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[CCBC-Net] Hamlet and The Dead Fathers Club
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From: GWoelfle at aol.com <GWoelfle>
Date: Wed, 22 Oct 2008 13:52:12 EDT
Since Hamlet has become an almost mythic play, I'd like to recommend its contemporary adaptation in Matt Haig's middle grade/YA/adult novel The Dead Fathers Club.? It's brilliant, as they say over there. Haig tells a compelling story, even if kids don't know the orginal. Dad's ghost appears throughout the book, urging 11 year old Philip to kill his uncle. Philip has other problems too: bullies at school, a precocious girlfriend, as well as his uncle taking over the pub and his mother.
The Hamlet parallels are clever but not overbearing: Philip's family owns a pub -- the King and Castle; the family watches a video called The Murder of Gonzago; the girlfriend has a plausible mad scene; and Philip even has versions of the soliloquys.? But the ending is different and fits this story perfectly.
I read the book then listened to the audio version, read by a boy actor who also is brilliant.
Check it out.
Gretchen Woelfle www.gretchenwoelfle.com
************** Play online games for FREE at Games.com! All of your favorites, no registration required and great graphics ? check it out! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100000075x1211202682x1200689022/aol?redir= http://www.games.com?ncid=emlcntusgame00000001)
Received on Wed 22 Oct 2008 12:52:12 PM CDT
Date: Wed, 22 Oct 2008 13:52:12 EDT
Since Hamlet has become an almost mythic play, I'd like to recommend its contemporary adaptation in Matt Haig's middle grade/YA/adult novel The Dead Fathers Club.? It's brilliant, as they say over there. Haig tells a compelling story, even if kids don't know the orginal. Dad's ghost appears throughout the book, urging 11 year old Philip to kill his uncle. Philip has other problems too: bullies at school, a precocious girlfriend, as well as his uncle taking over the pub and his mother.
The Hamlet parallels are clever but not overbearing: Philip's family owns a pub -- the King and Castle; the family watches a video called The Murder of Gonzago; the girlfriend has a plausible mad scene; and Philip even has versions of the soliloquys.? But the ending is different and fits this story perfectly.
I read the book then listened to the audio version, read by a boy actor who also is brilliant.
Check it out.
Gretchen Woelfle www.gretchenwoelfle.com
************** Play online games for FREE at Games.com! All of your favorites, no registration required and great graphics ? check it out! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100000075x1211202682x1200689022/aol?redir= http://www.games.com?ncid=emlcntusgame00000001)
Received on Wed 22 Oct 2008 12:52:12 PM CDT
