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Thursday, August 04, 2016

Hag-Seed by Margaret Atwood

Hag-Seed by Margaret Atwood is the best book I've read this year.  Loved it!  Bounced back and forth from delight to fearful nervous tension and a sinking feeling in my stomach throughout the entire thing.  With the exception of Titus Andronicus, I've read all of Shakespeare's plays, and although I've always appreciated the wonderful language and multiple quotable lines in The Tempest, the plot has never been my favorite.   Atwood's version has given me much to think about and a completely new appreciation of the play.   

Briefly, Felix is a creative and innovative artistic director whose self-importance and experimentation in staging Shakespeare productions has not always been appreciated, and he has more wild ideas for his upcoming production of The Tempest.  Immersed in his creative work which helps him deal with the death of his young daughter, Felix has abandoned many of the more boring duties of his position  to his assistant Tony.  

Ah, but traitorous Tony has taken advantage of Felix's neglect and has plotted his ouster.  Not only is Felix abruptly and unceremoniously removed from his directorship, but his Tempest will never be produced.

Felix retires to a shabby, isolated farmhouse where he mourns the loss of his beloved daughter and the loss of a career.  And plots revenge.   

What I loved:  Everything.  From the opening prologue that intimates disaster, to the play within the play within the play, to Felix's character development throughout, to the way he approaches teaching Shakespeare to prison inmates, to way the inmates ways of assimilating the universals of the plays, to Miranda's role, to my new appreciation of the original play--just everything!

I have a strange relationship with Atwood's works, some of which have not appealed as much to me as they have to others, although I always find deep pleasure in the way she wields language.  My favorite work before reading Hag-Seed was The Penelopiad, which I adored.

Hag-Seed charmed and delighted me, and after finishing, I pulled out my Complete Works and will be settling in to reread The Tempest with a new perspective and pleasure.  

This is my favorite work of fiction in years.  You don't need to have read The Tempest to love this novel.  You don't have to like Shakespeare to enjoy the plot and the characters.  Yet you will still come away marveling at the genius of Shakespeare and at Atwood's masterful reinterpretation of the tale.

The Acknowledgements at the end include books and films that Atwood found useful which include Julie Taymor's film of The Tempest with Helen Mirren as Prospera and other films and books that I might be interested in checking out.  There is also a section about prison literature that has another list of books that sound fascinating.  And more.  I have a quite a list of possible further reading and viewing.

rev. sch. for Aug. 4, 2016  

NetGalley/Crown Publishing

Fiction/Shakespeare Retelling.  Oct. 11, 2016.  Print length:  320 pages.

16 comments:

  1. I haven't read this one but have it on my Wish List for later this year. I'm reading another book in that Shakespeare re-write series right now, Vinegar Girl by Anne Tyler, based upon The Taming of the Shrew and I'm not having nearly as positive a reaction to it as you just had with the Atwood book.

    Have you read any others in this series?

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    1. I tried Vinegar Girl, but was not engaged. Thought I would love it, but it ended up in the DNF pile. Fortunately, both of them were from NetGalley and free. I think you will enjoy Hag-Seed, though, Sam! I'm excited about some of the others and how appropriate for Jo Nesbo to choose MacBeth.

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  2. I'm impressed that you've read all of Shakespeare's plays. I've been working my way through them over the last couple of years, but am only about halfway done. (Although I have read Titus Andronicus.) I did see a great adaptation of The Tempest down in Cedar City, Utah, one summer which made me appreciate the play more, although I am not a fan of Caliban. Hag-Seed, despite the unfortunate title, sounds like a great read. I'll add it to my list, right under The Penelopiad, which I still need to read. :) Great review!

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    1. I agree that the title is unfortunate, Lark! If the book had not been written by Atwood, I would not have been at all interested. Seeing plays performed is the best way to appreciate reading them because it brings a new perspective. I've seen some wonderful adaptations of the plays as well. A nearby college presented wonderful modern takes on some of the plays one year that were great fun.

      I don't know why your comment ended up under "moderation," but I just found it.

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  3. Wow! I am sold. I hadn't even heard of this book, but I love Margaret Atwood and your words of praise sealed the deal.

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    1. It is such an intriguing retelling with several twists!

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  4. Definitely going on my list! I haven't read Atwood in a while. Actually I think the last book of hers I read was The Penelopiad. Loved that book!

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    1. I loved The Penelopiad! Atwood has such an interesting approach to retelling well-known stories!

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  5. Margaret Atwood's books are either a hit or miss to me but one thing about them is her stories are usually unique and the issues raised can be so interesting and even thought-provoking. I like the sound of this one based on your review, Jenclair. I'll have to check it out. :)

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    1. Atwood has been hit or miss with me, too, but she does have that way of making each one thought-provoking. It is kind of funny that my two favorites of the books I've read by Atwood are retellings of classics.

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  6. Your book review blog has enticed me to rediscover my love of books. Over the past few years I have picked up one or two. With the exception of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, I have had a hard time getting interested. Last night I found an Ann Rule book on the shelf that sucked me right in. When I'm done, I'll come back here and read a few reviews and perhaps find my next selection. Thank you Jen.
    xx, Carol

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    1. I didn't see that this was awaiting moderation, Carol! :) I'm glad to see you visiting here. Not sure why your comments to come through on email like everyone else's, but they don't on this blog or my crafty blog.

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  7. What high praise! I have only read one Atwood book so far. I admit I am not a fan of Shakespeare's nor have I read all his plays (I haven't read or seen The Tempest). From what I've heard of Atwood, she has a way of presenting her subject matter is a new light that really gives one food for thought.

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    1. She certainly gives food for thought in this one. One reason I really enjoyed it was the idea of prison inmates taking on Shakespeare, writing and changing scenes, and adding very personal interpretations of the events in the play. :)

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  8. So glad to hear this is a good one! I am really looking forward to it!

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    1. I loved this one and all of the connections Atwood makes!

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