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Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet
This most famous of love stories is uniquely presented in picture book form for children. The tale is told scene by scene in a simple lively style, with dialogue reproducing Shakespeare's own words so that the most celebrated passages of the play are retained in their original form.
80 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2003
91 people are currently reading
3138 people want to read
About the author
Michael Rosen
591 books535 followersMichael Rosen, a recent British Children’s Laureate, has written many acclaimed books for children, including WE'RE GOING ON A BEAR HUNT, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury, and I’M NUMBER ONE and THIS IS OUR HOUSE, both illustrated by Bob Graham. Michael Rosen lives in London.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 161 reviews
March 29, 2020
OK, so this wan't the version I read but I am not going to trawl through the editions to find the edition I have which dates from the 1960s.
One of the scandalous factors in possibly the greatest love story in British literature is, of course, the main age of the protagonists. Juliet is 13 and she and Romeo would definitely have been referred to Social Services and Romeo quite possibly locked up - and as for the Capulet mama and papa trying to marry her off - well. And the County Paris - what was he up to?
Talking to the late, great Sir Peter Hall, some years ago he said that he would have loved to have directed a production that had actors of the actual ages of the characters but that he would never be allowed to do it. In fact the BBC Shakespeare production aired in 1978 did have a 14 year old Juliet ( a brilliant performance from a young woman who would eventually quit acting when she married Roger Allam).
Of course marrying at thirteen was perfectly normal in the sixteenth century and no one would have even remarked on it when the play was first performed. But re-reading the play - uncut and so with all the stuff left in that productions usually cut (such as the second appearance of the Chorus) I was struck by how much attention is paid to the ages of the characters.
Juliet we know is 13 - two weeks short of 14 - and Romeo is likely to be not that much older (say around 16 or 17). Paris is described as young and gallant - the latter coding for having been a soldier - so is probably about 20 to 25. The Nurse became Juliet's wet nurse when her own child died. We can assume that she was probably in her twenties but may have been in her late teens at that time. She is unlikely to have been beyond mid thirties. So despite the age of the Nurse as so frequently portrayed it is likely that at the time the play is set she was probably around 35 to 38.
Lady Capulet says that she was not much older than Juliet is now at the time that she gave birth to Juliet which would make he about 27-29. And then we come to Capulet who, in the conversation at the party with his cousin which is usually cut in productions, he says that he hasn't danced so much since old Lucio's wedding twenty - five years before - so we can guess that he must be around fifty to fifty five and thus a lot older than his wife. That too would not have been remarked on when the play was first performed. Many men who had a busy life married in their late twenties and early thirties and those who married young may well have had more than one wife die in childbirth before having a wife who survived.
Is this interesting? Well, it was to me. Perhaps it will be to you too.
It is a play I love. It is a story I love. It is the only ballet (I am not a fan of ballet generally) which made me cry when I saw a performance of Prokofiev's "Romeo and Juliet" in Germany years ago and I still cry whenever I see the death scene in the performance during "Shakespeare in Love".
Yeah, call me soft.
And now, I have my sixty-sixth birthday to celebrate - in so far as I can locked away in my home due to the Plague with only my dear wife for company. Perhaps that is why the ages in "Romeo and Juliet" so struck me.
One of the scandalous factors in possibly the greatest love story in British literature is, of course, the main age of the protagonists. Juliet is 13 and she and Romeo would definitely have been referred to Social Services and Romeo quite possibly locked up - and as for the Capulet mama and papa trying to marry her off - well. And the County Paris - what was he up to?
Talking to the late, great Sir Peter Hall, some years ago he said that he would have loved to have directed a production that had actors of the actual ages of the characters but that he would never be allowed to do it. In fact the BBC Shakespeare production aired in 1978 did have a 14 year old Juliet ( a brilliant performance from a young woman who would eventually quit acting when she married Roger Allam).
Of course marrying at thirteen was perfectly normal in the sixteenth century and no one would have even remarked on it when the play was first performed. But re-reading the play - uncut and so with all the stuff left in that productions usually cut (such as the second appearance of the Chorus) I was struck by how much attention is paid to the ages of the characters.
Juliet we know is 13 - two weeks short of 14 - and Romeo is likely to be not that much older (say around 16 or 17). Paris is described as young and gallant - the latter coding for having been a soldier - so is probably about 20 to 25. The Nurse became Juliet's wet nurse when her own child died. We can assume that she was probably in her twenties but may have been in her late teens at that time. She is unlikely to have been beyond mid thirties. So despite the age of the Nurse as so frequently portrayed it is likely that at the time the play is set she was probably around 35 to 38.
Lady Capulet says that she was not much older than Juliet is now at the time that she gave birth to Juliet which would make he about 27-29. And then we come to Capulet who, in the conversation at the party with his cousin which is usually cut in productions, he says that he hasn't danced so much since old Lucio's wedding twenty - five years before - so we can guess that he must be around fifty to fifty five and thus a lot older than his wife. That too would not have been remarked on when the play was first performed. Many men who had a busy life married in their late twenties and early thirties and those who married young may well have had more than one wife die in childbirth before having a wife who survived.
Is this interesting? Well, it was to me. Perhaps it will be to you too.
It is a play I love. It is a story I love. It is the only ballet (I am not a fan of ballet generally) which made me cry when I saw a performance of Prokofiev's "Romeo and Juliet" in Germany years ago and I still cry whenever I see the death scene in the performance during "Shakespeare in Love".
Yeah, call me soft.
And now, I have my sixty-sixth birthday to celebrate - in so far as I can locked away in my home due to the Plague with only my dear wife for company. Perhaps that is why the ages in "Romeo and Juliet" so struck me.
August 20, 2021
It's just a classic. Great tragedy and I loved the storyline :)
March 29, 2008
I wish I could be Romeo. Wait what am I saying, the both of them were naive, immature, love- struck children who fell in love. But doesn't Shakespeare so mightily convey the strength of love over hatred as these kids come from such different backgrounds and come to fall for one another? I admire Romeo's bravery. I think true bravery has been lost in time. To see it amongst us, and amidst this story, is a marvelous stroke of serendipity. Juliet and Romeo's devotion to one another is something I hope that my wife and I will share. Odd how whenever I see exceptional qualities in girls, I think about what my wife will be like. Sorry, that's got nothing to do with Romeo and Juliet.
April 28, 2022
i think it’s a classic because it reflects on the dangers of ambition, and love how much can change on a whim. If they both had lived what would that have meant for the rest of their lives? it leaves something for us to wonder.
both romeo and juliet were treated as extensions of their family and constantly monitored, causing a lack of personal identity. this leads them to cling to each other in hopes of finding their own identity within each other. they react irrationally when they thought the other died because there only sense of self was within each other and mistook that for love. romeo and juliet shows how love can be a weakness for those who aren’t self sustaining.
both romeo and juliet were treated as extensions of their family and constantly monitored, causing a lack of personal identity. this leads them to cling to each other in hopes of finding their own identity within each other. they react irrationally when they thought the other died because there only sense of self was within each other and mistook that for love. romeo and juliet shows how love can be a weakness for those who aren’t self sustaining.
March 29, 2019
Because as Shakespeare and his friends discovered, how it happens is the important thing...
Read
May 8, 2022yes i did read it 2 times. Why? idk
May 14, 2025
this was good and it was funny but it was dumb .
September 28, 2022
amé, en un rato reseñota porque voy a analizar todo bue
----------------------------------------------------------
Romeo y Julieta es hermoso en su tragedia y en su exageración.
Muchas veces se habla de esta obra diciendo que Romeo y Julieta son dos adolescentes estúpidos que exageran y hacen cualquiera, pero a mí me gusta ver la exageración de otra forma: como un extremismo que usa Shakespeare como metáfora.
Ahora para desarrollar esto voy a tener que decir un par de cosas.
Romeo estaba enamorado profundamente de una persona que no le correspondía, y estaba ahogado en ese dolor que lo sepultaba.
Julieta estaba siendo presionada para casarse con alguien a quien ni siquiera conocía.
Romeo queria encontrar una distracción, alguien que lo hiciera olvidarse de Rosalía y que correspondiera su amor.
Julieta quería casarse con alguien a quien ella ame, y ser amada de la misma forma.
Por eso cuando se conocen, concentran sus deseos más profundos del amor en el otro, por eso se enamoran tan perdida y locamente del otro; porque lo idealizan de la forma que ellos esperan ser amados, y viven en esa burbuja de ilusión. Porque los dos tenían esa imperiosa necesidad de ser amados, y esperaban encontrarlo en el otro: Romeo en Julieta y Julieta en Romeo.
"Romeo y Julieta" es la reivindicación del amor que todos soñamos, de la ilusión que tenemos de que el amor sea perfecto y la otra persona lo sea también. Pero no es así, y cuando finalmente descubren que nada es perfecto, esa burbuja de ilusión explota.
Por eso se matan cuando el otro "muere", porque junto con el otro mueren las ideas y los anhelos que ellos tenían del amor, con el otro moría la última chance que sentían que tenían en la vida de amar y ser amados. Muere esa ilusión que tenían de que el amor era perfecto, de que el otro lo era o podía llegar a ser.
Muere su esperanza de alcanzar algo mejor, porque creían ciegamente que el otro era lo único que tenían.
La obra es hermosa en su exageración, ya que representa de buena forma eso que tiene el ser humano de idealizar al amor y a las personas, y esa decepción que te llevas cuando descubrís que el otro no era tan bueno como pensabas.
Porque cuando Romeo y Julieta se suicidan por el otro, representa una parte de vos que muere cuando te das cuenta que la realidad no es perfecta. Y puede sonar reiterativo, pero es que hay que hacer hincapié en eso.
Para mí tiene una forma hermosa de representar lo que es el amor y lo que le hace a uno, que es capaz de cegarte y matarte un poco.
Representan la ilusión y la decepción del amor, con la vida y la muerte, y por eso es necesario exagerar e irse hasta un extremo: porque así como el amor te da esperanza y te da vida, también te mata y acaba con ella.
Bueno, esta es mi opinión. Quizás crean que está mal, capaz flashe y exagere todo, pero de eso se trata, no?
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
----------------------------------------------------------
Romeo y Julieta es hermoso en su tragedia y en su exageración.
Muchas veces se habla de esta obra diciendo que Romeo y Julieta son dos adolescentes estúpidos que exageran y hacen cualquiera, pero a mí me gusta ver la exageración de otra forma: como un extremismo que usa Shakespeare como metáfora.
Ahora para desarrollar esto voy a tener que decir un par de cosas.
Romeo estaba enamorado profundamente de una persona que no le correspondía, y estaba ahogado en ese dolor que lo sepultaba.
Julieta estaba siendo presionada para casarse con alguien a quien ni siquiera conocía.
Romeo queria encontrar una distracción, alguien que lo hiciera olvidarse de Rosalía y que correspondiera su amor.
Julieta quería casarse con alguien a quien ella ame, y ser amada de la misma forma.
Por eso cuando se conocen, concentran sus deseos más profundos del amor en el otro, por eso se enamoran tan perdida y locamente del otro; porque lo idealizan de la forma que ellos esperan ser amados, y viven en esa burbuja de ilusión. Porque los dos tenían esa imperiosa necesidad de ser amados, y esperaban encontrarlo en el otro: Romeo en Julieta y Julieta en Romeo.
"Romeo y Julieta" es la reivindicación del amor que todos soñamos, de la ilusión que tenemos de que el amor sea perfecto y la otra persona lo sea también. Pero no es así, y cuando finalmente descubren que nada es perfecto, esa burbuja de ilusión explota.
Por eso se matan cuando el otro "muere", porque junto con el otro mueren las ideas y los anhelos que ellos tenían del amor, con el otro moría la última chance que sentían que tenían en la vida de amar y ser amados. Muere esa ilusión que tenían de que el amor era perfecto, de que el otro lo era o podía llegar a ser.
Muere su esperanza de alcanzar algo mejor, porque creían ciegamente que el otro era lo único que tenían.
La obra es hermosa en su exageración, ya que representa de buena forma eso que tiene el ser humano de idealizar al amor y a las personas, y esa decepción que te llevas cuando descubrís que el otro no era tan bueno como pensabas.
Porque cuando Romeo y Julieta se suicidan por el otro, representa una parte de vos que muere cuando te das cuenta que la realidad no es perfecta. Y puede sonar reiterativo, pero es que hay que hacer hincapié en eso.
Para mí tiene una forma hermosa de representar lo que es el amor y lo que le hace a uno, que es capaz de cegarte y matarte un poco.
Representan la ilusión y la decepción del amor, con la vida y la muerte, y por eso es necesario exagerar e irse hasta un extremo: porque así como el amor te da esperanza y te da vida, también te mata y acaba con ella.
Bueno, esta es mi opinión. Quizás crean que está mal, capaz flashe y exagere todo, pero de eso se trata, no?
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
February 2, 2020
So what does one of my favorite authors have to say about this book, well John Green basically says that the universe won't bend to your wishes, no matter how real your love, you can't avoid fate and you can't alter time. The way I see it, even though they knew nothing of each other I think they loved one another, because we always love the idea we have of a certain person, rather than the actual person, so they didn't need 10 years of marriage to truly love one another. John Green really helped me understand it better and I love this explanation of his: We can see the play then, as a tragedy about time - how little there is of it - and also about youth - how we assign passionate importance to things and people when we are young because we don't have the breadth of experience to behave more moderately. Which is maybe the tragedy of adulthood. ..." Long story short Romeo and Juliet's story ended up in tragedy because they had to please the self, their family, the state, the church etc. They had to reject the authority. "And this is still a challenge for teenagers, who are often dismissed as idealistic or melodramatic, and who must balance the intensity of their feelings against the expectations of the world around them. Don't drop of highschool to follow your dream of becoming a trapeze artist, honor thy father and mother, register for the draft, don't pass up a full ride to Harvard to follow your girlfriend into the Marines, etc. As Harley Granville-Barker puts it, Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy of youth as youth sees it. If you're young, or you have ever been young, you know what's like to be pulled in many directions while trying to discern whether feelings that are brand new to you are more like flashes of lighting or an eternal ocean. And you know what it's like to want to live fully and fearlessly, and maybe even a little foolishly . And the occasionally tragic thing is that you are just grown-up enough for that kind of thinking to get you killed." I love this final conclusion of his: "It's tempting to dismiss the plot of Romeo and Juliet as sappy, emo romance, but in truth, each of us will live out our lives having answered, consciously or not, the questions at the heart of the play. Do you believe that fate is inescapable or that people forage their own lives? Is the fault in the stars or in ourselves? And will you prioritize your personal wishes over the wishes of your family, or of your religion, or your country? If you think about it Romeo and Juliet aren't offered an easy choice".
Ok, so now as an old hag that I am, a responsible adult I think he is completely right. That's what makes this story one of the greatest of all times. Indeed we need to love moderately...That's what I would say to my young self: "Don't spend all your time watching silly animes and korean dramas, don't go to school wearing a a bow and behaving like you are 12 years old, don't lose your mind over a guy who doesn't even like you back, and don't get depressed that you aren't a model in Korea and please eat cause you will never be a model, Jeez!." Ok, that's all, I've been young and guess what? I am glad I am not a teen anymore, or a young student. It was a catastrophe. Goodbye cuteness, goodbye innocence, goodbye naivety, goodbye heart in love which could actually love, goodbye and good riddance!
Ok, so now as an old hag that I am, a responsible adult I think he is completely right. That's what makes this story one of the greatest of all times. Indeed we need to love moderately...That's what I would say to my young self: "Don't spend all your time watching silly animes and korean dramas, don't go to school wearing a a bow and behaving like you are 12 years old, don't lose your mind over a guy who doesn't even like you back, and don't get depressed that you aren't a model in Korea and please eat cause you will never be a model, Jeez!." Ok, that's all, I've been young and guess what? I am glad I am not a teen anymore, or a young student. It was a catastrophe. Goodbye cuteness, goodbye innocence, goodbye naivety, goodbye heart in love which could actually love, goodbye and good riddance!
January 31, 2018
This is another children’s-based retelling of Romeo and Juliet that I heard great things about. I liked it, but not as much as Bruce Coville’s William Shakespeare’s: Romeo and Juliet. Though, this book was much more ‘pure’ to the original play and had lots of original text. The drawings were ok and I really liked the intro and outro pages. I read this to my nine-year-old and here is his review (he’s kind of silly and thinks death in these plays is ‘funny’).
Olsen’s rating: 3 stars
Olsen’s review:
What was the book about?
Romeo and Juliet kill themselves over love.
What was your favorite part of the story?
When Romeo killed himself when he thought Juliet was dead and Juliet killed herself because she saw Romeo dead.
What did you not like about the story?
It was long.
Tell me about the characters.
Romeo, Juliet.
What kind of book is it?
Picture book.
Tell me about the illustrations/drawings.
They were good.
Did you like the book? Why or why not?
I guess, yeah, pretty much. I liked when they killed each other.
Did some parts make you laugh?
When Juliet said, “Oh happy dagger.”
What kind of people would like this book?
No one really, except everyone.
Olsen’s rating: 3 stars
Olsen’s review:
What was the book about?
Romeo and Juliet kill themselves over love.
What was your favorite part of the story?
When Romeo killed himself when he thought Juliet was dead and Juliet killed herself because she saw Romeo dead.
What did you not like about the story?
It was long.
Tell me about the characters.
Romeo, Juliet.
What kind of book is it?
Picture book.
Tell me about the illustrations/drawings.
They were good.
Did you like the book? Why or why not?
I guess, yeah, pretty much. I liked when they killed each other.
Did some parts make you laugh?
When Juliet said, “Oh happy dagger.”
What kind of people would like this book?
No one really, except everyone.
March 21, 2009
If you can get past the language and read further into the text, the narrative truly is amazing. The concept of 13 year olds falling in love at first sight certainly seems outlandish and inappropriate in these modern times, but the notion of true love is so mysterious, and when coupled with tragedy certainly makes for a good adventure - even centuries later.
And you can't deny that Mercutio and Tybalt are FIERCE.
And you can't deny that Mercutio and Tybalt are FIERCE.
January 6, 2009
I do not believe in tragic love. I read this my Freshman year and I would go head to head with my English Teacher about what a waste the ending is. I just thought they were probably like me; young, too young to know what is good for them, rebellious, and to young to be making such huge decisions. Sorry, I know this is a CLassic for some, but not for me.
February 23, 2009
good but not great. Unfortunately i actually read the play before i saw girls swooning of the Leo Dicaprio version and making references to "leo" rather than romeo.
its ok. i found the main characters to be annoying and a little flat, lacking the usual depth of shakespeare's writing. the passion and exasperation of the lovers in some parts is touching though so its not a complete loss.
its ok. i found the main characters to be annoying and a little flat, lacking the usual depth of shakespeare's writing. the passion and exasperation of the lovers in some parts is touching though so its not a complete loss.
May 9, 2010
"For never was there a story of more woe than Juliet and her Romeo." That is perhaps the greatest line I've ever heard.
I really enjoyed this story. For it being my first play that I've read, it made me not so intimidated by them. The love story was such a good one.
There's not much to say about it besides that it's a love story, and it was good.
So, The End.
I really enjoyed this story. For it being my first play that I've read, it made me not so intimidated by them. The love story was such a good one.
There's not much to say about it besides that it's a love story, and it was good.
So, The End.
December 18, 2010
i
love
this
book
its about romance and how much two people
love each other i bet you seen the movie
but yuo will love the book and you are
just going to feel like reading it over
and over agin
i hope for you who havent read it that you like it
and i bet that you who have read that you loved
it
love
this
book
its about romance and how much two people
love each other i bet you seen the movie
but yuo will love the book and you are
just going to feel like reading it over
and over agin
i hope for you who havent read it that you like it
and i bet that you who have read that you loved
it
December 31, 2022
Really strong, but not for the youngest readers. Although it is a picturebook, I would give it to older kids, who would usually read chapter books, as there is a lot of digging straight into the actual text of Shakespeare and it's totally forthright about the sex, although not explicit.
November 20, 2008
romeooooo and juliet...hmm.
who cant like it?
so orginal with dramaticcc ironicity xP
who cant like it?
so orginal with dramaticcc ironicity xP
January 5, 2009
The most popular Shakespearan play. I classic tragic love story
July 27, 2014
Beautiful drawings. Nice refresher!
May 31, 2015
what a failed luv story...
May 7, 2025
So beautiful
Read
November 5, 2008that if you realy love someone then you will give up anything and everything for that person.
January 20, 2018
Romeo and Juliet
The play begins with a large fight between the Capulets and the Montagues, two prestigious families in Verona, Italy. These families have been fighting for quite some time, and the Prince declares that their next public brawl will be punished by death. When the fight is over, Romeo’s cousin Benvolio tries to cheer him of his melancholy. Romeo reveals that he is in love with a woman named Rosaline, but she has chosen to live a life of chastity. Romeo and Benvolio are accidentally invited to their enemy’s party; Benvolio convinces Romeo to go.
At the party, Romeo locks eyes with a young woman named Juliet. They instantly fall in love, but they do not realize that their families are mortal enemies. When they realize each other’s identities, they are devastated, but they cannot help the way that they feel. Romeo sneaks into Juliet’s yard after the party and proclaims his love for her. She returns his sentiments and the two decide to marry. The next day, Romeo and Juliet are married by Friar Lawrence; an event witnessed by Juliet’s Nurse and Romeo’s loyal servant, Balthasar. They plan to meet in Juliet’s chambers that night.
Romeo visits his best friend Mercutio and his cousin Benvolio but his good mood is curtailed. Juliet’s cousin, Tybalt, starts a verbal quarrel with Romeo, which soon turns into a duel with Mercutio. Romeo tries to stop the fight but it is too late: Tybalt kills Mercutio. Romeo, enraged, retaliates by killing Tybalt. Once Romeo realizes the consequences of his actions, he hides at Friar Lawrence’s cell.
The play begins with a large fight between the Capulets and the Montagues, two prestigious families in Verona, Italy. These families have been fighting for quite some time, and the Prince declares that their next public brawl will be punished by death. When the fight is over, Romeo’s cousin Benvolio tries to cheer him of his melancholy. Romeo reveals that he is in love with a woman named Rosaline, but she has chosen to live a life of chastity. Romeo and Benvolio are accidentally invited to their enemy’s party; Benvolio convinces Romeo to go.
At the party, Romeo locks eyes with a young woman named Juliet. They instantly fall in love, but they do not realize that their families are mortal enemies. When they realize each other’s identities, they are devastated, but they cannot help the way that they feel. Romeo sneaks into Juliet’s yard after the party and proclaims his love for her. She returns his sentiments and the two decide to marry. The next day, Romeo and Juliet are married by Friar Lawrence; an event witnessed by Juliet’s Nurse and Romeo’s loyal servant, Balthasar. They plan to meet in Juliet’s chambers that night.
Romeo visits his best friend Mercutio and his cousin Benvolio but his good mood is curtailed. Juliet’s cousin, Tybalt, starts a verbal quarrel with Romeo, which soon turns into a duel with Mercutio. Romeo tries to stop the fight but it is too late: Tybalt kills Mercutio. Romeo, enraged, retaliates by killing Tybalt. Once Romeo realizes the consequences of his actions, he hides at Friar Lawrence’s cell.
May 11, 2022
Well, this was something.
This book is a very well-known classic, and I had I felt I knew what I was going into, expecting not to like it as much as I did.
I have to say that I thought that Romeo and Juliet's love was a bit rushed, their relationship a bit unexplored, so I couldn't really feel their love for each other.
Romeo seemed a bit too miserable at a times, but it was just on the border of overly, hopelessly romantic, and desperate, so I didn't mind.
As for Juliet, I feel like I know nothing about her save that she loved Romeo. Her character was too plain for my taste.
But still, I liked their story.
It was a challenge as well, to read in the original form. So I couldn't really understand some of the words, but I was getting a hang of it as I read more.
I also have to say that I kinda feel some scenes lack emotion and that I felt more excitement looking at fan art or ballet, which makes me disappointed a bit. I really wanted to feel the ending as something grand, tragic, and devastating. But it was just sad. Not really moving.
But, I cannot blame it on the book because I rarely read stuff like this so I may not know what to expect.
Even so, I'm so glad I read this classic and finally met these famous lovers.
This book is a very well-known classic, and I had I felt I knew what I was going into, expecting not to like it as much as I did.
I have to say that I thought that Romeo and Juliet's love was a bit rushed, their relationship a bit unexplored, so I couldn't really feel their love for each other.
Romeo seemed a bit too miserable at a times, but it was just on the border of overly, hopelessly romantic, and desperate, so I didn't mind.
As for Juliet, I feel like I know nothing about her save that she loved Romeo. Her character was too plain for my taste.
But still, I liked their story.
It was a challenge as well, to read in the original form. So I couldn't really understand some of the words, but I was getting a hang of it as I read more.
I also have to say that I kinda feel some scenes lack emotion and that I felt more excitement looking at fan art or ballet, which makes me disappointed a bit. I really wanted to feel the ending as something grand, tragic, and devastating. But it was just sad. Not really moving.
But, I cannot blame it on the book because I rarely read stuff like this so I may not know what to expect.
Even so, I'm so glad I read this classic and finally met these famous lovers.
August 9, 2022
Okay, so my opinions may have something to do with the fact that I was forced to read this in school, but I disliked this play very much. Romeo and Juliet knew each other for, what, a day before they married? And how can they, as teenagers, make such a monumentous decision? A person's brain doesn't fully develop until the age of 25, so that just goes to whow how ignorant and immature their decisions were. I truly think melodramatic Romeo saw opportunity in Juliet to help him overcome his sadness over his previous lover. Whatever connection he actually had with Juliet, it was nowhere near true love. Juliet and Romeo were in love with the idea of love.
I find it sad that their little fling caused so much suffering, however I do acknowledge the fact that it brought the houses of Capulet and Montague together in a unique but depressing way.
Now, I am in no way a fan of Shakespeare, and others may love this story. I myself am a realist, so I find it hard to get past the "lovey-dovey" ridiculousness of the dialogue.
Nonetheless, this may be a great option for romantics. My best advice is to start reading the play. For my rather negative review, there are countless positive ones.
Happy reading!
I find it sad that their little fling caused so much suffering, however I do acknowledge the fact that it brought the houses of Capulet and Montague together in a unique but depressing way.
Now, I am in no way a fan of Shakespeare, and others may love this story. I myself am a realist, so I find it hard to get past the "lovey-dovey" ridiculousness of the dialogue.
Nonetheless, this may be a great option for romantics. My best advice is to start reading the play. For my rather negative review, there are countless positive ones.
Happy reading!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 6, 2019
In the play for Romeo and Juliet two crossed lovers fell in love. Before Juliet had met Romeo she didn't want anything to do with dating since she was only 13 years old at the moment. Except there was a guy named Paris, who wanted to marry her and her parents approved except her father had told him he must get approval from his daughter Juliet saying yes or no to the proposal. Romeo and Juliet met at her father's party and ever since hanged out together behind everyone's back because they knew no one would approve their love for each other. Since Tybalt killed Romeos best friend Mercutio and Romeo killed Tybalt he was banned from Verona. Juliet's father wanted Paris and Juliet to marry because he thought that would make her happy after the death of her cousin. Juliet faked her death so she didn't have to and would be able to live happily ever after with Romeo but Romeo didn't get the memo and had committed suicide. After he drunk the poison Juliet had woken up and realized he was dead and killed herself as well.
March 4, 2020
romeo and Juliet is a love and tragic novel. The characters Romeo and Juliet are both just bird lovers. One day romeo is getting his heart break the other is he's moving on to Juliet so fast. This book also takes pace during 16th century and the way they speak is very old timer. If you cant read old timer than I recommend getting a translated version of modern style. romeo and Juliet are separated by their family backgrounds which means they cant get married and talk to each other what so ever but yet they still marry each other. Also some characters will die so don't get to attached. The book it self isn't very long either and would only take about two weeks to read. Over all its a pretty OK book to reed.
April 11, 2024
O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?
Possibly my favorite and most memorable line from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet .
It's written in typical Shakespearean English and therefore a little hard to understand every other time, but that is exactly what makes it Shakespeare.
Romeo and Juliet is by far my favorite play written by Shakespeare and it will most definitely stay that way. Even though Juliet was basically still a child and the whole thing is tragically heartbreaking, it's still one of the most romantic stories to read. Just how the two star-crossed lovers talk to and about each other makes my heart melt.
If i ever change my rating to any less than 5 stars, I might as well just get my eyes surgically removed and stop reading.
Possibly my favorite and most memorable line from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet .
It's written in typical Shakespearean English and therefore a little hard to understand every other time, but that is exactly what makes it Shakespeare.
Romeo and Juliet is by far my favorite play written by Shakespeare and it will most definitely stay that way. Even though Juliet was basically still a child and the whole thing is tragically heartbreaking, it's still one of the most romantic stories to read. Just how the two star-crossed lovers talk to and about each other makes my heart melt.
If i ever change my rating to any less than 5 stars, I might as well just get my eyes surgically removed and stop reading.
September 30, 2025
overall, a well written book. I enjoyed the dramatic events that took place, but sometimes felt as if the scenes were a bit too unrealistic due to the lack of emotion or even just the non modern scenery. Although the language was a bit hard to follow, in the end I felt as if I was more educated in the early modern English which can now help me when reading other books. The plot of the play was none the less interesting, however the foreshadowing, climax, and resolution happened a bit too quickly, so I couldn't fully soak in all of the dramatic tragedy. All in all, Shakespeare is a well written book with excellent ideas and well written literacy. Personally, it was not my favorite read, but I would definitely recommend this book to a reader who loves dramatic events and intense romance.
August 1, 2020
I absolutely loved this! I think this way of adapting Shakespeare's work makes it so much more accesible to a wider audience. The illustrations were gorgeous, and the selection of excerpts from the original script was used really effectively to maintain the integrity of the play, while condensing and adapting it for the modern reader. I will definitely be showing this to my Year 9s, who are currently learning about Romeo & Juliet!
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