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A review by frostbitsky
Hamlet, Prince of Denmark by David Hewson, A.J. Hartley
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I enjoyed this novel adaptation of Hamlet and Richard's voice is a perfect match to perform the story. I listened to another Shakespeare adaptation that he narrated, Romeo and Juliet.
Like R&J, Hamlet takes some liberties. I never read Hamletso I wasn't as familiar with it as well as other Shakespeare plays. It wasn't until I listened to the authors' notes that I learned Yorick doesn't appear in Hamlet, except when Hamlet is meditating upon the skull of Yorick. Which, btw, unless I completely missed it, Hamlet does not say, "To be or not to be." I was waiting for it. "Get thee to a nunnery" is said. "To thy own self be true" is also not said.
Here Yorick is a ghost who is advices and jokes with Hamlet. I loved it. He stole the show. He kind of reminded me of Sevro au Barca from Red Rising. I think it's because he's a sarcastic dwarf.
You know what are hard names to say together and fast? Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. I loved every time Richard said them. He did a fantastic job with all the characters. I love his voice.
4 out of 5 Skulls.
These are some lines I liked:
"Frailty, they name is woman." (About Gertrude.)
"My father lives in here." (Hamlet taps his head.) "I seem him. Hear him. Is that proof?" (Of ghosts.)
(Yorick snorts.) "No, that's memory."
"No, you demand answers you know already. You pose questions that needn't be asked. It's outrageous."
"When all this happened I was in Moscow trying to make the Russians laugh. There's an engagement for you."
"Talking to yourself. That's what you do, isn't it?"
"I find I get better class of conversation that way."
"...you sit in judgement on so many others, prince. Do you ever turn your searching gaze upon yourself?"
Like R&J, Hamlet takes some liberties. I never read Hamletso I wasn't as familiar with it as well as other Shakespeare plays. It wasn't until I listened to the authors' notes that I learned Yorick doesn't appear in Hamlet, except when Hamlet is meditating upon the skull of Yorick. Which, btw, unless I completely missed it, Hamlet does not say, "To be or not to be." I was waiting for it. "Get thee to a nunnery" is said. "To thy own self be true" is also not said.
Here Yorick is a ghost who is advices and jokes with Hamlet. I loved it. He stole the show. He kind of reminded me of Sevro au Barca from Red Rising. I think it's because he's a sarcastic dwarf.
You know what are hard names to say together and fast? Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. I loved every time Richard said them. He did a fantastic job with all the characters. I love his voice.
4 out of 5 Skulls.
These are some lines I liked:
"Frailty, they name is woman." (About Gertrude.)
"My father lives in here." (Hamlet taps his head.) "I seem him. Hear him. Is that proof?" (Of ghosts.)
(Yorick snorts.) "No, that's memory."
"No, you demand answers you know already. You pose questions that needn't be asked. It's outrageous."
"When all this happened I was in Moscow trying to make the Russians laugh. There's an engagement for you."
"Talking to yourself. That's what you do, isn't it?"
"I find I get better class of conversation that way."
"...you sit in judgement on so many others, prince. Do you ever turn your searching gaze upon yourself?"