Reviews

Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell

asalzano9's review against another edition

emotional 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

4.5

saz001's review

I felt like the story had no impetus at all- it wasn’t really going anyway. The flow of the story was really strange and I actually didn’t care what happened to any of the characters.

hannahlferguson1's review

I didn't know what to except going in. Maggie O'Farrell's writing is lovely.
Such a heartbreaking topic. I loved the connection to Shakespeare and how the author poses the idea of the potential effects his life may have had with his work.

jessica_13's review

emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

the_nekomancer's review against another edition

emotional slow-paced

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

2.75

Perhaps I wasn't in the right head space to read it, but I couldn't care less about the characters. The descriptions and metaphors are well done, however. My opinion can be summed up like in the last chapter of the book when Agnes, having travelled to London to find Shakespeare, thinks as she sees the play being performed that "it had nothing to do with Hamnet" and that all she felt was apathy for most of it while many were entranced by it. 

stvlas's review

dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

sometimes changing the format of a book is just what you need to get into it
it took me MONTHS to get to 30% of the book when reading the ebook but only a day and a half listening to the audiobook

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness and Child death

sydneythekydneybean's review

emotional hopeful reflective sad fast-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

I did not know this boy two days ago, but now I am sobbing over him like he was my own flesh and blood. Bravo Maggie O'Farrell. Bravo. 

hawaiijak's review

5.0

One of the most beautiful dramas I’ve read. I don’t tend to veer this direction in my reading, but I love Shakespeare and the tie ins had me checking it out. It’s gorgeous and heartbreaking and pensive and fast paced. I loved it

hannah_2021's review

sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

bubbajones1221's review

5.0

Just trust O'Farrell. It will be worth it.

This book is easily one of my top reads this year. The language is wonderful and O'Farrell treats this subject matter with all the care it deserves. It walks a careful line to deliver a unique and beautiful novel.