Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell

345 reviews

mrs_reads's review against another edition

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challenging emotional sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

This is beautifully written; so lyrical and lush with description. 

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kaanda's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0


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brmaldo7's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75


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mld8's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

This was such an incredible read. I don’t know what about O’Farrell’s writing pulled me in, but it was like nothing else I’ve read before. 

When I picked this book up, I was hesitant to read it because it was told to me as “a mother’s grief over a child’s plague death.” I don’t know where I got that, but it’s kinda untrue. Does that play a part in the story? Yes, but not for the first 250 pages. Those are filled with young love, teenage stupidity, familial strife, and just the right touch of magic.

Agnes's nods to being a wood sprite and almost witch-like knowledge was just enough fantasy to really pull me in, because there are people out there who you meet and you’re like, “You know a secret and I’m not gonna question how you know it.”

The only reason this isn’t five stars is because ITS NOT REAL. Sure, it’s based in what little fact we know, but it hurts me a little. I’m taking this story as history anyways, I’m not sorry.

READ THIS BOOK. 

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bree_of_the_woods's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0


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akisen's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25


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jolineliest's review against another edition

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challenging emotional inspiring slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Am Anfang habe ich die ganze Zeit darauf gewartet, dass das Kind endlich stirbt, damit die Geschichte losgehen kann. Irgendwann habe ich mich dann aber in der tollen Sprache und immersiven Geschichte verloren und war einfach glücklich dabei zu sein. Maggie O'Farrell beherrscht die Mythenmetzsche Abschweifung in Perfektion. Aber dadurch zieht sie die Lesenden auch mit, immer tiefer in die Geschichte hinein. Alles ist so lebhaft beschrieben und so gut mitzufühlen, dass es schwerfällt, das Buch aus der Hand zu legen.

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juchinnii's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

I’m not typically a fan of literary fiction, but I’m trying to branch out and I think this was a pretty good starting point. I did audio, which I think helped. The flow of the writing is lovely, and the narrator’s voice went well with it. The ending was wonderful, but it took a long time to get there. I liked how the story focuses on the women - William Shakespeare is never even mentioned by name, a great decision imo. My major qualm is that the entire story is basically spoiled in the blurb, and there really isn’t much beyond what they say in it. I guess they were assuming most people would know what happened to Hamnet historically, but I had no idea and I think the story would’ve hit better if I’d gone in totally blind. Also if you’re uncomfortable with long, detailed descriptions of birthing, maybe skip a couple chapters. I’m sure it resonates differently with mothers, but I sure wish I had. 

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asienerbrown's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0


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whoareyou_whoamitoyou's review against another edition

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emotional sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.5


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