Hamnet. A Novel of the Plague

by Maggie O'Farrell

Exquisite!  Such vivid imagery, such detail about small things, and oh so lyrical.  If only for the beautiful language it would be worth reading.  But the story focuses on William Shakespeare (though never named as such); Anne, called Agnes in the book, who becomes his wife; and their three children, Susanna, Hamnet, and Judith.  We seem to learn more of Agnes and her feelings, thoughts, actions, than of the other characters.  The story is told in two different time-lines –William first meeting Agnes and their youth; and Agnes and the children as they grow.  There are other characters, of course, family members, but I think Agnes is truly the main character.  The reader knows her thoughts, sees her actions, and I related more to her than any of the other characters. 

There is an awful sadness, a sorrow, a grief in the story, especially for Agnes and Judith, when Hamnet dies.  Agnes’s grief is palpable and anyone who has lost a loved-one and feels devastated will identify with Agnes through her grieving process.

William is mostly absent after their marriage; he moves to London, presumably to help his father’s glove business grow, but soon begins writing and producing plays.

There is one open door scene (though not in a bedroom) which was easy to skip over.

I loved this book!

Quotes

“She listens to the string of sounds that comes from his [toddler brother Edmond’s] mouth breathily, as he stirs [the leaves in a wooden bowl he’s playing with]: ‘eff’ is in there, for ‘leaf,’ and ‘ize,’ for ‘Eliza,’ and ‘oop,’ for ‘soup.’  The words exist, if you know how to listen.”    p. 96,  ¶8 end

In a dream Agnes sees her dead mother wearing “...a red shawl knotted over a blue smock....”    p. 128  ¶1

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The Beekeeper's Promise

by Fiona Valpy

We meet Eliane in 2017 when she is tending bees.  She is in her 90s.

We meet Abi next, also in 2017, as she tells us her story.  We see that Abi is emotionally lost.  We later learn that she was in an abusive marriage and in a horrible car accident and is just now beginning to heal.  She has come to France with a friend to attend a yoga retreat and ends up taking on employment at the chateau where Eliane lived during World War II. 

We learn Eliane’s story, beginning in 1938 through a narrator.  She was a keeper of bees, a tender of gardens, and quietly did what she could to support’s France’s resistance effort.  The story goes through the end of World War II. 

As Abi learns of Eliane’s story, she gathers strength and courage. 

This was mostly clean—no language or sex, but there was a scene briefly telling the results of Nazi violence.

I'm not a huge fan of books with dual time-lines and major characters, but I thought the author managed both well in this book.

I keep saying I’m done with WWII stories, and then another falls in my lap, and I learn some other experience from the war, of the courage and strength of those who lived through it and see how they can impact others’ and my own life.  I’m definitely glad I read this one.

Quotes
Abi:  “That’ll teach me to be spontaneous, I think, as I trudge along the hot tarmac of the road.  Nothing good ever comes of it.”    p. 6 ¶1

Lisette, Eliane’s mother, before helping several Jewish people past German checkpoints: 
“She put her hand gently on [her husband’s] and smiled at him, although there was a sadness behind the smile.  ‘You know, Gustave, my attitude has always been to try to carry on as normal, ignoring the war as much as possible, just concentrating on getting my family and my patients safely through it.  But there’s a question I ask myself every day.’  She looked past him, out of the window towards the weir.  ‘When do you cross the line?  What does it take to reach that point?  For your country to be threatened?  Your way of life?  Your neighbours’ homes?  Or you own?  For your friends to be in danger?  Or your children?’  She turned back to face him.  ‘Every one of us has to make that decision for ourselves.  Whether we win or lose this war, we will have to live with the consequences of our decisions.  I’ve asked myself:  “What will be on your conscience when all this is over?  What will your decision be when you get to that crossing point?”  Well, I’m at that crossing point now.  And I’ve made my decision.  Just as all of you –‘ she glanced around at Eliane, Yves and Jacques – ‘have done already.’”  [I forgot to note the page and paragraph for this quote.]

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