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William Shakespeare Rewritten by You (Book) Review

 
9781612433769-frontcover.225x225-75
9781612433769-frontcover.225x225-75
9781612433769-frontcover.225x225-75

 
At a Glance...
 

Page Count: 112
 
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3/ 5


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A unique gift for well read friends.

Not so much?


It's a bit of a niche group who will find it amusing.


Final Fiendish Findings?

It’s a bit like Mad Libs, for well read adults. Have you ever stumbled through Shakespeare and thought, “Man, I could do this so much better”? Are you the type to draw little mustaches on all the important looking figures in your textbooks? Are you a sucker for a literary joke? If any of those […]

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Posted September 11, 2014 by

 
Full Fiendish Findings...
 
 

It’s a bit like Mad Libs, for well read adults.

Have you ever stumbled through Shakespeare and thought, “Man, I could do this so much better”? Are you the type to draw little mustaches on all the important looking figures in your textbooks? Are you a sucker for a literary joke? If any of those apply, then you’re going to love William Shakespeare Rewritten by You.

William Shakespeare Rewritten by you gives the readers permission to re-do Shakespeare’s finest pieces in whatever way they see fit. It’s meant to be easily done solo, but I think you’ll have even better laughs if you share it with a friend. Each two page section features an iconic excerpt from some of Shakespeare’s best work – everything from Romeo and Juliet and Othello to The Merchant of Venice and The Taming of the Shrew gets their moment in the spotlight. On the right hand page, you’ll find an excerpt from one of Shakespeare’s works written entirely accurately. However, some of the words have been crossed out, with a numbered line next to them just waiting to hold your “edits.

On the left hand page, you’ll find a numbered list that corresponds to each of the stricken words from the excerpt. Like Mad Libs, you’ll need to replace the words with something of your own making, in order to “update” those centuries old texts. Rather than just saying “noun” or verb” or some such descriptor, each part of the lists contain a phrase that will help you come up with something to fit the tone of the piece. For instance, when the actual piece uses “quiet”, the list suggests “your great-aunt Ramona has trouble being this adjective”. The idea is that you fill in your own words, guided by the list, and then re-read Shakespeare in your own way.

The whole thing is meant to provide some fun laughs, and the cover of the book even suggests using words like “spanked” and “flatulence”, so it’s a decidedly low brow approach to high brow Shakespeare. It’s a bit of an odd match-up, but I think it has potential for some giggle inducing fun. That being said, I would think it’s a decidedly niche market that will find this amusing, so keep that in mind when purchasing as a gift. Whether you’re hoping for some fun times with Shakespeare on your own, want a unique activity for your next book club, or just want a fun gift for the English major with a sense of humor in your life, William Shakespeare Rewritten by You is an interesting take on having fun with a classic.


Amy

 
U.S. Senior Editor & Deputy EIC, @averyzoe on Twitter, mother of 5, gamer, reader, wife to @macanthony, and all-around bad-ass (no, not really)


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