![40x40](/uploads/profile_image/e83/799d6770-43f6-4623-ac5c-b472f22d2e83.jpg?m=1615677687)
Erika (17788 KP) rated Hamnet in Books
Jan 10, 2021
Hamnet is the story of an little, unknown playwright's son, who died of the plague. Just kidding, the playwright is obviously Shakespeare, but he is never named. Which is fine with me, he wasn't the focus.
Nothing much is really known about Hamnet, the author did some extensive research, and created the series of events. I thought they were all plausible, and I always appreciate a heavily researched historical fiction novel.
In truth, the focus of the novel is on Anne Hathaway, called Agnes in this novel. It's possible her true name was Agnes, rather than Anne. Now, I had a slight problem with the character of Agnes in general. This was the major negative in the book for me, I feel as though the woman in the woods, is she or isn't she a witch situation is getting overplayed way too much. Now, I see it as the equivalent as the manic pixie dream girl. I understand this woman of the woods trope is to empower the female characters, but it's just too familiar at this point.
I feel mostly that every book I read is predictable, when you read over 100 books a year, it's hard not to predict the ending. Is it necessarily a bad thing? Of course it's not, but that coupled with the manic pixie woman of the woods is why I can't rate this higher than good.
I have to add that one of my favorite parts, that was probably really unnecessary, was the journey of the plague-carrying flea. I thought it was amusing, and kind of odd.
I can definitely see why this book was up for prizes, and I'm sure to the casual reader, it was better than good.
![The Du Lac Prophecy (The Du Lac Chronicles #4)](/uploads/profile_image/c96/40928f76-db20-44a3-99af-79fbf5f73c96.jpg?m=1534594328)
The Du Lac Prophecy (The Du Lac Chronicles #4)
Book
Two Prophesies. Two Noble Households. One Throne. Distrust and greed threaten to destroy the...
Historical Fantasy Romance
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The Other Tudor Princess: Margaret Douglas, Henry VIII's Niece
Book
The Other Tudor Princess brings to life the story of Margaret Douglas, a shadowy and mysterious...
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Charles Brandon: Henry VIII's Closest Friend
Book
We don't really consider Henry VIII to have had friends, rather subjects, cronies and dutiful wives...
![The Importance of Pawns (Chronicles of the House of Valois)](/uploads/profile_image/cec/05caa4df-bb37-4145-b780-4ab5a1860cec.jpg?m=1613049785)
The Importance of Pawns (Chronicles of the House of Valois)
Book
Based on historical events and characters in sixteenth-century France, this timeless tale pits envy,...
Historical Fiction
![Hold The Sunset](/uploads/profile_image/2f9/9bdaac8b-7df9-468c-98dd-2ce7ee1682f9.jpg?m=1522361183)
Hold The Sunset
TV Show
For Edith, life is pretty good. She's been a widow for some years now, but her children live locally...
comedy
![Her Scottish Rogue (The Rebels, Rakes, and Rogues Series)](/uploads/profile_image/796/7a39e65f-1916-4340-86e1-58fc87c75796.jpg?m=1684319113)
Her Scottish Rogue (The Rebels, Rakes, and Rogues Series)
Book
Wren Taggart is no lady. Her life consists of kitchen duties at Newcastle Inn. Mistaken for Lady...
Historical Romance Scotland
![40x40](/uploads/profile_image/0e3/630e4ff5-bfdf-4760-9e37-29f3ad9090e3.jpg?m=1522362006)
ClareR (5596 KP) rated Coming Up For Air in Books
Apr 17, 2020
We also meet the Norwegian toy maker who designs Resusci Anne, and the things that happened in his life that brought him to that point. His is an equally sad story, and although he has been fictionalised, he has been based om the real man who made the doll.
The third story is that of a Canadian girl with cystic fibrosis, and her journey from childhood up until she becomes a journalist as an adult.
This is a book about transformations: the French maid is transformed in to a mask that will be recognised around the world over a hundred years after her death; a toy maker is transformed after the death of his beloved son, into someone who tries to ensure that everyone has the ability for such things not to happen again; and a woman with cystic fibrosis has a literal transformation with the promise of renewed, transplanted lungs.
This novel sucked me in to all three lives and times. Both the French girls and the child’s death devastated me, and the Canadian woman’s story was one of hope (although I was pretty much dreading the idea that something bad would happen to her).
I loved this book, and I feel lucky to have read it. I would most definitely recommend it.
![The Stuarts](/uploads/profile_image/ab1/6c9c338e-e3ce-4da9-a015-c1dc3b71dab1.jpg?m=1522355099)
The Stuarts
Book
When James VI of Scotland succeeded Elizabeth as James I on the throne of England in 1603, the...
![The Unfaithful Queen: A Novel of Henry VIII's Fifth Wife](/uploads/profile_image/cbf/e8355f9b-628d-4ba4-a5cc-3f8aec86ccbf.jpg?m=1630924017)
The Unfaithful Queen: A Novel of Henry VIII's Fifth Wife
Book
Amid the turbulent, faction-ridden late reign of the fearsome Henry, eager high-spirited Catherine...