Read
Hamlet by Charles Lamb (audiobook / library / with kids)
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The Lamb adaptations are still a bit difficult for modern children, so I always start with E. Nesbit’s version, them David Timson’s, and the Lamb version last. My daughter’s comment was “This is like The Lion King!”
Saving Hamlet by Molly Booth (physical / library)
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The modern sections of the book were a bit all over the place, but the historical sections were well researched and well written. It kept me engaged, and I read it very quickly, which is what I needed right now.
Zac and Mia by A.J. Betts (audiobook / library)
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The first part, narrated by Zac, is amazing – Zac is completely crushable (well, if I was a teen). He reminds me of Pat from The Silver Linings Playbook – optimistic, loving, kind. Once we begin to see Mia’s POV, the story almost lost me. Mia is horrible, selfish, and vain. Thankfully, I stuck with it, learned what’s made her this way, watched her grow (with a lot of help from Zac). I cried ALL the tears. I do wish the narrators had been Australian, instead of having bland Hollywood accent-less voices.
Hamlet by William Shakespeare (film / library / re-read)
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I decided that sitting down and re-reading Hamlet (even reading along with an audiobook) was just not going to work for me. I needed to *see* this play, to experience it as theater. Since a live performance wasn’t possible, I found a video of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s production starring David Tennant and Patrick Stewart. While not perfect, it was an engaging production, with massively appealing leads. Of the secondary characters, Oliver Ford Davies stood out as Polonius (I never realized he was such a comic character – I’ve always read him as dull and dim, but Davies plays him as an elderly Mr. Collins type). Ophelia has always seemed the weakest character to me, and this production does nothing to change that perception. Tennant was the perfect blend of whip smart and manic (of course he was!).
Further Chronicles of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery (audiobook / library / re-read)
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I can’t give a collection that includes The Education of Betty and Tannis of the Flats more stars. The former is completely and utterly squicky, and the latter is horribly racist. I do believe in remembering historical context, but I can’t get past these stories.
Challenges
GOODREADS
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Hamlet by William Shakespeare
CLASSICS CHALLENGE
Hamlet by William Shakespeare
Further Chronicles of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery
BACKLIST READER CHALLENGE 2017
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POPSUGAR READING CHALLENGE 2017
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