Welcome to Litsy!

Thoughts on the #WomensPrize Shortlist?

I didn't read the whole Longlist, but I'm surprised at Restless Dolly Maunder being here. It was a good read, but nothing superb. I would have liked to see Ordinary Human Failings. And from reviews I've read, In Defense of the Act seemed to be a stand out.

@BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain

After a quick run down through the life (which we don't know much about (but more than I thought)), the author looks at Elizabethan theatre and the poems, then takes us through WS's output, play by play. A short final chapter looks at WS's influence and reputation. The descriptions of the plays were too short to be useful unless you already knew the play. I think this could have been shortened and more time spent on the final chapter.

#coffeeandabook

#SpringSkies Day 22 #Tragedy

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

Happy Shakespeare's birthday to all who celebrate! I'll be spending my evening finishing Harold Bloom's treatise on Falstaff, the second volume I'm reading in his Shakespeare's Personalities series after picking up his book on Lear late last year. Next up- Cleopatra! #Shakespeare

British-Palestinian actor Sonia travels to Israel to visit her sister and gets roped into being in a play in the occupied West Bank. Through the narrative, Hammad reveals the realities and difficulties of life for Palestinians in Israel and the constant danger faced. I thought this was terrific and couldn‘t tear myself away from it.

This is an older one, but I really liked the way the author blended a past/present Romeo and Juliet storyline, along with some mystery and action.

Sonia returns to Haifa, Israel, to visit her sister Haneen. While there she gets pulled into a Palestinian theatre production of Hamlet. As the actors learn their lines and get there feel of the play, we get Sonia and Haneen‘s backstory. We also learn about everyday in this region, how it is to pass through checkpoints and being in the hands of the soldier doing the control, sudden demonstrations and reactions.

1. Gena Rowlands
2. Isabelle Adjani

3. Simone Signoret

@dabbe #ThreeListThursday #TLT

I finished this book on my flight back home. Such a slow, quietly powerful read and so very timely. An incredible book where everything feels just beneath the surface and between the lines. I was slightly on edge throughout the story right up until the end.