It's hard to review Shakespeare. Harold Bloom's defense of Shakespeare made me laugh. He seems morally affronted by different critical approaches. As for the play, I was delighted by the story and a bit disappointed that Propspero didn't carry out a more brutal revenge. It may be an indication more of where I'm at, but I wanted so righteous retribution instead of a turn toward forgiveness. The Bard certainly thwarted my expectations.

2019
https://www.librarything.com/topic/312033#6946478 ( )

A very interesting Shakespeare play, and not really like any other I've read so far. It doesn't fall into any of his three categories of history, tragedy, or comedy. Parts of it are amusing, but not enough to make it a comedy. Really, no one dies. It's about bizarre spirits and a stranded banished duke and drunkards stumbling around a deserted island. It's just plain weird, but still, y'know, good. 'Cause it's still Shakespeare.

I don't know. Prospero's a weird one. I don't know how I feel about him. On the one hand, he was pretty good to Ariel. On the other, he's just... weird. One minute, he's cursing Ferdinand, the next, he's summoning a band of weird spirits to celebrate the wedding. That was by far the strangest Shakespeare scene I've ever read. ( )

This was rather mild for a Shakespeare play. While I can't aver that I understood every pun and allusion in the play I did enjoy it. It's amazing how a play existing almost on dialogue alone can convey such vivid images. ( )

Not as good a read as it was to watch the play. Funny, but the damn footnotes got in the way. ( )