Spoiler Alert: Falling for Hamlet is based on the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare. This play is pretty well known, taught in many schools, and over hundreds of years old. If you don't know how it ends, and don't want to know, then don't read on. However, it is a traditional tragedy, and the definition of a tragedy includes the fact that everyone dies except the one person who lives to tell the tale. Oops.
Something was rotten in the state of Denmark, and this time Ophelia lives to tell her side of the story. Mega talk show host Zara has the exclusive interview with the girl who was in the inner circle of the Prince, his family and the castle as all of the tragic events started unfolding.
For starters, it's not easy being Prince Hamlet's girlfriend, especially when he's off at college and she's stuck in the castle with her father, brother, and even better the Queen. It doesn't help that Queen Gertrude is concerned with appearances, and doesn't always find Ophelia to be a suitable match for her son.
Then the King dies. The death is sudden, and there is very little investigation. Hamlet is not pleased with the events surrounding his father's death and burial, and makes it known to Ophelia how he feels. It's when he's back at school, and his mother is quietly and quickly engaged to Claudius (who just happens to be the brother of the dead King) that Hamlet looses his mind.
Now Ophelia is trapped, between her family and her boyfriend, and even worse: between doing what she is told and what she wants to do. All she wants to do is get away, but that is not an option. Here is her story, told with bits of the Zara interview, and interspersed with her interrogation with castle security.
Author Michelle Ray takes Shakespeare's famous work and stands it upside down. If you are familiar with the story of Hamlet, or have read the play the names of characters, places and quotes will be very familiar. This is a re-telling of the play, and there are somethings that are very different especially the fact that Ophelia lives to tell her story.
If you were entranced by the Royal Wedding, or are familiar with Shakespeare's play you will find Falling For Hamlet to be a gripping read!
I'll see you @ the library!
Katie