The Sonnets by Warwick Collins
What was the inspiration behind Shakespeare’s sonnets?
This is the question addressed in Warwick Collins’ new books, “The Sonnets,” as he imagines Shakespeare’s life during the time the London theaters were closed due to plague. The reader follows Shakespeare’s thoughts, feelings, and life as he stays at the home of his patron, the Earl of Southampton and composes his famous sonnets.
This is a very quick read and truly feels as if it is a snapshot of Shakespeare’s life, it could almost be an excerpt from his lost diary, if it were only written in diary format. It was definitely a well-written, well-thought-out, and plausible story. That being said, it really wasn’t the right book for me. I was able to appreciate that it was good, but I didn’t have much interest, although I wasn’t ever tempted to give it up. I think part of my problem was indeed the feeling of the story being a snapshot of Shakespeare’s life. Because there was little background and I simply entered into his story, I never became attached to any of the characters.
Perhaps my real problem, though, was simply my inability to read poetry in the midst of prose. Confession: I almost ALWAYS skip the poems and songs that authors include in their novels. I really tried to read them in “The Sonnets,” because I knew that they were the entire reason for thes story, but I wasn’t always successful.
Although this book wasn’t the best fit for me, it may work very well for other readers, particularly those enamored with Shakespeare’s sonnets and those with the ability to pay attention to poetry in novels. Bad luck if you’re American, though, as “The Sonnets” seems to be available from Amazon in the UK and Canada, but not in the US.
Thanks for the honest review. It’s hard when you don’t feel any connection to the characters. I’m passing on this one, mainly because I was never a big fan of Shakespeare’s sonnets.
I love the poems and songs authors include in their books! It’s one of the things I look for lol. However, I’ve never been that crazy about Shakespeare’s work as it takes such an effort to read (the film adaptations are usually pretty good though- go figure?!)
I think you are right on here…you either are a poem/sonnet person, or you aren’t. I am not. I’m not sure what that means in the scheme of things…maybe I wasn’t properly schooled in the art of reading and appreciating them. Either way, I think I would opt out of this one!
I’m such a sucker for covers that I would’ve picked this book up just by that alone. Thanks for a great review….I just might have to read this!
I always skip songs/poems/Bible Verses, too! I don’t think I’ll read this.
I like the Sonnets so I might give this a go. I don’t read poems in books whilst I’m reading them though, although I will sometimes go back after I’ve finished the book to try and figure out the signficance.
I’m guilty of skipping poems too (unless they come at the very beginning and then I love reading them). That’s why I got through Possession in record time! I love Shakespeare’s sonnets though, so I might read those.
I wanted this one *so* badly when it was available through Early Reviewers. Now I don’t feel so bad about not getting it, LOL, although I do still want to read it.