John Updike - Gertrude and Claudius

Pros: A fresh spin on Shakespeare that comes at us with a symphony of words

Cons: The densely-constructed language might be a barrier to some readers

Review: To Updike or not to Updike.

That is the question some readers will ponder as they consider the prolific author’s nineteenth novel, Gertrude and Claudius, a densely-worded tale of the events leading up to Hamlet.

To...

Pros: Exquisitely written.

Cons: Name changes can be a bit confusing.

Review: Gertrude and Claudius tells the love story of Hamlet's mother with his uncle (her brother-in-law) before the events of Shakespeare's play. In three parts, Updike uses different spellings for the character names in each, strengthening the historic detail...

Pros: Creative prequel to Hamlet

Cons: OK, so he's not such a sweet prince

Review: Sweet prince or bad seed? That is the question.

And in his newest novel, John Updike asks whether it is nobler to blame Hamlet's mother for the family tragedy that unravels the dysfunctional Danish royals ... or to take arms against the...

Pros: Fascinating reinterpretation of a classic story.

Cons: Takes a while to get involved in the story and the characters

Review: John Updike's new novel presents a new way to look at "Hamlet". Just as Shakespeare drew from historical sources as the basis for his portrait of murder, madness, and revenge, Updike draws on Hamlet, and on some of Shakespeare's own sources, to...