Jessica Barksdale Inclan

NOTE: I won a free eBook copy of this book in PDF format from LibraryThing's Early Reviewers (March 2021).

I have a complicated relationship with Shakespeare: while I can't deny the contributions he made to the literary world, I struggle with parsing the language of his plays and I question whether he was even their true author. However, my relationship with Shakespeare is not nearly as nuanced as the relationship between Shakespeare and Jessica, this novel's protagonist (who is, possibly, the author's alter ego). Jessica is a professor of literature/Shakespeare fangirl who accidentally stumbles back in time to The Bard's world. Though a little low on action, this novel succeeds at world-building and exploring what Shakespeare, his family, his peers, and his loves might have been like in person. Barksdale Inclan dives into the thoughts and emotions of her female characters, especially Mary, allowing them to question their identities and shape their lives for themselves. The side comments about feminism and academia enhanced the narrative. The book's denouement and conclusion felt unconventional but posit some interesting possibilities for what might have happened had Shakespeare lived longer.… (mehr)

I have loved Shakespeare's plays for years. His sonnets? Not so much. One of my all-time favorite plays is The Merchant of Venice. All of those things are in rhis book.

First some crticism. It seems like every great artist from hundreds of years ago is now portrayed as gay or at least gay-leaning- Michaelangeli, Da Vinci now Shakespeare. Were they? Who knows for sure.And does it really matter? Then there is the crticism of the morality and ethics from past centuries. Yes Jewish people were caricatured and badly treated. We know now how aweful that is, but 400 years ago it was normal and accepted. Learn from history stop trying to rewrite it. 400 years from now there will probably be things we do without thinking today that will be considered horrific.

In spite of those criticisms I truly enjoyed this book. What would daily life be like in Shakespeare's England? How would a 21st century woman react to it? Here you get a glimpse of that. The plot-twist at the end was....well this is fiction. In fiction warp drive is possible lol. The ending was good. It wasn't rushed or impossible.

If you like Shakespeare or the time-period you will enjoy this. If you enjoy romance you will enjoy this. If you enjoy time travel you will enjoy this.… (mehr)

The Play's the Thing is a Time Travel fantasy with a LOT going for it.

Jessica is an English Professor trying to bring her love of Shakespeare to bored undergrads. One night after watching a rehearsal of "The Merchant of Venice" she walks through a door and finds herself not only in Shakespeare's time and city but also in Shakespeare's bedroom!

The author has done her homework and the details of life in Shakespeares time ring true. This is a "A Day in the Life of Shakespeare's England" with the sometimes unlovely details brought home very up close and very personal.The things that a modern woman takes for granted that are just not available in the 1500's would boggle the mind.

Lots of time travel stories gloss over the day to day minutia -- the stinks and the blood and the slops - but this one doesn't and that what i liked about it.

Sorry to have to report that there is a plot twist at the end that I was very unhappy with (SPOILER ALERT)

The author has it that because our Jessica spent a few weeks with Will Shakespeare back in the day that HUGE SIGNIFICATION MAJOR changes were made in the historical time line and even the body of work. Really? Even for a little fantasy book cum romance novel that was just too much for me to swallow - or enjoy . Took a lot of the fun out of it.

Five star book demoted to three - and should have been brought down to two… (mehr)