Title: Hag-Seed
Author: Margaret Atwood
Page Count: 301 Pages
Where I received: Crown Publishing
Actual Rating: 4.5 out of 5 I really loved this book, as I love Shakespeare so very much. Before this book I had never read a retelling of Shakespeare so to be quite honest, I was very nervous. I was pleasantly surprised about how much I loved this book. Atwood will forever have a special place in my heart. The Tempest is one of my favorite Shakespeare plays. I have read it quite a few times and watched many adaptation movies of it. Atwood did a fantastic job of retelling this beautiful classic.
This book is about a man named Feliz, he was the artistic director of the major theatre house. That is until his assistant has betrayed him in a coup, that was orchestrated leaving him in the dust. He is completely alone and isolated. He wants revenge. When he gets the opportunity to do just that. He is marvelously clever as is Prospero. He ends up taking this role, and in the end becoming a tragic villain in his own right.
Atwood writes a beautiful tribute to Shakespeare's original story. She is able to but some brilliant modern spin on it but stays true to the original narrative. The characters that Atwood creates are timeless and real. We all have come into contact with people like this, we all have dealt with revenge. She was able to craft not only the story but Shakespeare's spirit into the story.
Disclaimer: I received this book for review from Blogging For Books in exchange for my honest and completely unbiased review.
Links to purchase: Amazon // Barnes & Noble
When Felix is deposed as artistic director of the Makeshiweg Theatre Festival by his devious assistant and longtime enemy, his production of The Tempest is canceled and he is heartbroken. Reduced to a life of exile in rural southern Ontario—accompanied only by his fantasy daughter, Miranda, who died twelve years ago—Felix devises a plan for retribution.
Eventually he takes a job teaching Literacy Through Theatre to the prisoners at the nearby Burgess Correctional Institution, and is making a modest success of it when an auspicious star places his enemies within his reach. With the help of their own interpretations, digital effects, and the talents of a professional actress and choreographer, the Burgess Correctional Players prepare to video their Tempest. Not surprisingly, they view Caliban as the character with whom they have the most in common. However, Felix has another twist in mind, and his enemies are about to find themselves taking part in an interactive and illusion-ridden version of The Tempest that will change their lives forever. But how will Felix deal with his invisible Miranda’s decision to take a part in the play?
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