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By Any Other Name
By Any Other Name: A Novel | Jodi Picoult
14 posts | 8 read | 1 reading | 12 to read
A captivating novel about two women, centuries apart, fighting to be heardone of whom may be the real author of Shakespeare's playsfrom the New York Times #1 bestselling author of Wish You Were Here. As an undergraduate, Melina Green had a rare opportunity to have one of her first plays judged by famous theatre critic Jasper Tolle, only to be publicly humiliated by a harsh and biased critique. Ten years later, her confidence as a playwright hasn't recovered, even though she has just completed a work that she thinks is her best yet. It is based on the life of her ancestor Emilia Bassano, the first published female poet in Englandand rumored to be the Dark Lady of Shakespeares sonnetsbut whom some scholars suspect may be the real author of a number of his plays. Melina wonders if she dares risk failure again, and then her best friend takes the decision out of her hands and submits it to a festival under a male pseudonym. In 1581, the young orphan Emilia Bassano is being raised in the ways of the English aristocracy by the Baron Willoughby and his sister. Her lessons on languages, reading and writing have endowed her with a sharp wit and a gift for storytelling. But like most women of her day, she has no control over her fate, and is ripped from her old life and forced to become a courtesan to Lord Hunsdon, a man knighted by Queen Elizabeth as the Lord Chamberlain in charge of all theatre in London. Though she has no other freedoms, she pseudonymously sets her own pen to paper, inspired by the work of the most brilliant playwrights of the time. Told in dual intertwining timelines, this sweeping tale of ambition, courage and desire centres two women who are determined to create something beautiful despite the prejudices they face. As Emilia alters the course of her life, and the world, she blazes a trail. Centuries later, will Melina face the same terrible fateto have her work celebrated, but only at the price of letting another take credit?
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Amor4Libros
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Pickpick

I enjoyed this book, but it just felt unnecessarily long. Loved the dual POVs (I found Emilia‘s chapters more engaging).

The book posed interesting questions about Shakespeare‘s legacy and I felt this was done in a respectful way.

One thing that got to be a bit too much was the constant portrayal of Emilia‘s suffering, which at times is what made me take a break from the story.

Great read if you are patient with it.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Teresereading
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Many years after Melina graduated from Bard College, the course she remembered most was not playwriting seminar or a theatre intensive but an anthropology class.
#firstlineFridays
@ShyBookOwl
And #schoolspirit #college
@eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Eggs Thx for the tag ❤️ 1d
19 likes1 comment
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Injeanious
Mehso-so

I hate to say this because I love the author and so many people love the book, but it was a DNF for me. I read 1/3 but just didn‘t enjoy the historical chapters

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Lsmoore43
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This book will be in my top favorites for the year. It is my favorite Jodi Picoult book ever. I had a hard time putting it down and at the same time hated for it to end. It's long but was a fairly quick read for me. I was so invested in this book.

Full review: https://lsmoore49.blogspot.com/2024/09/by-any-other-name-by-jodi-picoult.html

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Yenya1954
Pickpick

I‘m a huge fan of Jodi Picoult‘s books. I had a little trouble getting into the beginning of this novel. Even so, I loved this historical fiction novel. The story of 2 women from very different centuries woven together by blood ties who are both playwrights. I loved them both. Life challenges made things difficult for each of them, yet they did what was necessary in order to survive. Poetry and plays were interspersed throughout. 5/5

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marleed
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Pickpick

Slow pick. Even though I don‘t like all her stories, Jodi remains auto read for me because her social commentary makes me think outside my box. I almost DNF‘d this one because I couldn‘t get into the 1552 story, but hung on for the 2023 angle. I found my rhythm at 30% in and began to question the role of the real William Shakespeare‘s in the works attributed to him. …It seems it‘s harder for me to read JP outside of a contemporary setting.

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angieinwonderland
Pickpick

I love historical fiction that covers something different than war. The dual timeline worked so well in braiding the themes from one era to another, which is kind of depressing when you think of how slow societal ideals change. The historical timeline had old English writing with modern dialogue, which was both a relief for me but admittedly took me out of the story at times. I never liked Shakespear and really enjoyed this read.

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TorieStorieS
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Mehso-so

Picoult‘s latest surrounds the theater & the plausible idea that William Shakespeare may not be the pen responsible for the plays & sonnets published in his name. Split between a modern storyline with struggling playwright Melina Green & the 16th century life of Emilia Bassano, a published poet, courtesan, wife & mother (along with redundant pages of Melina‘s script), Picoult packs a lot in that is sure to lead to lively dialogue amongst readers!

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BoleyBooks
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Reecaspieces
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Pickpick
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Amor4Libros
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1 chapter read and already hooked! #arc

Lesliereadsalot Can‘t wait for this one! 1mo
Amor4Libros @Lesliereadsalot It already looks so promising! 🤗 1mo
Yenya1954 I love Jodi‘s books! I am patiently waiting for this book. 1mo
Amor4Libros @Yenya1954 I hope you get to read it soon! I‘ve only read 2 chapters so far, but I find myself already thinking about it. Her writing is superb, and this is only the third book of hers I‘ve read. 1mo
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Lsmoore43
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BOOKMAIL. Best mail.

Jodi Picoult
Random House Publishing

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I can‘t wait for this one!! 3mo
Lsmoore43 @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks It sounds so good. 3mo
26 likes1 stack add2 comments
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BoleyBooks
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Amor4Libros
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I was having a not so great day and then I received this unrequested ARC… 😭😭

I‘m so excited to read this!

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I‘m so jealous!! Enjoy! Let me know! 5mo
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