Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell

104 reviews

gabefiction's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

4.75

Despite the titular name, the true main character shines through Agnes, the remarkably irrepressible wife of Shakespeare and mother to Hamnet. The interchanging timelines, oscillating between past and present, created an emotional and striking depiction of love, grief, family, and ambition. 

The last couple chapters absolutely wrecked me, I had to pause and put down the book before pressing on, mainly because tears were making it difficult to read. Dealing with death and its aftermath in all its raw vividness was tough. My only gripe is that there were more of Hamnet’s perspective to saturate the narrative, it would’ve added even more emotional depth to an already great story. 

This was profoundly sad, beautiful, and an easy 4.5 stars for me!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Pandemic/Epidemic

topodibiblioteca's review against another edition

dark emotional funny informative reflective sad tense medium-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death and Death

Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse

Minor: Blood and Death of parent

toffeebox's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.5

Beautifully written and heart-rending. I loved how the descriptors found its way back to fabrics and gloves which was their family business.

Losing a 0.5 points because the bits after hamnets death felt draggy at times

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Domestic abuse, and Grief

el_elizabeth's review against another edition

emotional informative inspiring 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Death of parent, and Pandemic/Epidemic

emmerylynn's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

Not my go to genre, but I really enjoyed the writing. I felt immersed in the world through the striking and careful details. The author captured the characters’ emotions so precisely. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death and Grief

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Pregnancy

theliterarylayla's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

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

5.0

This book is a work of art.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Pregnancy

Minor: Sexism and Sexual content

abfreda184's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Domestic abuse, and Violence

Moderate: Sexual content

Minor: Bullying

aileen_macalister's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

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

5.0

A truly magical reading experience, I struggled to put it down. Maggie O'Farrell writes beautifully which comes as no suprise considering how highly regarded she is. This is my first of her books and I am 100% sold!

I was immediately attached to the characters in this book and found myself speed reading my way through their life just to know them better. I loved the choice never to call Shakespeare by name giving autonomy to the family he left behind in the English countryside. I also lived how the book exists it two halves and the point at which is divided and the choice to remove chapter separations is just a perfect reflection of how grief impacts the people left behind.

Highly recommend for anyone with an interest in historical fiction, magic in the sense of women and nature and the retelling of Shakespeare's life from another point of view 🌿

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Death

rowy148's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad tense 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death and Death

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Pregnancy

amystainton's review against another edition

dark emotional lighthearted relaxing 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? No

5.0

Wow! Made me cry and feel nostalgic for a time I didn’t exist. Reading this in london was something else. Loved it!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Grief, and Pregnancy

Minor: Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, and Terminal illness