Hag-Seed book review

Hag-Seed by Margaret Atwood
Published by Hogarth Press on October 11, 2016
Pages: 301
Goodreads

When Felix is deposed as artistic director of the Makeshiweg Theatre Festival by his devious assistant and longtime enemy, his production of The Tempest is canceled and he is heartbroken. Reduced to a life of exile in rural southern Ontario—accompanied only by his fantasy daughter, Miranda, who died twelve years ago—Felix devises a plan for retribution.
Eventually he takes a job teaching Literacy Through Theatre to the prisoners at the nearby Burgess Correctional Institution, and is making a modest success of it when an auspicious star places his enemies within his reach. With the help of their own interpretations, digital effects, and the talents of a professional actress and choreographer, the Burgess Correctional Players prepare to video their Tempest. Not surprisingly, they view Caliban as the character with whom they have the most in common. However, Felix has another twist in mind, and his enemies are about to find themselves taking part in an interactive and illusion-ridden version of The Tempest that will change their lives forever. But how will Felix deal with his invisible Miranda’s decision to take a part in the play?

I read Hag-Seed was a book I read for my library book club. I have to say after reading New Boy I wasn’t sure I was going to enjoy it as half as much. I had never heard of The Tempest, I wasn’t even sure of the story having never experienced anything to do with it before. I was bowled over by how much I enjoyed this book, it was an emotional rollercoaster and by the end of it I actually felt just a little bit exhausted. I’m still not 100% sure what happened or how it ended but that didn’t affect my enjoyment or love of this book. I felt so connected to the characters and I think that’s because the focus is on the main character and him only.

There were so many wonderful characters all the way through this book, the majority of the colourful characters were inmates and they all had really distinct characteristics and they reacted really well to the situations they were placed in. I think the strength of Hag-Seed definitely lies in the way that they react to Felix or Mr Duke. I loved the ending and how everyone throws themselves into the play. I just really enjoyed seeing them all come together and become a team and do the best they could in the situation they were given.

The best bit of Hag-Seed would definitely have to be the way there is almost two stories entwined into one, and as someone who hadn’t read The Tempest beforehand, it was really interesting to see where the two met and how. I think there was a lot in this book that was really well done, I think the representation of grief and loneliness and how they manifest within certain characters was some of the best I have ever read. It left me feeling raw and emotional and it was some of the best writing in this book, I loved the manifestation of Miranda and that blossoming relationship there.

I don’t think this was necessarily the book’s fault more of my issue, but I wish I had read The Tempest before this one, I don’t think it made all that much of a difference with New Boy, but I think it would have with Hag-Seed. I don’t think the book was as easily understandable for someone who isn’t clued up on Shakespeare. It was definitely a lot more abstract than what I was expecting.

I would definitely recommend Hag-Seed but maybe beforehand read The Tempest. I might actually go ahead and read The Tempest now and see whether or not it sheds any light on the story and adds new insights. I am really enjoying this sequence of books and I cannot wait to jump into the others.

What do you think about Shakespeare retellings? Have you read any good ones? Let me know which ones they were in the comments!