Kissing Shakespeare

Kissing Shakespeare by Pamela Mingle


Expected Publication Date: August 14, 2012

Young Adult, Ages 14+

ARC copy used for review.


Personal Ranking 3 out of 5

"What if Shakespeare never became the Shakespeare?"

Miranda has spent her whole life immersed in Shakespearean theatre. Both of her parents are famous Shakespearean actors, and it is her dream to follow in their footsteps. Now cast in her schools production of The Taming of the Shrew as Katherine (one of her mother's most famous roles), she refuses to connect with the character to spurn her mother, and feels like she bombs opening night. Caught up in her pity party, she gets swept away by Stephen Langford, an exchange student from England. Only, Stephen needs her help in ways Miranda never dreamed possible. Waking up in sixteenth century England, Stephen and Miranda set out on a quest to save Shakespeare from throwing away his destiny. Miranda takes on the role of a lifetime by assuming the identity of Stephen's sister, Olivia. Only by becoming Olivia, does Miranda find herself, and love where she never thought possible.

Earlier in the year I read a bunch of Shakespeare inspired titles. [my Shakespeare, Remixed post] The twist with Kissing Shakespeare is that instead of retelling a classic tale in a modern way or writing from the point of view of a minor character, she took new characters and introduced them to Shakespeare himself! Imagine a world where Shakespeare doesn't exist? His influence still haunts us today, but what if it never was? That is the reality that Stephen Langford has set out to make sure never happens. He recruits Miranda's help because of her "worldly" experience. But, Miranda isn't as worldly as he thinks, in fact, she is still a virgin. She has spent her life trying to gain her parents acceptance, but as a daughter and as an actress. So when Stephen whisks her away to sixteenth century England, she fights him at first until she realizes, without Shakespeare she might not even exist! So, he turns her into his sister and sets "Olivia" on the path to seduce Shakespeare and persuade him from becoming a Jesuit priest. But the more she becomes Olivia and the closer she gets to Shakespeare, the more she figures out who "Katherine" is and who Miranda truly is. 

I was truly enchanted with Kissing Shakespeare. I thought the plot was well paced and sad when it ended. Sometimes you just want the happily ever after and true love to prevail! I look forward to Pamela Mingles next book.

Shakespeare, Remixed

Falling for Hamlet by Michelle Ray

Ophelia is just like any other teenage girl, who just happens to be in an on again, off again romance with the Prince of Denmark.  Falling for Hamlet is a modern day retelling of Shakespeare’s play Hamlet told from Ophelia’s point of view. Told in three parallel stories; Ophelia tells you what really happened, what she tells the public and what the government thinks happened. After the King’s death, Hamlet descends into madness, convinced that it was not natural causes that killed his father. As Hamlet spirals deeper out of control, Ophelia is torn between duty to herself and her family and her love of Hamlet.

        

Ray, Michelle. Falling for Hamlet. New York: Poppy, Hatchette Book Group, 2011. ISBN-13: 978-0-316-10162-2. (hardback). Ages 14+

Romeo’s Ex: Rosaline’s Story by Lisa Fielder

We all know the tragic tale of one Romeo and his Juliet. But while Romeo was falling in love with Juliet, there might have been more to the Capulet and Montague tale. Fielder takes the classic tale and uses the original plot as the side story to tell the story of Juliet’s cousin, Rosaline. Who wants nothing more than to be sworn off love and men so that she may focus on becoming a healer. Told from alternating points of view with Rosaline, Benvolio, Mercutio, Tybalt and Romeo narrating the story in a combination of attempted Elizabethan and modern day English, with a few original verses from the play mixed in. With so many versions of Romeo and Juliet around, it was refreshing to read one that didn’t end in death.

Fielder, Lisa . Romeo’s Ex: Rosaline’s Story. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 2006. ISBN-13: 978-0-8050-7500-7. (hardback). Ages 12+

I enjoyed Falling for Hamlet much more than I enjoyed Romeo’s Ex, but I believe that if Fiedler was to update her story today, as a modern tale then it would have been much more interesting. What I did love was that she tried to update the Elizabethan English in such a way that it was easy to understand, and I really enjoyed the interspersing quotes from the play. Yes, it could have seemed silly, but since she followed the plot so closely, they provided nice reference points to the play. Unfortunately, there were just a few moments when I was left wondering, what on earth is she trying to do? No matter how hard an author tries, somethings are just not medically possible.

What I loved the most about Ray’s retelling is that she didn’t just take the story and retell it from a different point of view. She updated it to what it would be like if it happened today; with the paparazzi and the media, and the frenzy that follows the royal family. Those who are familiar with the original play will appreciate that Ray left the names the same. Having not read Hamlet before, I appreciated this because I was able to look up the story and compare it very quickly. A great story for a mother and daughter to share with each other! One thing I love to do is compare books with my mom, which is one of the reasons I am such an avid reader to this day. Her memory to remember stories and details, even from books she hasn't read since she was in high school amazes me. So when I handed her Falling for Hamlet, she was able to quickly give me a comparison. Who needs wikipedia when you have mom? I loved Ray's concept, and can't wait to see which stories she retells next.