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A review by crtsjffrsn
Shylock Is My Name by Howard Jacobson
3.0
As the name suggests, this is a modern author's take on retelling The Merchant of Venice for a contemporary audience. I often enjoy Shakespeare adaptations that are done well, so of course I figured I'd check this one out. Unfortunately, I wasn't as impressed with this one as I'd hoped. Jacobson's take on the story is confusing, incredibly complex, and difficult to wade through. I'm not sure if he intended it as more of an intellectual take than a literary one, but it came across to me as highly inaccessible in the writing style and overall storytelling.
That said, it is a creative take in comparing the original tale to how a similar situation might play out in the modern world. For the concept alone, I do have to give the author some credit. And that's why this pulls three stars from me when I probably would have been inclined to rate it lower based on my overall enjoyment and reading of the book.
[Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via BloggingForBooks in exchange for an honest review.]
That said, it is a creative take in comparing the original tale to how a similar situation might play out in the modern world. For the concept alone, I do have to give the author some credit. And that's why this pulls three stars from me when I probably would have been inclined to rate it lower based on my overall enjoyment and reading of the book.
[Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via BloggingForBooks in exchange for an honest review.]