Book Review: Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell

“What is given may be taken away, at any time. Cruelty and devastation wait for you around corners, inside coffers, behind doors: they can leap out at you at any time, like a thief or brigand. The trick is never to let down your guard. Never think you are safe. Never take for granted that your children’s hearts beat, that they sup milk, that they draw breath, that they walk and speak and smile and argue and play. Never for a moment forget they may be gone, snatched from you, in the blink of an eye, borne away from you like thistledown.”

Maggie O’Farrell, Hamnet

Review:

Although I’m not particularly a fan of Shakespeare’s work, I’ve been interested in reading this book. I’ve owned a copy for a while, and was excited when it was selected as a book club read. Not being familiar with his life and relationships didn’t leave me feeling like I was missing out on any information. 

In this fictionalized take on William Shakespeare’s family, we mainly follow his wife, Agnes. We also get glimpses of her children, with emphasis on her son, Hamnet. There is little focus on Shakespeare’s career as a playwright and is instead a deeply introspective character work. 

Although I did enjoy the book, I will also be honest and say that I probably would have enjoyed it more if I were more interested in this time and the real-life inspiration for these characters. I wasn’t lost on anything though, which I feel is more important. The writing was lovely and emotional. The ending in particular was phenomenal. 

Likes & Dislikes:

What I liked:

• Beautiful writing, which created a fitting dark overtone to the story.
• Character-driven.

What I didn’t like:

• The book didn’t follow a steady rhythm, so some of the transitions were jarring.
• I didn’t vibe with Agnes’ nature and perception traits.

Afterthoughts:

I enjoyed this more than I thought I would!

Where to buy the book: