Rating: 4/5
Review:
Involving and enjoyable
I enjoyed this quirky, updated version of Hamlet (or of the bones of
the story, at least) but I did have some reservations.
Told from the point
of view of an unborn foetus, we get the story of his mother’s
(Trudy’s) infidelity with her husband’s brother (Claude). It’s
a very clever idea which itself was enough to hold my attention. The
narrative voice is a mixture of inexperience of the external physical
world and a sophisticated, cultured, knowledgeable view which for me
teeters on the edge of pretentiousness while only occasionally
falling into it. There are some thoughtful but acerbic commentaries
on modern life and attitudes, very often slyly referring to events
and speeches in Hamlet – even down to talk of putting poison in
someone’s ear (and the title, of course). It is witty and
knowing...and just occasionally a little too much so for me, with a
slight air of self-congratulation. Nonetheless, it’s an involving
read with some genuine tension toward the end.
Slight reservations
notwithstanding, this is an involving, often very enjoyable read.
Recommended.
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