The world has long thought it knows William Shakespeare. His is, perhaps, the most recognizable name in history. But what do we really know about the man? We know so many of his words, the depth of his intellect, and the sheer genius with which he crafted even the simplest of phrases. Behind all his poetic language was a man with fears, anxieties, and tragedies that weren’t just on paper. Tragedies that he attempted to heal by channeling the depth of his despair onto the page and then onto the stage for people to experience across the span of four centuries and counting.
Now in her novel, Hamnet, author Maggie O’Farrell takes on the task of vividly imagining the life of young Shakespeare beyond his written works, with less emphasis on him and more on his family. The principal protagonist of this story is his wife, Agnes, typically referred to as Anne Hathaway in most records. While her husband was away in London most of the time, Agnes lived a normal country life in Stratford with her children. A strange woman, she was well-versed in herbal remedies and possessed a type of second sight. She knew impossible things with a clarity that confused and intimidated others, making her something of a recluse about town. The first of her children to come along was Susanna, followed by the twins Judith and Hamnet.
Hamnet is presented by O’Farrell as a promising, bright, and steadfast young man, fiercely protective of his mother and sisters. He was the stronger of the twins, Judith barely surviving birth and then struggling with various ailments throughout her life. The family could have never imagined it would be Hamnet who would perish of the black death at the young age of 11. The novel is a deeply psychological portrait of grief. There is no mystery. There are no surprises. We know the story, but that doesn’t lessen the pain we experience alongside Agnes as we witness her shock, horror, and grief at the loss of her young son. Though little is known about the real-life details surrounding his death, O’Farrell created a moving and lyrical tribute to the young lad with Hamnet. It is speculated that he died of the plague, but I don’t believe this has ever been verified in the historical record. In fact, so little is known about Shakespeare’s family life in Stratford and his relationship with his wife that most of the novel is simply an imagined vision of what might have been. Agnes is a figment, one possible variation of an infinite number of grieving mothers who all share the same affliction of having to exist in a reality without a piece of their hearts.
This novel is so beautifully written. Under less competent hands it would fail to honor the legacy of a great writer like William Shakespeare. But this novel does exactly what it should. It places at center stage his wife, Agnes, and her profound grief that would darken the rest of her days. It’s a truly lovely book that will leave the reader feeling raw of spirit, but it’s completely worth it. This is a book that will withstand the test of time.
Published March 31, 2020 by Tinder Press. ASIN B0DLT48DR7. Runtime 12 hrs, 43 mins. Narrated by Ell Potter.
Imagine my complete elation when I see that Kathryn Stockett has released another novel. Her astounding novel, The Help, was released all the way back in 2009. I guess I should be glad Stockett took so much time to craft this second novel, because it is a marvel of modern literature. Still concerning social justice, The Calamity Club places less emphasis on race relations, though that still definitely plays a part, but focuses more on social class and the societal pressure to adhere to accepted norms.
See? I told you I read a lot about death all at once. While my previous post, 
I feel like I’ve read a lot of books about death lately. Believe it or not, not all of them were super heavy reads, but this particular title certainly is. It’s made more difficult because you truly learn to love the characters, two sisters who share an unbreakable bond that stretches beyond the distance between them. The older sister, Marlowe, is a bit serious and standoffish. She hides pain behind her fierce work ethic and academic pursuits. Harper, however, is a free spirit who feels and exudes love and light with every breath despite the devastating circumstances of her life. She makes sure to correct those who improperly refer to her condition as Down syndrome, because she has Up Syndrome. She is special and rare, and she has a good heart despite the doctors telling her she needs a new one.
I chose this one on the off-chance it might actually be a ghost story. While it sort of is, I’m not actually going to count it as my ghost story, as I feel the final emphasis is on something much more psychological and emotional. Let me explain. The premise of this novel is fairly simple. Lainey Taylor’s husband is an alcoholic and someone who has become a danger to her and her daughter. Her threats to leave have merely sparked threats from him and his rich and powerful mother to deprive her access to her daughter. As any other rational woman would think, the obvious answer is to set up an elaborate fake haunting in order to torture an already mentally disturbed man into tucking his tail between his legs and heading for the hills. I mean, that doesn’t over-complicate things at all, right? It’s completely and normal and rational for a suburban mom to go to such lengths to get away from a terrible man. 
Arthur Pepper, aged 69, is at a pivotal time in life. Recently widowed, he wakes every morning wanting little more than to slog through his daily routine with little contact with the outside world. He wakes at the same time, wears the same clothes, and cares for his only companion, Frederica the fern. Oh, and he attempts to avoid the well-meaning also-widowed neighbor who has adopted him as her current “lost cause” in need of fresh baked goods. On the one-year anniversary of his beloved wife’s death, however, he finds a beautiful piece of Miriam’s jewelry he’d never seen hidden inside an old shoe. Attached to a lovely gold bracelet are a series of charms, each of which holds a story that will lead Arthur on a journey to discover Miriam’s secret past.
I originally chose this novel as a Haunted House book for my reading challenge, but I have changed my mind. While there is that element of the creepy family home of hidden terrors that plague the nightmares of the now-grown children, that’s not really what this book is about. People looking for tense moments of aching dread, jump scares, and ghoulish imagery will need to look elsewhere. This novel is so much more introspective.
If you’ve followed my blog a while, you may have noticed I don’t read a lot of science fiction. I’m far from an aficionado, but I do have some favorites in the genre. Andy Weir comes to mind as someone who’s blown me away with his tightly-crafted and scientifically-convincing works. I love when someone can lay out for me a scientific future that really makes sense. It feels possible and concrete. It doesn’t really take much, as I would be rubbish at explaining the mechanics of anything involving space or space travel. I find it fascinating but know nothing. That’s sort of why I added galactic science fiction to my reading challenge this year, hoping to maybe find my next Project Hail Mary-esque obsession.
A Librarian and Her Books 