjoyed the book, finding it easier to empathise with this Ophelia than with the original.
I'm pretty familer with Hamlet. I have not read it but I know the story well and have seen a movie version. This book was a light easy read, I didn't love it but it was fun. A little too many changes in the plot for my taste. In my opinion Lisa Fiedler's book Romeo's Ex is way better!
Witty, fresh plot twists were funny and interesting. Fiedler even wove 'Romeo and Juliet' into the end, which was cool. Overall, it was a waste of time, though. Too much kissing.
How can you change the ending of Hamlet. I give this to my students as a total Joke. 100% a joke. Seriously, Fiedler must have been kidding.
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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It was so much fun to read this book, plenty of humor and love. i couldn't put it down until i finished it!
Since I'm currently reading Ophelia, I had to add this one to my shelf that I read awhile ago. It's a fun take on Hamlet (well, can the story of Hamlet ever be FUN?)--let's change that to a clever take on the story of Hamlet. In this version, Ophelia is in on everything and the events of the story (and characters, for that matter) aren't what they seem. She cleverly uses pieces of dialog and events from the actual play but twists them into a new and original plot. I absolutely loved this book--H...more
I know its a corruption of Shakespeare's original but i found it much happier than his.
This book is amazing and reminds me of Romeo and Juliet a little.
I always liked that girl; this feels more like the Ophelia I hoped was hiding inside.
It was cute, if you like happy-endings.
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Sep 21, 2009
Dara Bohn
added it
***
I loved this clever retelling of Hamlet that gave it an entirely different and strangely plausible ending. I was so taken with this one that I suggested it for a f2f book discussion group- we read it in combination with Hamlet and Rosenkrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead. This would be great for a high school English class to read for Shakespeare studies with a challenge for students to come up with other alternate outcomes for the play.
Ok- not great
Unlike Fiedler's other book, Dating Hamlet is told from Ophelia's point-of-view only. It also comes before Romeo's Ex (though reading them out of order isn't a huge deal).
I rather like Lisa Fiedler's way of retelling Shakespearean stories with humor (and with wonderful background). I'd like to see these novels made into movies.
I rather like Lisa Fiedler's way of retelling Shakespearean stories with humor (and with wonderful background). I'd like to see these novels made into movies.
I liked Ophelia by Lisa Klein just a bit more than this one. It explored more into why Ophelia was who she was. Dating Hamlet started right as Shakespear's Hamlet started, with the King already dead. It was just told by Ophelia.
It was still an interesting read and one for those who love the story of Hamlet as much as I do.
It was still an interesting read and one for those who love the story of Hamlet as much as I do.
Teens who like Shakespeare's play Hamlet, should read this. It's Ophelia's side of the story (she only faked her suicide so she's alive to tell the tale). And Ophelia does narrate all that happens in the Bard's famous play. This is great fun.
This was a fun book. I read it right after I finished reading Hamlet in English, so the puns seemed fresh, the dialogue was right on par, and the fresh perspective was really endearing. I would recommend it for a quick read.
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