remib's review
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Child abuse, and Domestic abuse
heini's review against another edition
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Child death, and Grief
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, Child abuse, Sexual content, and Alcoholism
Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic
tlaynejones's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
5.0
I’m tempted to take away a half point for the present tense third person pov, even with different timelines. This is not particularly audiobook friendly. But ultimately I did really enjoy this, interesting and moving story, so I will let that little difficulty go.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Domestic abuse, Grief, and Sexism
abisnail564's review
emotional
mysterious
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Child death, and Death
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, and Violence
bookycnidaria's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Chronic illness, Pandemic/Epidemic, Child death, Gaslighting, Grief, Child abuse, and Emotional abuse
bailey_the_bookworm's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
If you ever want to be punched directly in the heart by a book, this is the one to read
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Pregnancy
paulasnotsosecretdiary's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
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
4.0
Hamnet is a beautifully written fictionalized story of Shakespeare's life and that of his wife and family. Although little history exists about his wife and children, the author creates a rich sense of the daily life of each, and how tragedy impacts them all. Although the book became a must-read during the pandemic as a primer for how to navigate through grief, Hamnet is a strong enough work to stand outside that context. One of the shortcomings of the edition I read is the lack of trigger warnings; there is physical and emotional abuse depicted as well as the death of a child.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Violence, Child death, and Child abuse
ireanirean's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
Moderate: Domestic abuse
emmacb's review
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
This book was on its way to a lower rating to be honest. It's not that it isn't beautifully written, so much as that it feels like the description/writing style is more the point than the story at times. I liked the flashback/forward style of the chapters but also found it frustrating... I don't know, maybe at first this book was at the wrong time/mood for me?
However. I don't think it's a real spoiler to say that this book contains. It's literally in the blurb.
However. I don't think it's a real spoiler to say that this book contains
Spoiler
a deathSpoiler
The second part of the book where Agnes and her family were dealing with the death hit me a lot harder, possibly because I've had some of that of my own to deal with recently. I'd have liked to read more of the conversation between Agnes and her husband (also a bit funny how much the book skirted round the fact that he's literally SHAKESPEARE) after she saw the play. Her thoughts were explained, and her perspective if his thoughts and she is the main narrator I guess, but that's got to have been an interesting conversation, and it felt like a shame to miss it!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Domestic abuse and Infidelity
sevensableyes's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I loved this book from start to finish.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Child death