TBR | All the World’s A Page

Yes, I’m going for a second readathon. I just couldn’t resist the sound of this one. This is a Shakespeare inspired readathon hosted by Olivia from Olivia’s Catastrophe,  Cara from Wilde Book Garden and Julia from Shakespeare and Such.

Now, the only Shakespeare play I have read so far is The Merchant of Venice back when I was studying for my English Literature GCSE so it’s been a minute! After seeing (and loving) a performance of Macbeth last year, and visiting Stratford-Upon-Avon I had full plans to read some Shakespeare. Which didn’t happen…

So I’m using this readathon as a push. It’s wonderfully set up so you don’t need to overwhelm yourself. In fact, I’m only going to be reading one play and you don’t have to finish that. Just give it a go!

I’ll be taking the beginner’s route:

1. Start reading a Shakespeare play (don’t pressure yourself to finish it in the timeframe!)

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

I picked up a copy of this when I visited Shakespeare’s birth place. This is definitely the one that appeals to me the most! Plus I originally told Luna from Bookish Luna that I’d read this back in January and join their Shakespeare challenge, and sort of didn’t…

 

2) Watch a Shakespeare adaptation

Macbeth (2018, Royal Shakespeare Company)

Now this is actually a play I’m familiar with, as I watched a version of it at a local outdoor theatre last year (gutted they’re not running this year!). There’s several Shakespeare plays available to watch on BBC iPlayer if you’re in the UK and I thought I’d start with one I know I’ll like. And hopefully I’ll find time to watch some others!

 

3) Read any Shakespeare retelling

Lady Hotspur by Tessa Gratton

From reviews this seems to be a pretty polarising read, but I think the same was true for Gratton’s first book The Queens of Innis Lear. And although it was a much slower burn than I usually like in my fantasies, I actually ended up enjoying it. So I’m excited to give her second book a go. This one is inspired by Henry IV.

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