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The Complete Works by William Shakespeare
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it was amazing
bookshelves: did-not-finish, brit-lit, shakespeare, 1500-1700

Update: Seven plays into my current spree, I'm going to have to put this on hold due to a lack of time. I've now read 17 total- my most severe weakness is the histories (have only read Richard III and Henry IV). When I come back to this project, I think that I will be reading those in order.

1st: Macbeth (finished-review posted)
2nd: Two Gentlemen of Verona (finished-review posted)
3rd: King Lear (finished-review posted)
4th: Merchant of Venice (finished-review posted)
5th: Othello (finished-review posted)
6th: Comedy of Errors (finished-review posted)
7th: Antony and Cleopatra (finished)

Original Post: I've been thinking about doing this for awhile, but as it is Shakespeare's birthday, I've decided that now is the time to start this project. I want to read everything, starting with the plays I haven't read in awhile, or at all, and moving to the ones I'm more familiar with. I'll post individual reviews as I go through.

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Reading Progress

Finished Reading
April 23, 2009 – Shelved
October 3, 2009 – Shelved as: did-not-finish
October 3, 2009 – Shelved as: brit-lit
October 3, 2009 – Shelved as: shakespeare
March 1, 2010 – Shelved as: 1500-1700

Comments Showing 1-13 of 13 (13 new)

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message 1: by Kelly (last edited Apr 23, 2009 11:34AM) (new) - rated it 5 stars

Kelly Thank you for the encouragement, Chandra! I'm excited for the project, there are a good chunk of these plays where the only thing I know about them is the name- I would like to change that. Its one thing for people to tell you "Oh, this is a lesser work Shakespeare turned in to pay the rent," but I would like to experience them all for myself and decide.

Of course, I may start kicking myself wondering what I was thinking halfway through, too. :)

(But I don't think so.)


Kelly Oh my, now that is impressive. I haven't read more than three or four of the old Greek plays. I'd like to read more, though, and now I can just wait for your extravaganza and pick out the good ones. :)


message 3: by Kelly (last edited Apr 23, 2009 12:00PM) (new) - rated it 5 stars

Kelly I think it would be a fascinating project. I saw a Greek play in performance recently, Ion, and while it was silly and riddled with cliche most of the time, it was fascinating to pick apart the cliches we've taken from the Greeks, and why things are classic, and figure out who has openly stolen from a work, or who was at least influenced by it.

... also the part where they had Athena come down at the end for the deus ex machina with plastic wings with a plastic sword and shield attached to them that she couldn't actually move while she lectured people, was pretty funny too. :)


message 4: by Kelly (last edited Apr 23, 2009 12:18PM) (new) - rated it 5 stars

Kelly Well those of us who weren't classics majors have no choice but to settle for the English translations, unfortunately! If there are any particular translations you think are closer to the original/flow well I'm always interested to hear that in your reviews. I read a French book recently translated horrribly from the original, that ruined all the lovely poetry and humor in it. I'm on the look out for that!

My program told me that Sophocles was a great admirer of Euripides. There was a quote in there by him about Euripides that went something like "I show men as they ought to be, Euripides shows men as they are." ... so I guess he thought men were rather strange. :)


Kelly Thanks for the info! I'm going to tuck that away for a future project. :)


message 6: by Jesse (new)

Jesse A noble project if there ever was one! I'll be following with interest, as I've recently been eyeing a few Shakespeare titles on my shelf that are due for a revisit (or even a first view)...


message 7: by Elias (new)

Elias I'm just finishing up a year long Shakespeare course, and even though I've never read the "big ones" (Romeo and Juliet, Lear, Macbeth), I have a definite soft spot for the lesser knowns. The summer is calling for a little Timon of Athens.


Kelly Its odd that a year long Shakespeare course wouldn't do at least one of those three. I understand trying to pay attention to some of the plays that are not taught that often, but still.

And, thanks, Jesse! Always good to know a project is of interest/use to someone other than myself! Revisiting Shakespeare is always a good idea, I think-one of the few authors where you're nearly always sure to find something new.


message 9: by Kelly (last edited Apr 24, 2009 08:16AM) (new) - rated it 5 stars

Kelly I can understand that. I think teachers sometimes forget when they are designing their courses that the major plays are not "old hat," or boring "traditional teaching," to kids who have never read the plays before. I know they're trying to be interesting to do their jobs better, look innovative, and keep themselves interested, but I think its really selfish to do that, in a way. Some students will have geniunely never read Hamlet or Macbeth or Othello, etc by the time they get to college (probably one reason they are in that course!). I took a Shakespeare course in high school, and we didn't do any of the major tragedies or comedies, but that's because we did those in English classes- it was a course built to supplement those, if you were interested in more, which worked. I know that's easier to do in high school than in college, but still. I think you're not doing your job as a Shakespeare teacher if your kids leave college unable to discuss at least one or two of the major works. Plus if you can't get excited about the ways in which many of the "majors" are awesome, what are you doing teaching Shakespeare? I mean, yes, do a mix, that's interesting. But not to include at least one or two majors? Particularly in a year long course? Really? I just think the teachers should keep all that in mind.

Okay, end minor rant. *blush* Anywaysss...


message 10: by Jude (new)

Jude just alerted to this adventure: go kelly go! i have not read them all, have not even seen them all produced. it is not something i had ever considered doing but since my shakespeare will be in the cart when i go bag lady, i may have time someday....


Kelly Thanks Jude! Its going well so far, we'll see what happens when I get bogged down in the Henries in a little while...- I didn't know there was a bag lady plan, but I congratulate you on your good taste in essentials! :)


message 12: by Gemma (new) - added it

Gemma Hi, I know this thread was a very long time, in fact years, ago! But In was wondering if you ever finished your challenge because I've just started the very same one today (:


Kelly Good luck with it! I never finished it. I read a few more after this, but ultimately had to stop for Life and you know, other books. I hope you finish it, though! :)


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