In short, while I enjoyed the overall plot, I do think that the end is a complete cop out. It's like the book equivalent to the final episode of Lost.

Full review: tribalpeanutbutter.blogspot.com/2018/10/hamlet-by-shakespeare-not-spoiler-free.html


Now I know that reviewing Shakespeare is kind of strange, I mean, he's the GOAT right? But, I'm just your average person who doesn't appreciate hardcore literature unless someone explains why it's good. And even after someone explaining why it's good I have some serious issues with this book (mostly just one big one,) and there are definitely some things that need to be unpacked. Antiquity, of course, should never be the decider as to whether or not something deserves critique. Let's start off with the positives....
THE DRAMA IS TANGIBLE
The interaction of political and overwhelmingly personal relationships creates both an emotional and action-filled plot, right down to the end. If I didn't have to concentrate so damn hard to understand Middle English I probably would have finished this in one sitting. You can actually feel Hamlet's heartache as his mother and uncle dad get down to some shady business.

THE CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT IS AWESOME
Though I do find the amount the characters talk to themselves incredibly strange, it allows for the unicorn of character development to cha cha slide up in this. The plays' namesake goes from grief stricken to crazy town, but through his soliloquy's Hamlet's true issues are revealed.

TO THAT ENDING...
Now my main issue with this novel (as previously mentioned,) is it's ending. I honestly think it's about as lazy as the "it was all a dream" trope. Rather than come up with a creative ending, and actually wrap up the plot and character development, Shakespeare chose to just kill off all the characters. Yes, it was dramatic. And yes, it was effective. But seriously??? Could you imagine if J.K. Rowling had just ended Harry Potter by nuclear bombing Hogwarts and killing everyone except Malfoy?

Overall I did find this classic pretty entertaining, especially after acting it out in class (I was Polonius.)