Overall, what do you think of Hamnet? (no spoilers in this thread, please)

Overall, what do you think of Hamnet? (no spoilers in this thread, please)

This was one of my favorite books of last year. The writing was absolutely beautiful, and I have been comparing it to every other book I have read since. The scenes of grief, though heartrending, were made less so by the beauty of O’Farrell’s writing. And I was fascinated by the fictionalization of Shakespeare’s life, since so little is known, and also by the character of his wife.

I loved this book. Normally I don’t like books with LOTS of description, however, this book was beautifully written. You really got a feel for what life was like in the 16th century. I was half way through it when the massacre at Uvalde, Texas occurred and the scenes depicting grief really resonated with me.

The author’s use of long descriptive phrases, especially in the early chapters were rhythmic and helpful to get me into O’Farrell’s world. Excellent character descriptions, and strong writing about life in that time. This book had been on my ‘to read’ list for months, and Hamnet didn’t disappoint.

I loved the book. Beautifully written and wonderful characterization. I knew nothing of Shakespeare’s early years and of his family. A very informative historical fiction. In O’Farrell’s Acknowledgements she mentions a book about Shakespeare’s wife. This will be a must read for me!

This was a great read. The writing was remarkably poetic (which is just like Shakespeare's writing: always poetic). It is fiction, and we truly know next to nothing about Shakespeare and his wife and children, but this was well done and very believable. Just as much fun as Tom Stoppard's "Shakespeare in Love" (movie), you can argue that it's not factual or you can sit back and plunge into the beauty of the author's imagination and enjoy the possibilities.

I loved this story! Well written, sad yet a true depiction of the era. Could not stop reading to the end to know what happens. This is a book I will read over and over again.

I will always admire a writer that can think outside the box to glimpse a better understanding of a historical person or incident we no little about without taking away from the what we already know. I loved this book, it was beautiful writing about family, love and loss. It was not depressing but rather inspirational with glimmers of hope.

The writing is fabulous. Agnes is wonderfully portrayed. However, I didn't love the book. There were places I couldn't stop reading, and others where I felt it drug on. There seemed to be little joy in the book.
(My husband died in January so I'm sure my own grief if coloring my review of the story.)

I’m so so sorry for your loss MarciaS, I imagine this novel about grief wasn’t easy. Again my sincere condolences.

I absolutely loved every minute of this novel. I read a lot of historical fiction, and this one was so very well done. I thought the author really captured the time period, and I felt I learned a number of things about the era I hadn't known before.

I throughly enjoyed the book, although as one other reader wrote, sometimes it dragged for me. Those times were brief and infrequent, however. At first, the movement from the characters' present to the past and back again took a bit of getting used to but that plot technique did not carry on throughout the book. Each of the characters was well defined and distinct in personality so easy to imagine. The settings were realistic and the description of the final home in Strafford fit the pictures I've seen of it and its gardens.

I wasn't sure I would like this book - but Maggie O'Farrell changed my mind almost immediately starting to read. Her descriptions were fabulous - and I normally do not like a lot of descriptive info - but I didn't mind this And MarciaS I understand your feeling but the descriptions at the time of Hamnet's death and her wordage were beautiful (I lost my husband several years ago and know your feeling). I just loved the way she writes and her descriptions. I would highly recommend this book and have to my book club and will do so in some other book sites.

This period in history fascinates me, and O'Farrell added depth to that fascination. The details about plants and their use as remedies added to my understanding of holistic medicine and how difficult simple everyday life could be. I agree with Joan that O'Farrell's descriptions were fabulous and her wordage beautiful. I often stopped to imagine the images she describes especially those that she viewed through several character's eyes. For me, this was one of the best books of the year.

I very much enjoyed this book and the story that was told. I believe that Maggie O'Farrell is a gifted author. I appreciated the fact that she was very forthright about the fact that this was a story born of her imagination. Her character descriptions were so good that I have a picture of each character in my mind. I couldn't stop reading this book but I didn't want it to end.

I really liked this book, especially so, since I didn't figure out the ending, which I thought was not only fitting but extremely clever. And since it was about Shakespeare and we know one of his trademarks was a bit of the supernatural, it almost felt like Shakespeare had given a little nudge to author on how to end it! Nicely done.

Achingly beautiful, grief-laden, resounding with love, and ultimately uplifting! Hamnet is by far the best, most beautiful book I have read this year and one of my 10 favorite books of my lifetime of reading. Maggie O'Farrell's writing is enchanting and captivated me from the first page. Her descriptions of illness and grief were perfectly nuanced and made me wonder how they could be so correct in portraying those things. I subsequently read that Ms. O'Farrell has written a memoir, "I Am, I Am, I Am" about near death experiences she has gone through which seemed to explain her understanding of illness and death.

An enjoyable book for me! How interesting to learn a little about the era of Shakespeare's life and his family!

A very well-written historical fiction that held my attention throughout the book.The characters were well developed and it was interesting to see Ms. O’Farrell develop the themes of twins and duplicity throughout.This book will draw attention to Hamlet and Shakespeare once again. And maybe force you to rethink what you thought you knew about the play.

I love this novel. I agree with what others have already said about the superb writing. The writing is so well done it just carries you away deep into the story. I particularly liked how she was able to bring to life the female characters. Regardless of the fact that they were confined to strict gender roles she was able to reveal how each was unique.

Yes, this one had terrific writing as many have said here. The author did an amazing job of creating the time and place of this one and I truly felt like I was there with the characters. This is memorable for sure!

When I first read it, I had mixed feelings about the book. Beautifully written, but it took a second reading to absorb the characters. Their relationships and their reactions to the events of the play/story, make it so worthwhile. I will use it with my book discussion groups this fall.

This novel is a magnificent homage to Shakespeare as well as a potential curriculum enhancer.

I was sitting at my computer, trying to assemble my thoughts into a form that would reflect my initial Wow! into a more fleshed-out reaction. How remarkable that Maggie O'Farrell set out to draw from the shadows Shakespeare's wife Anne/Agnes, shadows into which tradition and misogyny had confined and obscured her for nigh-on five centuries. I suddenly became aware of news unspooling at the bottom of my screen - "Supreme Court overturns Roe vs Wade!" A light bulb went on in my brain, anger and realization thrust themselves to the forefront that even after five hundred years, things had not completely changed for women as we had hoped and thought. Five Associate Justices, and the powerless Chief Justice had undone women's Constitutional right to abortion. Of these six Justices one was a woman. Of course, this ruling applies only in the United States, civilized countries, even formerly "holy Catholic Ireland" have concluded that the courts and political actors have no business deciding what women may, or may not do with their bodies.

I am still reading this book but am absolutely loving the writing. It's descriptive and gorgeous and really pulls you in as a reader. This period in history generally does not interest me, but O'Farrell makes it feel timeless.

One of my book clubs reviewed this book. It scored 4 the top rating. Beautiful writing, interesting lives for every character.

I loved it! My youngest sister lost her fourth child to leukemia as an infant. I was very close to them both and saw sweet Matthew daily for most of his fourteen months of life. This book comes closest I have ever encountered in describing a mother's (or aunt's) grief after such a loss. It was so very poignant.

This was a beautifully written book. It was great to see the development of the Shakespeare character. The characters really came to life while reading.

O'Farrell enchanted me with this glorious reconsideration of the playwright (and the novelist's) art. Her re-envisioning of the Hamlet play's origins, plus weaving contemporary resonance with our own time of plague AND shining the light of empowerment on the family behind the man, all contributed to her well deserved recognition. The prose is so gorgeous and carefully crafted, it transported me into the fields and orchards of the Shakespeare family. Pure magic!

I loved everything about this beautiful book.
Never have I read anything that captured so realistically the experience of grieving.As other readers have described, the reading itself was a palpable experience. Maggie O’Farrell’s writing skill is unmatched. Her story is brilliant! The way she is able to present this story is perfect. I can’t wait to read the book again.

I loved, loved, loved the book! It is extremely well written and presents a very sad period in history yet interesting insight into Shakespeare.

The effects of the book have continued to resonate with me for the last few months. I'm not ususlly a fan of Old English and Shakespeare in its original verse, however watching the plays acted out allow the actors to be more interpretive. The depth of character in this novel proved to be so very descriptive and real that I immediately was drawn to the storyline. The writing of Maggie O'Farrell is magical. I read the book as well as listened to the audio version and was completely transfixed with both.

I usually don't enjoy books with alot of descriptive passages but I did enjoy this book. I probably need to read it again knowing the husband was Shakespeare ( I didn't ....dumb right? ) Also, rather sad. But I can see why lots of people loved it.