Oh, this was not a toughie for me this month. Usually, when Calendar Girls comes around with their epic themes, I’m like, OH NO. THERE ARE TOO MANY BOOKS. I CAN’T DECIDE. However, this month? Yeah, no, favorite Shakespeare play was not a hard one, since I like so few Shakespeare plays. That’s right, Belle would not be very proud of me, since I’m not the biggest Shakespeare fan. His words and writing style are just too complex for my fluffy brain.
However, there is one play that did stand out in particular, that was one that I always knew I would heart eyes forever and it is…
Much Ado About Nothing
The action is set in Sicily, where Don Pedro, Prince of Aragon, has recently defeated his half-brother, the bastard Don John, in a military engagement. Apparently reconciled, they return to the capital, Messina, as guests of the Governor, Leonato. There Count Claudio, a young nobleman serving in Don Pedro’s army, falls in love with Hero, Leonato’s daughter, whom Don Pedro woos on his behalf. The play’s central plot shows how Don John maliciously deceives Claudio into believing that Hero has taken a lover on the eve of her marriage, causing Claudio to repudiate her publicly, at the altar.
This play was fun. It had comedy, it had adorable ships, and it was a play I could actually understand. That’s right – IT DIDN’T GO OVER MANDY’S HEAD. CAN WE GET A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THAT? Omgiosh, Benedick and Beatrice are the ultimate haters-to-lovers ship, and it’s just absurdly hilarious at how Shakespeare manages to convince them to be their OTPs. There is so much sexual tension that is brilliant. I hearts them. Deeply.
And it’s just funny. There are a lot of things that are pretty humorous about it today. There is no weird talking to someone dead father’s skull or out, out damn spot! No, it’s just pure fun and playing with romance and relationships. It’s got great characters, great storylines, and great lines.
Plus, Beatrice is the ultimate master of sass. I mean, here are a few of her best lines:
“I can see he’s not in your good books,’ said the messenger.
‘No, and if he were I would burn my library.”“I had rather hear my dog bark at a crow, than a man swear he loves me.”
Girl has talent. Therefore, she has my heart. Can we see now why I’m so excited for Speak Easy, Speak Love? IT IS A RETELLING OF THIS BRILLIANCE. Come onnnnnn, September.
Check it out here!
Book Princess Reviews 
I have only read 1 Shakespeare play so my favorite is The Tempest.
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Ooooh, that one has always intrigued me. I’ll definitely have to check it out. 🙂
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I haven’t read Much Ado About Nothing yet, but my favourite Shakespeare play so far is Othello. Emilia (from Othello) is also my favourite Shakespeare character. She’s such a human character.
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Oooooh, that sounds nice. Huh. I never thought about it much, but you’re right about a lot of his characters – they aren’t very relatable or human. I never connect with any of them. I’ll definitely have to check that one out then.
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I love Shakespeare! My favorite is The Taming of the Shrew. Haven’t read Much Ado About Nothing, but it’s on my TBR.
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Ooooh, I haven’t read that one yet, but I have heard a lot of good things about it. Definitely have to add it my TBR. And yes! It was definitely super witty and fun, Clara. 🙂
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I haven’t gotten around to this one yet. Sounds amazing though!
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Yes! Shakespeare was totally on his A game with his wit for this one! 🙂
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I only read Shakespeare for school. Thus my Shakespeare exposure is limited to R&J, Merchant of Venice and Hamlet! I really wanted to read Macbeth, but alas it was not-eth to be-ith! So I haven’t read Much Ado About Nothing but from those sassy lines Beatrice is spilling, I’m willing to give it a try!!
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Ahahaha, same, Rendz. I luckily got a teacher that wanted to read nontraditional Shakespeare so I got this instead of Hamlet or R & J…and thank gosh, because Beatrice’s sass was A+++.
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I haven’t read Much Ado About Nothing, but eventually I plan to read most of Shakespeare’s works. I’ve read A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet and Macbeth – but I’m not sure I could pick a favourite. Perhaps Hamlet or Macbeth.
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Oooh, that’s a good collection so far. I haven’t read Hamlet or R & J surprisingly. Hamlet, though, does seem super interesting. I might have to try that one next. But I definitely do recommend this one, Kyera. It’s like a A Midsummer but far wittier. Macbeth was pretty good, though.
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I definitely will! I own a book that’s a collection of his works, so it’s just getting around to reading them.
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Ooooooh, perfect! And lol, yes. Especially when the TBR seems to grow by the day.
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I really need to start participating with the Calendar Girls! I feel bad I haven’t yet. I’ve just been so busy! But excellent choice. You know Speak Easy, Speak Love is a Much Ado About Nothing retelling, right?!
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One of these days! 😉 You’re so busy with the million of other things that when the right time comes, it will be amazing! 🙂 But thank you! Me and Shakespeare don’t necessarily mix super well, but this one was super fun. But yessssssssssss. I think that’s what makes it even more fun. Speakeasies, this play, and 1920s fun. XD
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One of these days! All book bloggers are busy, I think. Those Muggle jobs just get int he way. I haven’t read a ton of Shakespeare. I think only three or four of them. I like them, but they are definitely not fluffy! LOL. So much fun coming our way!
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Indeed! AHHHH. I never thought about it that way, but I think that’s totally the reason I don’t enjoy him. I mean, most of his romances are tragedies so where are the fluff and swoons? Not good. But yes! 😀
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Ummm, how have I never heard of this play before?????? Wow, I’m such a fake English Major XD BUT THIS ONE HAS HATE TO LOVE OMG COUNT ME IN!!!! I’m not the biggest Shakespeare fan because I really struggle with the language but I definitely need to give this one a try!
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Ahahahaha. It’s like one of his least known ones. I never heard of it before I was forced to read it in high school, and I didn’t actually hate it? I totally feel the same way, so that was super progress. XD It really was quite decent for Shakespeare. XD
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Huh, I thought for sure this was one of the ones I had studied, but now that I’ve read your description it doesn’t sound familiar at all! Oh well I will rectify that by reading it hahah. Shakespearian english can definitely be hard to handle – with most of the plays I believe you can get modern english language editions which should make them easier to enjoy!
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I think there is another play that I always get confused with this one as well. But yes, I definitely recommend! But yes, I definitely had to read it in the older english ones, but now that I’m reading it for fun, I’m definitely going to have to get those. 🙂
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YES! This was my original choice, but when I tried to refresh my knowledge about this play…I found that I didn’t remember enough about it to actually pick it as my favourite. And since there was no time to re-read it, I went with Midsummer Night’s Dream.
The fact that you picked it though, encourages me to maybe pick it up one more time and see what it is that I liked so much about it! I read this as a teen while on a long road trip, and I read it all in one sitting! It had also remained my favourite after that…until we had to write our posts for this month. There had to have been something there which I truly enjoyed, right?
Perhaps like you, I really liked the haters-to-lovers plot (as I generally do in books, hehe), or maybe it was something else! I will be sure to let you know when I do end up re-reading it 😉
Super choice, Mandy! And thanks so much for participating in Calendar Girls!
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Oh, I know what you mean! It’s so hard with those ones because you know it’s a favorite, but you can’t quite remember all the reasons why. I definitely encourage to pick it up because it was a really good one, and A Midsummer was kind of equal to it in hilarity.
Thanks so much! And thanks for putting on such a fun meme! ❤
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I will definitely have to re-read it! Thank you for encouraging me to do so! 😀
Also yay I’m so glad you’re having fun! ❤
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Much Ado is my favorite Shakespeare too!! It’s so funny! I never get tired of it! and there are so many good modern interpretations to really get into some different takes!
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Yes!! I think that’s what I love the most about it is the humor. It’s so much fun. 😀 And yes! There are a lot of great ones that take it to a whole new level. 😀
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