A review by nickgalentine
Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell

emotional informative sad medium-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

5.0

I wasn't surprised that I liked Hamnet. It's one of those rare books I haven't heard much negative about. I was, however, surprised by how much I loved it. I loved how Shakespeare himself wasn't much of a focus – his first and surnames are never mentioned – but the role his absence from his family played was. I LOVED the strength of Agnes's character, though I realize it was almost entirely fabricated. Truth be told, we don't actually know a lot about Shakespeare's family. The cause of Hamnet's death was even simply a speculation of O'Farrell's, though she has excellent reason to suspect the Black Death as the cause based on the era alone.

If you're looking for plot twists and hair-raising drama, Hamnet is probably not what you're after. But if you're into quiet, understated family stories of loss (especially those about living under one larger than life family member's shadow [e.g., Booth]), I highly recommend Hamnet.