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Hamnet

O'Farrell, Maggie

  33 Reviews

When the plague rears its ugly head in Stratford-upon-Avon, the Shakespeare household is thrown into disarray. First it is eleven-year-old Judith who falls ill, but it is her twin brother Hamnet who succumbs. His mother is inconsolable and as for his father, he is off in London, writing his plays.

Beautifully imagined and exquisitely descriptive, and with its evocative accounts of 16th century daily life, this story of love and loss is an intimate portrayal of a family, with Agnes (whom history calls Anne) at its heart. [Larger font]

Pages
367
Year
2020

Reviews

WELL 189
10-08-2024
This book paired well with the mulled wine we made for the occasion! Overall we all really enjoyed the use of language and imagery of the book - it really brought the 16rh century era and the characters to life. The story was a very clever take on a well-known author's life and family.
HAMIL 029
08-08-2024
The group was divided about Hamnet, though most found a lot in it to admire. For several of us, it is a book to love for its style, its recreation of C16th England through sensual imagery, including smell, the imaginative portrait of Agnes Hathaway as a strong, independent woman not just Shakespeare's wife who probably trapped him into marriage. O'Farrell's depiction of grief for the loss of a child is moving and powerful. Some thought the book too disjointed for them and too long. One person just didn't read it.
TAKA 001
09-04-2024
Most people in our group loved the book and liked the detailed descriptions of life at the time of Shakespeare. To highlight the life of his wife, who was unconvential but very independent was very much enjoyed. The description of the impact of the grief after losing a child felt very true.
WHITBY 005
04-03-2024
The majority of our group enjoyed Hamnet, praised the descriptive writing and rated it highly. Several of us had read it previously but welcomed a second read. We had good discussion on the themes in the book and life in Elizabethan England. Reminiscences were shared of members' visits to Stratford on Avon, also the Globe theatre. We also considered the stance of Shakespeare sceptics.
CHCH 058
23-01-2024
Most members found the book interesting but over long and somewhat disjointed, because of the arrangement of the chapters based on the journey of the characters rather than following the chronology of events. Some felt the reading of it a bit of a chore. Two members were very enthusiastic about all aspects of the book.
MOTUE 008
11-01-2024
For the first time, everyone in the group gave this book unreserved praise. The perfect book for our last meeting of the year.
WELL 041
22-11-2023
We all gave Hamnet a top score. A truly clever and wonderful book to read. We all thoroughly enjoyed and praised the book; Maggie O'Farrell is a great writer.
LOWER 006
03-11-2023
Really enjoyed - spiked a renewed interest in Shakespeare and his works!
CHCH 494
17-07-2023
Absorbing read, and general agreement as to the writer's consummate skill with prose and complicated characterisation. Some readers felt the story required a second reading to dispel some initial confusion.
NGARB 001
24-04-2023
Everyone in our group just LOVED this book, and some read it twice! A talented author, using very expressive language, who brought the story alive. We could walk the streets, and smell the smells!
AKAR 001
28-03-2023
A great read for the first book of the year. Satisfying storyline, characterisations, and descriptive passages. Too descriptive for some at times! But then several members looked out other books by the author, and searched the internet and RNZ for interviews and reviews.
STRAT 001
14-03-2023
Several members were confused by the layout, with no chapter numbers or headings, and the altering of real names. Others thought the text was descriptive and lyrical. We all thought we would appreciate it more at a second reading.
WELL 130
28-02-2023
A really thought-provoking read. A number of themes including family violence, a pandemic, marriage, housing, life and death. We loved the poetic writing style.
BLENH 011
12-01-2023
Everybody loved this book - best of the year.
LOWER 002
09-01-2023
Polarised opinions. Some really disliked the concept of inventing a story for a historical figure, some found the writing too discursive. On the other hand, some loved it, and found it an enjoyable riff on elements of the most famous literary figure of all!
INVER 001
09-01-2023
Virtually all the group loved this book - several had read it before but enjoyed the writing and historical content just as much the 2nd time around - a real winner!
CHCH 449
09-01-2023
Well-written and easy to read except we didn't enjoy the jumping of generations and time-frames. Interesting reading about life in 1500s but we had difficulty relating the story to the actual play "Hamlet".
CHCH 537
29-11-2022
We all loved it, tears shed and loved the historical context.
WELL 074
17-11-2022
Enjoyable but rather dense in places.
RAUM 001
17-11-2022
We all loved this book - great story (very sad), brilliantly told, which made the environment of centuries ago feel as real as modern day. Highest recommendation.
TAUR 004
10-10-2022
Members were intrigued by the transmission of the plague. Beautiful descriptive writing. The book was enjoyed by most but not all.
WELL 007
19-09-2022
Everyone really enjoyed this book. The description of of Elizabethan England a highlight. All agreed Maggie O'Farrell is a great writer.
TEKUI 001
01-09-2022
Everyone enjoyed this book, the descriptions were excellent. Hamnet's death was tear jerking. It was interesting that Shakespeare's name was never mentioned.
WHITIAN 002
18-08-2022
General agreement on the pleasure of reading this book. All enjoyed O'Farrell's style, observations of the human and natural world, comparisons with today's Covid pandemic, and an insight to life in Shakespeare's time. All will read more of this author.
AUCK 224
16-08-2022
The members loved the book with its beautiful descriptions. They wished that the story was true rather than fiction. Made us think about life in the 1600s.
AUCK 071
15-08-2022
Despite taking a while to get into, members felt the book was a worthwhile read. Characterisation was particularly good, as was the detailed description of how life might have been in Elizabethan Stratford. It was quite intense, but members felt that the handling of the intense grief felt by Agnes was very moving.
PICT 005
10-08-2022
We all enjoyed this book. The sense of place, descriptions, and metaphors were impressively vivid.
TAUR 005
08-08-2022
Most members loved this book, both the style and the content. Others did not enjoy the story, feeling the characters lacked development. The majority totally endorsed the writing and the content.
GOVER 005
18-07-2022
We all loved this book. The style of writing was mesmerising and although it is a sad book, it covered the topics of death and grief in a beautiful and moving prose. We were all sad to finish, many of us couldn't put it down, even when doing the vaccuming!!
AUCK 116
30-06-2022
In spite of all the amazing reviews, our group didn't really like the book. Too flowery, hard to believe and needed editing.
GREYT 002
20-06-2022
One of our highest scoring books - people enjoyed the story, the Shakespeare link ( albeit fiction) and the style of writing.
HOKITIK 001
29-04-2022
More than half of our group had already read this book but we all re-read it. Such is the brilliance of this book. What a stunner. Led to all sorts of discussion: plague, characterisation, history, family dynamics - it had it all.
WAIKA 013
11-04-2022
A book which divided some of the members, including the one who recommended it - who scored it very poorly!! Others thought it was well-written and gave some insight to the late 16th century - the time of Shakespeare.