Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell, 4.5 stars

[NancyJ]

I really enjoyed this book. It tells the story of William Shakespeare's Family - though you won't see his name in the book, not even his first name. His son was named Hamnet which is used interchangeably with Hamlet (sort of like Will and Bill). The writing is wonderful, the characters are rich, and the story is engrossing. The biggest disappointment to me was that I wanted more about his work. He wasn't home very often. I was really hoping he would read a sonnet or play to his wife. She couldn't read. The book doesn't always move in a fast pace, but I didn't care, and the ending was much too short. I thought, is that it? It's a good ending I suppose, but I wanted more. I was listening to it on audio. and I had to replay the end on a slower speed to give it more impact.

(view spoiler)[ His wife had a seemingly magical ability to see into people's hearts and minds, at least when she was younger. I'm trying to remember if any characters in his plays had that ability. If there weren't any (other than the witches) I think the author took too big of a leap from what was known about him. But I don't mind. It was a fun read. (hide spoiler)]

[Nicole R]

Yes!!! I want this book to get all the raves because I also thought it was great!!

I cannot see your removed spoilers on my phone but I will be back when I am on my laptop to check them out.

[Sarah]

Maggie O'Farrell is a new author for me and I can't wait to meet her again. Love this character driven novel. Agnes captured my heart. I watched an interview with O'Farrell where she stated that she did not mention Wm's name "in order to divorce him from his name to get the backstory" and in the end "wanted Agnes to see the play".

[Robin P]

I agree it was deliberate not to mention his name. I am almost through with the audiobook and I'm feeling "meh". I don't understand why the first part is told in 2 timelines. No suspense about whether the couple will get together, because in the other timeline they are married. If the plot isn't given away that way, it is foreshadowed - "if only she had noticed. . " I think it would have been more engrossing if it had been told chronologically. Everything is told over and over, Agnes is an earth mother/forest child, the unnamed Latin tutor's father is mean, the plague is terrible. The idea of having the "offstage" story told is great and the descriptions and vocabulary are well done, but it really dragged for me. And I am a literature major, it's not that I want everything to read like a thriller.

[Jgrace]

Robin P wrote: "I agree it was deliberate not to mention his name. I am almost through with the audiobook and I'm feeling "meh". I don't understand why the first part is told in 2 timelines. No suspense about whet..."

You're not the only one, Robin. The book never jelled for me, although there were things that I liked very much. I usually have no problem with dual plots or a nonlinear plot, but this time I just found it annoying.

[Sarah]

Robin P wrote: "I agree it was deliberate not to mention his name. I am almost through with the audiobook and I'm feeling "meh". I don't understand why the first part is told in 2 timelines. No suspense about whet..."

I am in agreement that the dual timeline broke the continuity of the story and with other points that you made. That's why this was 4* for me rather than 5.