March 2021 - Fiction Group Read - Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell

[Alannah]

Please discuss our winner here..

[Nidhi]

I am in. I nominated this book but didn’t expect it to win lol.

[Alannah]

It flew to the top of the poll last minute, I wasn’t expecting it to win either.

[LauraT]

Got it! I hope to read it as soon as March comes

[Jade]

I didn’t really take notice of this one during the nomination process. Looking forward to trying it.

[Tamara]

I read this last month and thought it was great. I look forward to the discussion.

[Joy D]

I read it late last year and loved it!

[Laurel]

Read it last year. Great book!

[Alannah]

Just got the audiobook, I’m excited to start it now.

[Jade]

Alannah wrote: "Just got the audiobook, I’m excited to start it now."

That’s good to hear. I will probably get the audiobook too.

[Maria]

I'm in line for it at the library, and expect to get it in a couple of weeks. Meanwhile, let's see if I can get through American Dirt ...

[Connie]

@Maria I too am close to getting it from the library, hope it comes in time

[Bear]

I'm in. This has been sitting on my shelf for a while, so taking advantage of the group read to finally get to it.

[Connie]

My book just arrived from the library!!!!
I am in.

[Alannah]

Remember, you're all welcome to start discussing the book when you're ready. You do not need to wait for me :)

[Nidhi]

I read two chapters and I am already intrigued by the story, I suppose it will be a good read.

[Patty]

I just started this yesterday. Somehow there is a theme of the 1600’s in my recent reading.: How to Stop Time by Matt Haig, I, Elizabeth by Rosalind Miles and now Hamnet!

[LauraT]

I found it a bit slow at the beginning; it improved, in my opinion!

[Nidhi]

I am reading a book set in that age after a long time, I noticed that myth of Agnes has many similarities with Indian culture, to fend of evil spirits offering of items and tying bits of clothes to the branches, etc. Agnes has a mysterious aura around her.

[Alannah]

Now that I have cleared the books waiting on my netgalley, I have this on my audible waiting to be listened to. I think I will start it tonight.

[LauraT]

Good!

[Tamara]

I read Hamnet in January and absolutely loved it--one of my favorite books of the year so far.

[Connie]

Am 20% in, and really liking pacing of this book. Do find it helpful that the ebook marks where timelines changed.

[Leslie]

My library hold came in today so I am just about to start.

[Leslie]

Boy, it is so nice to read a new book that actually draws me in instead of boring me. I have already finished about a third of the book!

[Leslie]

I'm about 2/3 of the way through this now and am wondering about Agnes. Are we supposed to believe that (view spoiler)[she truly has second sight or whatever you want to call it? That is a bit problematic for me - I don't mind her being more sensitive to people's moods or personalities, thus giving her the appearance of being somewhat magical. But to know what will happen in the future? For example, knowing that her 2 children will be at her bedside when she dies... (hide spoiler)]

[LauraT]

I think it is as you suggest Leslie: something like being more sensitive... You think what you want, you remember what you want, if you see what I mean

[Leslie]

I finished today - so glad this book was selected as our group read!! I would probably have not read it for years (if ever) otherwise and have missed out on a real treat.

I'm giving it 4.5* :)

[LauraT]

Leslie wrote: "I finished today - so glad this book was selected as our group read!! I would probably have not read it for years (if ever) otherwise and have missed out on a real treat.

I'm giving it 4.5* :)"

Same here!

[Jess]

I'm starting this today. I'm reading books by Irish authors this month so glad that this fits even if its about England. I'm going to listen to the audiobook.

[Leslie]

Hope you like it as much as I did Jess!

[Jess]

I'm loving it so far. Currently on Chapter 7. I was worried a bit at first because of the present tense which I usually struggle with but the writing style is just so good that I don't even notice any more.

[Jade]

Just started this one. Looking good so far.

[Alannah]

I quite enjoyed this one, to be honest I didn't realised its links to Shakespeare's Hamlet (not sure if this is a spoiler because it's all the goodreads page for the book). Once I realised, everything in the novel made more sense for me, I liked that the author made no direct links to the play.

[Jess]

Has anyone seen Upstart Crow?

I can't take any of these characters seriously because I keep picturing them like this!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6Q4F...

[Alannah]

Jess wrote: "Has anyone seen Upstart Crow?

I can't take any of these characters seriously because I keep picturing them like this!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6Q4F..."

I was picturing the Horrible Histories version.

[Jess]

I finished this today after taking a break before the last long chapter and I absolutely loved it.

I think it might be my favourite book of the year so far.

[Leslie]

Jess wrote: "I finished this today after taking a break before the last long chapter and I absolutely loved it.

I think it might be my favourite book of the year so far."

It was a wonderful book for me too!

[Ava Catherine]

Of all the books I read last year, this was my absolute favorite. Such a lovely book.

[Jade]

I ended up really enjoying this one. I must admit it, it took me a while to realise that the author was talking about William Shakespeare until I came across something in my module book that mentioned William had a son called Hamnet. I liked that it was more focused on the children and Shakespeare’s wife, again I didn’t realise that Agnes would have been used as a nickname for Anne.

[Leslie]

Yeah, I didn't realize that "flexibility" about names either! It seems very odd to me that Hamlet and Hamnet would be the same name, or that Agnes and Anne would be interchangeable.

[Pat]

Just started reading but got sidelined by Midnight Libary--I needed something to make me chuckle.

[Nidhi]

I finished this yesterday. 5 stars. Actually one of the most wonderful book of the year for me. As Shelley says that "Our Saddest songs are the Sweetest"

Now, I would never have nominated it if i knew that the story is centered around a pestilence. I don't do research on books because they spoil things.

Regarding the end of the book ....it shook me to the core. Another book for which i felt the same is Last Orders by Graham Swift I think it got an award also.

Around the world there are many societies which discourage boys to show their feelings ..like don't cry like a 'girl' .
How would a father will express his grief for his lost child? Every man is not Shakespeare.

[Pat]

I am nearing the end. I've teared a couple of times, I hope there is something joyful coming, but I doubt it.

[Connie]

This was aso a five star read for me. An absolutely beautiful story on so many levels. Loved the look into this time period. She did such a great job of portraying a wide variety of relationships.
Having recently finished Ulysses couldn't help thinking about Stephen's theories about Shakespeare and Hamlet.