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Should I read the Tempest? (lemmy.dbzer0.com)

submitted 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) by themachinestops@lemmy.dbzer0.com to c/books@lemmy.ml

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I am trying to get into reading and I started with Brave New World, I have been reading the book for a year and have about 60 pages remaining. Before anyone mentions I am aware it is a small book that can be finished in a week, I am not used to reading. I normally read short stories, comics, and manga. I finshed the machine stops quickly, but I couldn't get into Brave New World, it has a lot of boring parts.

After finishing Brave New World should I read the Tempest, the main character made me interested in the story. I only read one other shakespeare book Romeo and Juliet the sparksnote version, it was great.

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[–] jordanlund@lemmy.world 3 points 6 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

If you aren't used to reading, jumping into Shakespeare is like "So I'm not really good at swimming, I think I'll start with the English Channel." :)

The Tempest, even for Shakespeare, is challenging.

Plus, reading a play is a completely different skill set than reading prose. The Sparks Notes versions give you an overall feel of the characters and plot, but narratively it's very different from reading a play.

So here's what I'd do... You need to work up to Shakespeare.

First you need to get used to reading, then you need to get used to reading plays, then you need to get used to Elizabethan English, then you can tackle Shakespeare.

Start with something light like Merchant of Venice, Much Ado About Nothing, or Taming of the Shrew, and work up from there.

Edit My wife also notes, Shakespeare wasn't meant to be read, it was meant to be spoken aloud.

Check youtube for "Redneck Shakespeare" for people making it accessible.

https://youtube.com/shorts/2RaiAxVXOcQ