Reviews tagging 'Chronic illness'

Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell

22 reviews

moonybombadil's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Chronic illness, Mental illness, and Pregnancy

Minor: Child abuse and Violence

jenny_wren's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad slow-paced

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

4.0

This is a lovely book but it's just so sad! It speculates on the origin of William Shakespeare's Hamlet based on the very little known about his family. Its written with a dual timeline which explores the early days of marriage and then the later years as parents to young children- Hamnet being one of them. 

I enjoyed this story but found it a difficult read. It's sad- heartbreaking actually but is sensitively written and pulls on the heartstrings! Set in the late 1500's it feels authentic. You can imagine what life was like then, and how hard it was. This is a boom that will stay with me for a long time. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Chronic illness, and Pregnancy

helena_sp_07's review

challenging emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Grief, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Child abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, and Death of parent

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail

sib_reads's review against another edition

emotional sad slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Grief, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Child abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Violence, and Medical content

Minor: Sexual content

hgallagher's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death

Moderate: Chronic illness

holliesatchell's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Terminal illness, Medical content, and Grief

caitlin1066's review against another edition

dark emotional sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

A book I’m sure will become a modern classic in the future. The writing is so lyrical and beautiful and devastating. So many characters but, unusually, I found them easy to remember and recall throughout the novel. A book with little plot but pure pain and heartache, though no tears were shed. A really beautiful book about the family of Shakespeare who have been all but forgotten. And how the death of his son caused the writing of Hamlet (not a spoiler! It’s on the blurb). 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Chronic illness, and Grief

miserablesplendor's review against another edition

emotional sad slow-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death and Pregnancy

Moderate: Chronic illness

redbirdreading's review

emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Miscarriage, and Grief

eliseisreading's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Chronic illness, and Death

Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Child abuse