Reviews

Prospero's Daughter by Elizabeth Nunez

Only show reviews with written explanations

bookishblond's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

Absolutely beautiful re-telling of Shakespeare's "The Tempest."

rainbowrachel's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

This was the platonic ideal of a "not for me" book. I did not enjoy it at all, but I believe that is just down to it not meshing with my personal tastes rather than any inherent flaws.

Content Warnings

ldv's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

[b:The Tempest|12985|The Tempest|William Shakespeare|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1275657977s/12985.jpg|1359590] will never be the same now that I've read this book. Prospero's Daughter is an updated telling of Shakespeare's classic, set in Trinidad when it was a colony of the British. The book spells out the connections between this one and Shakespeare's, but it helps to know the Bard's tale to get the full effect of what this book is saying. Or, perhaps reading this book helps get the full effect what the Bard says. Colonialism and the brazen racism that went with it is found on every page in the book. It's almost shocking how the British (or any colonizing country) could be so blind to their own hypocrisy and prejudice. What makes people think that white is better than black? Thankfully, the British officer Mumsford only narrates the first few chapters, so I was not subjected to the first-person racist thinking the whole time.

Colonialism is not the only theme, however. The book also explores oppression against women. Is it just a sick mind that makes a man think he is better than those not like him? Is it Gardner's greed that makes him this way? The book does not really explore his "magic" but it is there in his cape, staff, and book, just as Prospero has.

There's a lot to discuss about this book. But the author's note at the end, where she references [b:Will in the World|137717|Will in the World How Shakespeare Became Shakespeare|Stephen Jay Greenblatt|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1172090588s/137717.jpg|1221914], which notes that Shakespeare's last three works, The Tempest, Pericles, and A Winter's Tale, are all about father/daughter relationships. Apparently Shakespeare was fascinated by his daughter, Susanna. Prospero, a sort of self-modeled character, feels unexplicable guilt. Is the explanation Nunez gives for Gardner's guilt connected to Shakespeare's guilt? That's why my view Prospero has changed.

henry_wallison's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

I thought this book was easy to get lost in—and I mean that in a very favorable way. It was enjoyable picking out the parallels between this story and The Tempest; that said, while the influence is clear, it is far from a direct retelling, which makes for a refreshing reading experience. There are several scenes throughout this book that are intense to read through; if you are especially sensitive to descriptions of abuse, this book might not be for you. Narratively, my only gripe might be the ambiguity surrounding some of the more magical sections of the book; while I won't divulge the specificities of my confusion out of a desire to not spoil the book, I feel like these elements would have been more useful to the narrative if they were more directly explained.

crueltykey's review against another edition

Go to review page

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

misao_mcgregor's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes

5.0

walla293's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

nesdy's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.5

Once in a while a book comes along that completely and unexpectedly blows you away. This was it for me. I love how it's not just a retelling of The Tempest, but it's actually in conversation both with it and with the rest of the Western literary canon. The way abuse is portrayed in this novel is spot on, and it deals with how a lot of the abuse that happens behind closed doors is upheld by the abuse happening at an institutional level. The only reason this doesn't get five stars is that I felt like the ending was a bit abrupt.

12grace4's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark informative sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

miss_laura_smith's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark informative sad slow-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Content Warnings

More...