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Sue R (Smalltown, Penna)
Interesting back story of a classic tale.
As a lover of Shakespeare, and as a medical person, I found this book very interesting. The author includes a lot of details about "the plague" and some of the medical treatments of the day. I particularly liked the way that various motifs were woven throughout the story - for example the beekeeping. Characters were well developed and believable. No one is as they initially seem. The various "secrets" and plot twists were welcome. As a member of a bookgroup - I would suggest this book - the discussion would be fun.
Sharon R. (Deerfield, IL)
Shakespeare's timeless tragedy re-visited.
I was thirteen years old in 1968, the year the movie Romeo and Juliet with Leonard Whiting and Olivia Hussey was showing in my small town theatre. My friends and I saw the movie five times in the two weeks that it ran and my love for historical fiction was born. I have always wanted to explore the "back stories" of the characters real and otherwise who are portrayed in the genre of Historical Fiction, Ms. Leveen does not disappoint. This book tells the back story of the lover's tragedy from the view point of Juliet's wet nurse. The first half of the book tells the story of
Juliet's childhood. Her nurse is with
…more her through every aspect of her young life and as was common in those days, they rarely interact with the other members of the household.
The second half of the book was harder to read, we already know the ending! The back stories told through the eyes of Juliet's nurse, bring some new insights in the timeless stories surrounding the tragedy. The author has done extensive research of the period and I find myself looking forward to re-watching Romeo & Juliet as I now have a new perspective of the families and their surroundings. (less)I enjoyed this book so much. As a student of Shakespeare, I found writing Romeo and Juliet from this 'angle' was inspired. There is just enough of a hint of Shakespearean dialogue to make the story genuine. The sights and sounds - and smells! - of the period were captured perfectly.
Realizing how much the wet-nurse loved Juliet, I was distracted by the intensity of that love. There is more than a touch of desperation in the nurse's need to be in Juliet's life. The loss of all of her children and husband affected her extraordinary need to cling to Juliet to the point of being complicit in Juliet's death.
The
…more drama rolls along quickly and at times the segues are confusing. However, Juliet is definitely the sacrificial lamb - her life ending too soon - along with Romeo, Tybalt and Mercutio.
Reading the original play offers juxtaposition of characters not found in this book. All in all, a good read, creative and satisfying. (less)Books about the little people behind the story are always interesting. A recent book in this vein is Longbourn, the story of the help in Pride and Prejudice. And certainly Downton Abbey taps into this, as well. The character of Angelica, the Nurse, was well developed and her trials and tribulations were plausible and fit with the play's doomed romance theme. I particularly enjoyed the depiction of Verona society and the backstory of the play's characters.
The book failed for me in two parts. The first is "the secret." Given the attention in the book to the importance of everyone knowing their place, I had a hard
…more time believing that Angelica thought revealing the secret would be welcomed by its recipient. It was unclear to me whether this was meant to be a sign that the nurse was a bit unhinged - which would make sense for her actions in the Romeo and Juliet part of the book - or whether the author just needed to flesh that part out.
The second failing was really not the fault of the author but rather the actions of Shakespeare's title characters, inexplicable when seen through the eyes of others. But Angelica's insight into Juliet's final act, "Never suffered and so could not bear the slightest sorrow, the hint of unfilled longing, the least glimmering of loss. And so was lost herself," rang true. (less)I enjoyed this book, and the expansion of the character of Juliet's nurse and her back story. The author was exceptionally skilled at breathing new life and motivation into these well-known characters, and I enjoyed finding the "Easter eggs" (familiar quotes from Shakespeare's play) sprinkled throughout the narrative. Lovers of "Romeo and Juliet" and fans of historical fiction will enjoy this book.
Catherine H. (Nashua, NH)
Angelica of Verona, Juliet's nurse with a twist.
I did enjoy this book more for the detailed description of life in Verona in the 1300s than for the "Romeo & Juliet" part of the story. I love Angelica's down to earth narration and bold observations of the church and nobility. As for the twist, I will let readers discover it by themselves.
Sarah B. (Streamwood, IL)
Another View
Lois Leveen gives the Nurse from Romeo and Juliet a name and her own story. It's difficult to write a story with characters so well known, and expanding on that story and making it work. Leveen also brings to life the Verona of the time in fantastic detail. All in all a fantastic read.
Norma R. (Secaucus, NJ)
Inside Look
Nurse by Lois Leveen is a retelling of the Romeo and Juliet story from the perspective of Juliet's wet nurse. Through Angelica we experience life in 14th century Verona. Her life is a struggle and is in contrast the riches of the Capppelletti family. The royal families in Verona are in a constant battle for power and influence. As in Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet are caught up in the conflicts of their families. I enjoyed this book because I felt transported to Verona. Even though the ending is not a surprise I kept wishing for a change of "history".
