Rating: 5/5 ★★★★★
Genre: Young Adult
Blurb:
Shakespeare’s work features some of the most memorable stories and characters ever created, yet for too many curious readers the combination of ultra-dense dialogue and unfamiliar historical settings make tackling the Bard’s work something between a tedious chore and a confusing mess of bird-bolts and quondam carpet-mongers.- Much Ado About Nothing on Goodreads
While it’s nearly impossible to replicate or improve on these works, it is (thanks to their timeless nature) possible to make them more accessible to a wider audience.
In this Young Adult retelling of one of William Shakespeare’s most iconic plays, join C.E. Wilson as she breathes new life into Much Ado About Nothing, the first in her series
Shakespeare for Everyone Else.
Two couples.
Clark and Heaven.
Beatriz and Bennett.
After years of friendship Clark decides that his senior year is the time to finally profess his love to his long-time crush Heaven; a sweet and simple girl who her father knows to be loyal, trustworthy and caring. She returns Clark’s love because, like him, she has also seen her feelings blossom over time. Theirs is a cute love that differs a bit from the other couple in the play.
Beatriz and Bennett at first glance seem to want nothing to do with the other. Every conversation, every remark is a withering attack which reveals their lost history and similarities. It’s not long before their friends hatch a plan to set them up because everyone is convinced they still love and care for one another. Will either of them be able to resist the strong attraction between them?
As these two couples try to make it through their senior year, their friend Donnie does what he can to keep the group happy. The problem lies in Donnie’s half-brother Jason who wants nothing more than to spoil the fun – even at the cost of Heaven’s reputation.
When both couples are pushed to the limits, whose love will endure?
Find out in this modern retelling of Shakespeare’s memorable play Much Ado About Nothing.
Review:
I can honestly say I was surprised by this book. Undertaking the task of retelling Shakespeare is a overwhelming task, but C.E. Wilson handles it well. She is able to weave the feel of the original story into her own modern world, and the result is something perfect for today's young adult reader.
C.E. manages to keep some of the antiquated feel to the dialogue, bridging the gap between new and old effortlessly. It may throw off someone who has never read a line of Shakespeare, but it serves it's purpose to gradually introduce the reader to the style of Shakespeare. There are new additions to the story that make it stand out.
The characters are on point. My favorite couple of Bennett and Bea shine with their frustrating back and forth. The banter between them showcases the best of C.E.'s work with blending the outdated language with more modern terms. The characters are vivid as you read, and it's easy to root for them or glare at the pages. There were several times that I wanted to reach out and smack some sense into Leo and Clark.
C.E. manages to keep some of the antiquated feel to the dialogue, bridging the gap between new and old effortlessly. It may throw off someone who has never read a line of Shakespeare, but it serves it's purpose to gradually introduce the reader to the style of Shakespeare. There are new additions to the story that make it stand out.
The characters are on point. My favorite couple of Bennett and Bea shine with their frustrating back and forth. The banter between them showcases the best of C.E.'s work with blending the outdated language with more modern terms. The characters are vivid as you read, and it's easy to root for them or glare at the pages. There were several times that I wanted to reach out and smack some sense into Leo and Clark.
It's no secret that I love Shakespeare's work. A couple years ago, Barnes & Noble had his complete works on sale for $5 during the holiday season. I promptly drove two hours to the nearest one to pick up a copy. C.E. Wilson does a wonderful job at retelling this play in a modern setting. She flawlessly transitions it into a novel suited for readers that have trouble with the antiquated style of Shakespeare. If you love Shakespeare already or you find yourself struggling to read through his works, I would definitely recommend Much Ado About Nothing. It's the perfect introduction to the world of Shakespeare told with Wilson's own flare.
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**I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to C.E. Wilson.
**I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to C.E. Wilson.
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