Reviews

Shylock Is My Name by Howard Jacobson

buchweiser's review against another edition

3.0

Es ist ein sehr gutes Buch, aber ich fand es sehr schwer, mich hineinzudenken. Es gibt zu viele Anspielungen zur jüdischen Religion, die ich nicht verstanden habe. Ich kann auch nicht einschätzen, wie nah es am "Kaufmann von Venedig" ist, dafür müsste ich den noch einmal lesen.
Vielleicht bekommt es zu einem anderen Zeitpunkt eine zweite Chance.

marcymurli's review against another edition

3.0

I think if I didn't know Shakespeare's play "The Merchant of Venice" and didn't enjoy the clever and witty reworkings of it, this book wouldn't even be interesting. But given that this is part of a new series where novelists rewrite Shakespeare's plays in a new context, this is a fun read if you know the play. There is a kind of mirroring with Shylock and modern-day version of himself. There are figures who correlate to the other characters in the play, too; although there are only a few of the most essential characters: Antonio, Gratiano, Bassanio, Portia, and Jessica. In this version Jessica (here as Beatrice) runs off with Gratiano (a footballer named Gratan) and her irate father (here as Strulovitch) seeks vengeance via the flesh. But the flesh he seeks is not near the heart; it is a piece of flesh that would ultimately help Gratan become a Jew. I won't say more as anything else would be a spoiler.

rachelbram's review against another edition

reflective medium-paced

• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Really excellent, really made me think. I made SO many highlights, I want to own this book and put post-its everywhere!!! Very smart book.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Antisemitism

iambranchingout's review against another edition

2.0

I found this book a massive struggle. There were bits where the prose was beautiful. There were bits where the story was fantastic. But as a whole work I just found it so hard to read that it felt like wading though treacle.

kitt_can_read's review against another edition

A couple of reasons for DNFing, neither of which are the fault of the book. 

Firstly, I keep dipping my toes back in Shakespeare-adjacent work and I always run away screaming cause it’s TOO SOON. I don’t think I have room in my soul for a Shakespeare retelling right now because all the fun Easter eggs to the original play in this were giving me war flashbacks. Shakespeare is my own personal ‘Nam. 

Secondly, maybe it’s where I’m at right now but I struggled to get into it, the writing style is beautiful but a bit to flowery for me. I found it a bit hard to follow for that reason. 

However I will return to this someday as I think the premise is interesting!!

leslie_ann_thornton's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No

1.0

melohpa's review against another edition

1.0

Don't get me started on the penises! I learned more about circumcision than I EVER wanted to know! See my full review at https://topplingbookpile.blogspot.com/2020/07/shylock-is-my-name-by-howard-jacobson.html

leighe's review against another edition

tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

colorfulleo92's review against another edition

2.0

I've enjoyed reading the Shakespeare project hogart did. Haven't picked anyone up in a long time, don't know of it was because I though I have run out of books to read or I just forgot. anywho I wasn't impressed by this book. It wasn't a book for me. Didn't get invested in the characters and feelt like very "shallow" writting.

helenagravahs's review against another edition

1.0

Pg 22:
“She became a lesbian for a year”. Instant 1 star. The blatant racism in the rest of the chapter gave me no choice but to DNF, only two chapters in.