Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell - 5 stars and a heart

[Barbara M]

"Hamet, a novel of the plague." I loved this. It's not an easy story. You know from the beginning, in the historical note, that Hamnet is going to die, but as the story goes on, you wonder if you were misled. I loved the fact that William Shakespeare's name is never mentioned, even in the Historical Note. We know all the other names, but his is not mentioned. He is "my husband, his father, the tutor, etc. It is clear, this is not a story of Shakespeare, it is the story of Hamnet and the family, not a story of the playwrite. Agnes, the wife and mother, says, "how were we to know that Hamnet was the string that held us together." (ad libbed because I listened to the audio and not the print.)

The story starts with Hamnet but it turns back to the young Agnes (his mother), who had lost her mother, her father remarried, and she's living with him, her stepmother, her half-siblings, and her brother. The family lives on a large farm. Agnes has insight and great talent with medicinal herbs, inherited from her mother, who was considered a bit wild. Only her brother and her father truly understand her. There is animosity between her and her stepmother. Her father has hired a Latin tutor (who is not named - guess who) to instruct her brothers. The tutor is taken with her, but she is older and he is too young, according to his parents, to wed, but she has chosen him. Of course, they marry, and their story is, at times, loving and beautiful and sad.

There's a wonderful image of hands, more present in the first half, especially with the gloves that the tutor's father, Hamnet's grandfather, makes; he is a glove-maker - a glover. He is struggling because he's been caught out in some bad dealings and he's lost his place in the local society. He is an angry man, often taking it out on his son.

The narrator was fantastic with just the right pauses, pace, and tone. I'm amazed that I listened to this entire book in only 6 days, that's very fast for me. I listened every chance I had. Highly recommended. It will be among my favorites of 2025. I seem to be racking them up lately!

[NancyJ]

What a fabulous review. I love the details you brought out. You make me want to read it again. I loved this too. It was so immersive. I still remember how I felt while reading it.

My other favorite book of hers is based on her own life - I Am, I Am, I Am: Seventeen Brushes with Death.

[Barbara M]

NancyJ wrote: "What a fabulous review. I love the details you brought out. You make me want to read it again. I loved this too. It was so immersive. I still remember how I felt while reading it.

My other favori..."

I may have to check that out! I was just going to see what else she had read.

[Joy D]

Great review, Barbara! This is one of my all-time favorite books. Glad to see you loved it too.

[Booknblues]

I loved this book as well and by chance am reading another book with Shakespeare in it, The Quality of Mercy

[Robin P]

I was disappointed in this book because of the multiple times she tells you the end before the beginning - Hamnet will die, Judith will marry the tutor, etc. Then you have to go back and get the details. My favorite part was the end, which was very powerful.

This author also wrote The Marriage Portrait, another story of a historical figure, which I liked better.

[Barbara M]

Booknblues wrote: "I loved this book as well and by chance am reading another book with Shakespeare in it, The Quality of Mercy"

I'm going to check that out.

[Barbara M]

Robin P wrote: "I was disappointed in this book because of the multiple times she tells you the end before the beginning - Hamnet will die, Judith will marry the tutor, etc. Then you have to go back and get the de..."

I'll check this one out too.

[Booknblues]

Barbara M wrote: "Booknblues wrote: "I loved this book as well and by chance am reading another book with Shakespeare in it, The Quality of Mercy"

I'm going to check that out."

It wasn't very good.

[Barbara M]

Booknblues wrote: "Barbara M wrote: "Booknblues wrote: "I loved this book as well and by chance am reading another book with Shakespeare in it, The Quality of Mercy"

I'm going to check that out."

It w..."

I like some of Kellerman's other books, but I'll do my research before I spend time reading something mediocre! I've had such wonderful books lately that I wouldn't want to spoil my run. :-)

........... Research done - I'm taking it off my TBR