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Shakespeare's Women Speak #1
Finding Kate
Kathryn's strong will and sharp tongue have branded her a shrew in her small town. Now, not even the generous dowry offered by her wealthy father can tempt any man to court her. But when Sir William rides into town on his magnificent war horse, Kathryn's world turns upside down.
William is like a burr in Kathryn's side from the very beginning. Even the way he insists on calling her "Kate" irritates her thoroughly, yet she can't keep from listening for his voice. Though he claims he is the only man for her, she is certain he only wants her rich dowry. When he proposes marriage, she accepts as a way out of her miserable home.
Freed from her cruel family and judgmental town, Kathryn must decide whether she will continue her battle of wills with the sometimes charming, often maddening Sir William. Will she remain the shrewish Kathryn or find a way to be Will's Kate?
William is like a burr in Kathryn's side from the very beginning. Even the way he insists on calling her "Kate" irritates her thoroughly, yet she can't keep from listening for his voice. Though he claims he is the only man for her, she is certain he only wants her rich dowry. When he proposes marriage, she accepts as a way out of her miserable home.
Freed from her cruel family and judgmental town, Kathryn must decide whether she will continue her battle of wills with the sometimes charming, often maddening Sir William. Will she remain the shrewish Kathryn or find a way to be Will's Kate?
259 pages, Paperback
Published April 11, 2017
15 people are currently reading
479 people want to read
About the author
Maryanne Fantalis
2 books25 followersMARYANNE FANTALIS lives in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains with her husband and two kids, and it’s the only place outside of England she’d ever want to live. Her fiction combines her two favorite subjects – medieval England and Shakespeare’s plays – and she’ll talk your ear off about either of them if given the opportunity. In addition to writing novels, Maryanne teaches writing at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Look for her in one of her favorite spots: playing in a racing mountain stream, browsing at the local public library, or getting inspired at the Colorado Shakespeare Festival.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
August 7, 2021
Other than for the English setting here rather than the Italy of Shakespeare's play, this story adheres very closely to the Bard's. Granted it's well written and has some good historical details, but I did not notice it as being as "smart and subtle" as the blurb would have you believe.
I was looking for a bit more agency on the part of Kate than I got here. We do get some backstory about her treatment in the family to explain her shrewishness. I read Shakespeare's original so long ago that I don't remember if he supplied anything like that.
Kate's "taming" here adheres too closely to the original. The second part of this book is hard to read, what with Kate being starved and deprived of sleep, etc. I guess because of the old-fashioned English of Shakespeare's play all those things didn't strike me as quite as cruel and unkind as they did here. But Petruchio, of course, was as cruel and unkind as Sir William, perhaps even more so.
Petruchio in Shakespeare's play and Sir William here are supposed to be slightly different in personality, but I found William to be enigmatic in his treatment of Kate. William supposedly loves her from the beginning but wants her to be better behaved. Is that so much different from Petruchio? William's personality change from charming and loving in Part 1 of Fantalis's story to the cruel and unkind man of Part 2 was gaslighting to an extreme degree.
Here's what I got from Fantalis's retelling: Her Kate learns how to hypocritically follow societal norms by pretending to be tamed in public, but she has not been brainwashed to the extent that the original Kate was.
However, neither version has sat well with me. Except for the fun of watching Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton years ago in their version of The Taming of the Shrew, I've never really liked the Shakespeare play. And I was left unsatisfied by this retelling. Perhaps I read this too quickly and missed the smart and subtle differences I was supposed to be noting.
I was looking for a bit more agency on the part of Kate than I got here. We do get some backstory about her treatment in the family to explain her shrewishness. I read Shakespeare's original so long ago that I don't remember if he supplied anything like that.
Kate's "taming" here adheres too closely to the original. The second part of this book is hard to read, what with Kate being starved and deprived of sleep, etc. I guess because of the old-fashioned English of Shakespeare's play all those things didn't strike me as quite as cruel and unkind as they did here. But Petruchio, of course, was as cruel and unkind as Sir William, perhaps even more so.
Petruchio in Shakespeare's play and Sir William here are supposed to be slightly different in personality, but I found William to be enigmatic in his treatment of Kate. William supposedly loves her from the beginning but wants her to be better behaved. Is that so much different from Petruchio? William's personality change from charming and loving in Part 1 of Fantalis's story to the cruel and unkind man of Part 2 was gaslighting to an extreme degree.
Here's what I got from Fantalis's retelling: Her Kate learns how to hypocritically follow societal norms by pretending to be tamed in public, but she has not been brainwashed to the extent that the original Kate was.
However, neither version has sat well with me. Except for the fun of watching Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton years ago in their version of The Taming of the Shrew, I've never really liked the Shakespeare play. And I was left unsatisfied by this retelling. Perhaps I read this too quickly and missed the smart and subtle differences I was supposed to be noting.
May 17, 2017
What a treat it was to read Maryanne Fantalis's debut novel! Kate is a spunky, unforgettable heroine, her various antagonists quite humorously drawn, and Will an enigmatic match for her. My favorite aspect of the book, though, was it's magnificent historical detail, clearly carefully researched and lovingly rendered. As a reader, I felt totally immersed in the time period and locales of the story.
More from this author, please!
More from this author, please!
April 10, 2017
It wasn't easy to rate this book. On the one hand I didn't put it down, I just kept reading ....and reading....and reading... On the other hand I was really upset with William because I felt that Kate had already suffered enough with her stupid family and especially with her stepb...east of a sister. Oh, and don't forget all those charming people in her village.
Alright, I knew the story, I mean, who doesn't, right? I knew that (I was always furious, when I read Shakespeare's version) Will has to behave like an ... idiot... and even though I was still upset with him and I felt so sorry for Kate because she wasn't really acting like a shrew and there he was, crushing all her hopes for a better life and at last some love with his stupid actions. He shows some redeeming qualities and it is obvious that he isn't happy with the way he acts as well but nevertheless I still hated him. And I had a real big lump in my throat all the time while he acted like that.
Which, usually, shows that the book itself isn't bad, right? Because a bad book wouldn't make me cry or get upset (or simply furious) or grin like a fool - best proof that this book is not just "not bad" but quite the opposite - usually it is actually really good. I just don't like some parts of the (classic and well-known) story but I liked that Will had certain ideas of the way a marriage should be.
And I liked him as well despite his actions and the fact that I would have loved to kick him more than once. He is a man, so it probably isn't his fault that his logic is flawed, right?
Soooo....if you don't mind getting upset and ranting against men, stepsisters, mother-mountains and other people as well as getting heartsick and a bit teary-eyed and all that, this book might be just right for you.
Alright, I knew the story, I mean, who doesn't, right? I knew that (I was always furious, when I read Shakespeare's version) Will has to behave like an ... idiot... and even though I was still upset with him and I felt so sorry for Kate because she wasn't really acting like a shrew and there he was, crushing all her hopes for a better life and at last some love with his stupid actions. He shows some redeeming qualities and it is obvious that he isn't happy with the way he acts as well but nevertheless I still hated him. And I had a real big lump in my throat all the time while he acted like that.
Which, usually, shows that the book itself isn't bad, right? Because a bad book wouldn't make me cry or get upset (or simply furious) or grin like a fool - best proof that this book is not just "not bad" but quite the opposite - usually it is actually really good. I just don't like some parts of the (classic and well-known) story but I liked that Will had certain ideas of the way a marriage should be.
And I liked him as well despite his actions and the fact that I would have loved to kick him more than once. He is a man, so it probably isn't his fault that his logic is flawed, right?
Soooo....if you don't mind getting upset and ranting against men, stepsisters, mother-mountains and other people as well as getting heartsick and a bit teary-eyed and all that, this book might be just right for you.
January 5, 2019
****ARC received in exchange of an honest opinion***
Finding Kate is divided in three parts and, athough I thought the first one was kind of slow building, I still enjoyed it. The heroine had spunk and was sassy and cool.
Enters the second part. That part made NO sense. It's so not like the story told until that part that I almost stopped reading the book. It was very confusing. The heroine that was super sassy bcame a doormat and the hero got weird and creepy.
The third part led to an ending that was completely unsatisfatory. There is no cliffhanger, but the characters also don't resolve their issues and it's not clear if they will go on with the plans they made through the second half.
I love historical books, but this one, unfortunately, did nothing for me besides leaving me disappointed.
Finding Kate is divided in three parts and, athough I thought the first one was kind of slow building, I still enjoyed it. The heroine had spunk and was sassy and cool.
Enters the second part. That part made NO sense. It's so not like the story told until that part that I almost stopped reading the book. It was very confusing. The heroine that was super sassy bcame a doormat and the hero got weird and creepy.
The third part led to an ending that was completely unsatisfatory. There is no cliffhanger, but the characters also don't resolve their issues and it's not clear if they will go on with the plans they made through the second half.
I love historical books, but this one, unfortunately, did nothing for me besides leaving me disappointed.
March 20, 2017
Disclaimer: I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The first part of the book was awesome: I loved Kathryn's spunk, her sharp responses and her "Devil-may-care" attitude. I couldn't get enough of her and was bored to tears every time her half-sister, Blanche, would come into the picture. Even when Sir William entered the story, as annoying and presumptuous as he was, I still liked it because Kathryn's responses became even sharper and the banter between her and Sir William was fantastic. And then the first part ended....and everything went downhill and FAST
At first I was completely confused about the second part. There seems to be no rhyme or reason as to "why?". There appears to be no end in sight. I felt that the second part didn't quite fit. And then we got the third part....WTF?!?!?! That's all I have to say...The little feminist in me was furious at the "new Kate" and her little performance in the garden, in front of guest. I really hated that part. I think that Kate or Kathryn (whatever you choose to call her) would have been happy and could still be herself...Not that shell that she became in the end...
The first part of the book was awesome: I loved Kathryn's spunk, her sharp responses and her "Devil-may-care" attitude. I couldn't get enough of her and was bored to tears every time her half-sister, Blanche, would come into the picture. Even when Sir William entered the story, as annoying and presumptuous as he was, I still liked it because Kathryn's responses became even sharper and the banter between her and Sir William was fantastic. And then the first part ended....and everything went downhill and FAST
At first I was completely confused about the second part. There seems to be no rhyme or reason as to "why?". There appears to be no end in sight. I felt that the second part didn't quite fit. And then we got the third part....WTF?!?!?! That's all I have to say...The little feminist in me was furious at the "new Kate" and her little performance in the garden, in front of guest. I really hated that part. I think that Kate or Kathryn (whatever you choose to call her) would have been happy and could still be herself...Not that shell that she became in the end...
June 15, 2017
Ever since I read some reviews on Goodreads saying that Kate changed to keep Sir William happy, I was dead set to hate this book with a vengeance! Because in my mind a woman shouldn't change anything about herself due to the whims of a man, the feminist in me was practically screaming in protest but the more I read the book the more I saw that this wasn't the case and I was gobsmacked!
Let me go back and explain from the start. The book is divided into three parts. The first part is before Kate met Sir William. Here she is this woman who is dubbed a shrew due to her spunk, extremely sharp tongue and inability to put up with utter nonsense which unfortunately repels people who does not understand where she is coming from. At first, I was very pro-Kate. I loved her spunk, her wit and her refusal to back down no matter what the cost and also the debates/banter she has with Sir William. I also loved her IDGAF attitude but the more the book progressed her attitude started to wear on my nerves. I don't know how to say this but I started to realize that Kate is a very bitchy woman. Like I love the whole independent thing and the intelligence is what a woman needs thing but she doesn't know how to apply them properly. She picks fights with everybody. She forces people to empathize with her yet she doesn't reciprocate the gesture and when people try to help her by warning that there are a few suitors who are using deception to get closer to her sister Blanche, she completely shuts them down and refuses to listen because she thinks if she who is so intelligent can't notice it then what do these people know. I felt that this is very selfish and condescending of her. Yes, her friend (her ONLY friend mind you) doesn't have the book smarts that Kate has but that doesn't mean she isn't intelligent. So my earlier feeling of being pro-Kate slowly changed to anti-Kate and this woman was annoying me to no end. She doesn't use her intelligence for the greater good, if she had used it properly she would get a lot more things done and honestly it wouldn't kill her to be nice to people. She is just so nasty in some parts of the book I am not surprised why nobody likes her. I wouldn't like a nasty and unkind person too.
So, we go to the next part where Sir William and Kate have already married and they are at his house. There the once sweet and understanding Sir William has a complete 180 degree change in personality and is nasty, mean, inconsiderate and sometimes irrational. Here, I saw that he is not trying to break her, he is just trying to change her perspective and he had to use brute force because Kate refuses to believe any sweet and kind words he says due to her insecurity that Blanche is better than her. Also, Kate keeps butting heads with Sir William and the part where she didn't eat for days because Sir William kept changing his mind could have been prevented had she just been humble enough to ask whether she could eat. Humble not broken. There is a difference. Only through Sir William's systematic pseudo-torture could Kate finally see the error of her ways and that instead of constantly fighting people to prove a point and subsequently acting how they thought she would act she could do the opposite and conform to societies rules yet at the same time still maintain her worth.
So, now we come to the last part and this was my favorite part because Blanche had eloped and her father was so shocked and could not believe that his favorite child defied him and yet Kate, the one who is the most rebellious and stubborn, had done exactly what he asked her to do and the win for Kate at that moment was so real and triumphant, I was there in my mind slow clapping for Kate. So, at the end Sir William proposes a game whereby Kate is the winner because the rules of the game was that whose wife follows the order of her husband to the T is a winner and Kate who knew this is a test won because she believed her husband to not do this with spite but just to show the townspeople that Kate could be nice and different if she wishes to.
What made me give this book a 5/5 was Kate's character development. She went from this insecure, hostile woman to a woman who knows her worth regardless of what happens and also how she is finally humble enough to apologize to her only friend as to how shitty of a friend she has been. I also loved how at the end the dude who married Blanche is shocked at how cruel, unfeeling and bossy Blanche's true personality is. I'd say serve you right for not using the intelligence that god gave you to see the truth. At the end, it was Kate who had the last laugh. she was married to Sir William who knew her. Who didn't mind that she was intelligent or that she had a sharp tongue and is independent. He didn't want to change her, he just wanted her to see and use said intelligence that benefits everybody.
*I received this book from the publishers via netgalley in return for an honest review
Let me go back and explain from the start. The book is divided into three parts. The first part is before Kate met Sir William. Here she is this woman who is dubbed a shrew due to her spunk, extremely sharp tongue and inability to put up with utter nonsense which unfortunately repels people who does not understand where she is coming from. At first, I was very pro-Kate. I loved her spunk, her wit and her refusal to back down no matter what the cost and also the debates/banter she has with Sir William. I also loved her IDGAF attitude but the more the book progressed her attitude started to wear on my nerves. I don't know how to say this but I started to realize that Kate is a very bitchy woman. Like I love the whole independent thing and the intelligence is what a woman needs thing but she doesn't know how to apply them properly. She picks fights with everybody. She forces people to empathize with her yet she doesn't reciprocate the gesture and when people try to help her by warning that there are a few suitors who are using deception to get closer to her sister Blanche, she completely shuts them down and refuses to listen because she thinks if she who is so intelligent can't notice it then what do these people know. I felt that this is very selfish and condescending of her. Yes, her friend (her ONLY friend mind you) doesn't have the book smarts that Kate has but that doesn't mean she isn't intelligent. So my earlier feeling of being pro-Kate slowly changed to anti-Kate and this woman was annoying me to no end. She doesn't use her intelligence for the greater good, if she had used it properly she would get a lot more things done and honestly it wouldn't kill her to be nice to people. She is just so nasty in some parts of the book I am not surprised why nobody likes her. I wouldn't like a nasty and unkind person too.
So, we go to the next part where Sir William and Kate have already married and they are at his house. There the once sweet and understanding Sir William has a complete 180 degree change in personality and is nasty, mean, inconsiderate and sometimes irrational. Here, I saw that he is not trying to break her, he is just trying to change her perspective and he had to use brute force because Kate refuses to believe any sweet and kind words he says due to her insecurity that Blanche is better than her. Also, Kate keeps butting heads with Sir William and the part where she didn't eat for days because Sir William kept changing his mind could have been prevented had she just been humble enough to ask whether she could eat. Humble not broken. There is a difference. Only through Sir William's systematic pseudo-torture could Kate finally see the error of her ways and that instead of constantly fighting people to prove a point and subsequently acting how they thought she would act she could do the opposite and conform to societies rules yet at the same time still maintain her worth.
So, now we come to the last part and this was my favorite part because Blanche had eloped and her father was so shocked and could not believe that his favorite child defied him and yet Kate, the one who is the most rebellious and stubborn, had done exactly what he asked her to do and the win for Kate at that moment was so real and triumphant, I was there in my mind slow clapping for Kate. So, at the end Sir William proposes a game whereby Kate is the winner because the rules of the game was that whose wife follows the order of her husband to the T is a winner and Kate who knew this is a test won because she believed her husband to not do this with spite but just to show the townspeople that Kate could be nice and different if she wishes to.
What made me give this book a 5/5 was Kate's character development. She went from this insecure, hostile woman to a woman who knows her worth regardless of what happens and also how she is finally humble enough to apologize to her only friend as to how shitty of a friend she has been. I also loved how at the end the dude who married Blanche is shocked at how cruel, unfeeling and bossy Blanche's true personality is. I'd say serve you right for not using the intelligence that god gave you to see the truth. At the end, it was Kate who had the last laugh. she was married to Sir William who knew her. Who didn't mind that she was intelligent or that she had a sharp tongue and is independent. He didn't want to change her, he just wanted her to see and use said intelligence that benefits everybody.
*I received this book from the publishers via netgalley in return for an honest review
March 20, 2017
Finding Kate was a great novel. I really, really didn't think half way through that I would like it, I almost didn't finish it, in my mind I wrote it off as though the author couldn't fix it, boy was I wrong. I'm glad I finished it, it was an amazing book about partnership and knowing someone better than they know themselves and sacrificing something in yourself to help someone else find themselves. Beautifully written!!
I received a free copy of this novel from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.
April 16, 2017
This book is a retelling of Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew set in England during the period of the War of the Roses. If you are not familiar with TOTS: two sisters of marriageable age (Katherina and Bianca) live with their father. Bianca is beautiful and sweet and Katherina is a shrew. Bianca cannot marry until Katherina does. Gents show up in town, wooing and hijinks take place, and Katherina is eventually “tamed” by Petruchio. In this story, Kathryn is wooed by the gorgeous William (and he is DIVINE). Though I understand where some of the readers posting are coming from, I think this story could not have concluded any other way while staying true to the characters. In a nutshell, I thought this story was beautifully written, the characters resonated with life, and though I “know” how the Taming of the Shrew ends, I was riveted until the last page.
******More details below, but it contains SPOILERS. ☺******
As a feminist, I always wanted to hear this story from Katherina’s (here: Kathryn’s) perspective. She is, after all, a girl who is chafing against the confines of her very limited role in life. Her only value is as marriage material, and frankly, she’s not into that. She is compared to her sister. She is pissed off and standing up for herself (telling everyone to bugger off) and is therefore “a shrew”. It always seemed so unfair to me. By modern standards, she would be a senator or a lawyer, not made to feel wrong simply for existing!
Fantalis’ book does an exceptional job of showing this story from Kathryn’s perspective. She has become a shrew, but primarily because she is reacting to being unjustly treated by her father and sister. Kathryn, when wooed by William (who is 1000% swoon worthy) holds him at arms length. She does not trust that he is interested in more than her dowry. How could she? Her self-confidence is shot by years of abuse and she has built a thick protective shell around her. She has been told her unworthiness so many times that she believes it to her core.
Did I like the way he treats her after their marriage? Of course not. It’s awful. It is meant to be awful. It’s not just that the author sticks to the plot of the original—which is important in its own right. It’s also that these two people have to work through this--- who they are, how they will treat each other, how they will become partners. It is not a fairy tale, and if their personalities had changed when they married I would have been really dissatisfied.
Instead, Fantalis helps us see how they must forge something new together. Though William’s treatment of Kathryn made me angry, and I certainly wouldn’t say this is the way to treat ANY person, it made sense in the context of this story. In fact, instead of making it a comedy as Shakespeare did (though there are lots of funny moments from witty turns of phrase), Fantalis shows the anguish that both Kathryn and William go through. She makes their relationship true and realistic in a way I had not imagined was possible.
It's a lovely book. Beautifully written. You will never think of The Taming of the Shrew in the same way again.
******More details below, but it contains SPOILERS. ☺******
As a feminist, I always wanted to hear this story from Katherina’s (here: Kathryn’s) perspective. She is, after all, a girl who is chafing against the confines of her very limited role in life. Her only value is as marriage material, and frankly, she’s not into that. She is compared to her sister. She is pissed off and standing up for herself (telling everyone to bugger off) and is therefore “a shrew”. It always seemed so unfair to me. By modern standards, she would be a senator or a lawyer, not made to feel wrong simply for existing!
Fantalis’ book does an exceptional job of showing this story from Kathryn’s perspective. She has become a shrew, but primarily because she is reacting to being unjustly treated by her father and sister. Kathryn, when wooed by William (who is 1000% swoon worthy) holds him at arms length. She does not trust that he is interested in more than her dowry. How could she? Her self-confidence is shot by years of abuse and she has built a thick protective shell around her. She has been told her unworthiness so many times that she believes it to her core.
Did I like the way he treats her after their marriage? Of course not. It’s awful. It is meant to be awful. It’s not just that the author sticks to the plot of the original—which is important in its own right. It’s also that these two people have to work through this--- who they are, how they will treat each other, how they will become partners. It is not a fairy tale, and if their personalities had changed when they married I would have been really dissatisfied.
Instead, Fantalis helps us see how they must forge something new together. Though William’s treatment of Kathryn made me angry, and I certainly wouldn’t say this is the way to treat ANY person, it made sense in the context of this story. In fact, instead of making it a comedy as Shakespeare did (though there are lots of funny moments from witty turns of phrase), Fantalis shows the anguish that both Kathryn and William go through. She makes their relationship true and realistic in a way I had not imagined was possible.
It's a lovely book. Beautifully written. You will never think of The Taming of the Shrew in the same way again.
April 7, 2018
I have to admit, I've never read Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew. So, I can't say how closely this follows it.
For me to love a romance, I want great writing and believable, building attraction.
I have to say the writing in this book is superb. Sometimes I stopped reading just to smile and savor a particularly great phrase or sentence. You can't always find this level of writing in romance.
The attraction between the h/h was well-done too. Insta attractions are not believable to me, and while I would have loved to have a little more developed backstory into the history of the hero's interest in the heroine, I adored the very believable and well-developed attraction between the two. It's one of the reasons I read romance, and this book did not disappoint.
I also love the idea of taking Shakespeare's plays and rewriting them from the heroine's point of view. Brilliant.
For me the ultimate message of the book was that a husband and wife are a team. Sometimes both of you have to choose to give up what you believe you deserve/your rights/your desires for the good of the team. I don't know if that was Shakespeare's original intention (somehow I doubt it) but it ended up being my takeaway, and I felt that was a great message/reminder for anyone in any generation. Plus, isn't that what romance is all about? It's not about me anymore, it's about us. Love it!
For me to love a romance, I want great writing and believable, building attraction.
I have to say the writing in this book is superb. Sometimes I stopped reading just to smile and savor a particularly great phrase or sentence. You can't always find this level of writing in romance.
The attraction between the h/h was well-done too. Insta attractions are not believable to me, and while I would have loved to have a little more developed backstory into the history of the hero's interest in the heroine, I adored the very believable and well-developed attraction between the two. It's one of the reasons I read romance, and this book did not disappoint.
I also love the idea of taking Shakespeare's plays and rewriting them from the heroine's point of view. Brilliant.
For me the ultimate message of the book was that a husband and wife are a team. Sometimes both of you have to choose to give up what you believe you deserve/your rights/your desires for the good of the team. I don't know if that was Shakespeare's original intention (somehow I doubt it) but it ended up being my takeaway, and I felt that was a great message/reminder for anyone in any generation. Plus, isn't that what romance is all about? It's not about me anymore, it's about us. Love it!
September 7, 2017
Satisfying and eye-opening take on the Taming of the Shrew. Kathryn is too intelligent for her time and her own good. Following her inner dialogue as she looks at life around her and how she finds it almost impossible (at first, anyhow) to break out of a young lifetime of habits in order to find a paradoxical new freedom, makes for a dandy read. You don't need to know Shakespeare to savor this book. It's worth a look by school and public libraries caring about interesting tales for intelligent teens.
May 9, 2017
I gotta say, I wasn't sure what to expect when I heard this was a retelling of Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew. (My biggest experience with the story is actually a ballet I loved to watch when I was a child by Bejart's company.) At any rate, Fantalis' take on the story was fun. I enjoyed reading things from Katherine's POV and knowing why she had become bitter. The period elements are well done and the writing is beautiful. Perfect for a Sunday afternoon read.
March 27, 2017
Finding Kate is a book about a young lady named Kathryn. She hides in the shadow of her "perfect" sister, Blanche. In her community, she is called the Shrew and is hard to get a long with. This has made it difficult for her to find a husband. Kathryn is the oldest sister so her younger sister, Blanche, cannot marry until Kate does. Kate is bored with the lessons and routine of her day. She is also not treated well in her home. Her father and her stepmother show favoritism to Blanche.
When several men come to town, the father of Kathryn and Blanche invite these men to come out to their home in hopes that he can convince them to marry Kathryn. He believes no one will want to marry her because of her sharp tongue. He is partial to Blanche and believes she will have no problem marrying once he gets someone to take Kathryn off of his hands. Sir William is one of the men that comes to meet the ladies. While the other men are immediately smitten with Blanche, he is partial to Kathryn. He is looking for a wife that will be patient and obedient. He sees that potential in Kathryn but he also sees beyond the surface. He sees who Kathryn can be. He proposes and the wedding date is set. When he does not show up for the wedding, Kathryn is just further embarrassed in front of a community that mocks her anyway.
Kathryn is surprised when Sir William arrives to take her to his home as his wife in the middle of the night. She travels to his castle and he begins the process of helping her see who she can really be. Kathryn becomes Kate. A better version of herself. William and Kate grow in their relationship as he helps her put away her masks and be real.
Forever Kate took a while to really draw me into the story but once it did, I liked the book a lot. I liked the new Kate and was so happy with the ending of the book.
When several men come to town, the father of Kathryn and Blanche invite these men to come out to their home in hopes that he can convince them to marry Kathryn. He believes no one will want to marry her because of her sharp tongue. He is partial to Blanche and believes she will have no problem marrying once he gets someone to take Kathryn off of his hands. Sir William is one of the men that comes to meet the ladies. While the other men are immediately smitten with Blanche, he is partial to Kathryn. He is looking for a wife that will be patient and obedient. He sees that potential in Kathryn but he also sees beyond the surface. He sees who Kathryn can be. He proposes and the wedding date is set. When he does not show up for the wedding, Kathryn is just further embarrassed in front of a community that mocks her anyway.
Kathryn is surprised when Sir William arrives to take her to his home as his wife in the middle of the night. She travels to his castle and he begins the process of helping her see who she can really be. Kathryn becomes Kate. A better version of herself. William and Kate grow in their relationship as he helps her put away her masks and be real.
Forever Kate took a while to really draw me into the story but once it did, I liked the book a lot. I liked the new Kate and was so happy with the ending of the book.
March 19, 2024
A more romantic version
I was a bit hesitant to read this as Taming of the Shrew is not one of my favorites by Shakespeare. However, I enjoyed the author's writing style in Loving Beatrice, so decided to give this a chance. I'm glad I did! It's by far my favorite version of the story (aside from 10 Things I Hate About You) in that the characters felt like connected partners by the end. They seem genuinely interested in each other, though Kate fights/denies it and Will goes crazy. It's probably the most romantic version of the story I've read/seen that stays as close to the original. That said, I still have issues with the story.
SPOILERS
1) Even if Will felt the need for drastic action - deny comforts and act contrary - because Kate refused to believe him, the food denial especially is another level of messed up. Now, he seemed to deny himself as well, and he didn't stop or reprimand her for getting her own food, but still. Messed up. He could have showed his love over time through kind actions and let her shrew-shield dissolve; instead he just started attacking it non-stop. Maybe this would have worked better if the sense of urgency was heightened? Like he received word that the Tudor army had actually landed in Wales instead of that being a someday soon threat.
2) Kate's revelation seemed to move too quickly to togetherness. I think there should have been more time between her figuring out what Will was doing and being fine with running around the world with a traitor because they'd have each other. Perhaps, that last bit could have been shared later back in Whitelock.
3) At the end, even though Kate figured out the husbands were up to something and decided to play along with hers by countering the others' expectations, it was still awkward and uncomfortable for me to read her speech and actions.
I was a bit hesitant to read this as Taming of the Shrew is not one of my favorites by Shakespeare. However, I enjoyed the author's writing style in Loving Beatrice, so decided to give this a chance. I'm glad I did! It's by far my favorite version of the story (aside from 10 Things I Hate About You) in that the characters felt like connected partners by the end. They seem genuinely interested in each other, though Kate fights/denies it and Will goes crazy. It's probably the most romantic version of the story I've read/seen that stays as close to the original. That said, I still have issues with the story.
SPOILERS
1) Even if Will felt the need for drastic action - deny comforts and act contrary - because Kate refused to believe him, the food denial especially is another level of messed up. Now, he seemed to deny himself as well, and he didn't stop or reprimand her for getting her own food, but still. Messed up. He could have showed his love over time through kind actions and let her shrew-shield dissolve; instead he just started attacking it non-stop. Maybe this would have worked better if the sense of urgency was heightened? Like he received word that the Tudor army had actually landed in Wales instead of that being a someday soon threat.
2) Kate's revelation seemed to move too quickly to togetherness. I think there should have been more time between her figuring out what Will was doing and being fine with running around the world with a traitor because they'd have each other. Perhaps, that last bit could have been shared later back in Whitelock.
3) At the end, even though Kate figured out the husbands were up to something and decided to play along with hers by countering the others' expectations, it was still awkward and uncomfortable for me to read her speech and actions.
February 20, 2019
Finding Kate is a new perspective on Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, not set in contemporary times, but set instead well before the Bard’s period, during the War of the Roses. The choice is to our benefit, as Ms. Fantalis’s period detail shines. We drop into everyday village life to smell the smoke from the kitchen and stale beer at the tavern, feel the aches and pains of travel, and see the smugly superior grin on the priest’s face. Dialogue immerses us in court happenings and the struggle for the crown, and we come to understand a father’s business motivations as he marries off his daughters in the fifteenth century. And I promise the prose is approachable-nothing like slogging through the Bard in high school English class!
Our heroine, Kate, is reviled in her village for her shrew-like tendencies, but not all is as it seems. Men come courting, though their attentions center on Kate’s fair sister, Blanche. One of the potential suitors, Sir William, sees through to the reasons that underlie Kate’s behavior, and takes her as his wife. Sir William remolds Kate as the lady of his house with methods—starvation, sparse quarters, filthy clothing, and sharp-tongued criticism—that, while misogynistic by today’s standards at best, begin to turn the light bulb on for Kate. Her triumph in leaving her “shrew” image behind as she becomes a loving wife and essential partner to Sir William is memorable. As the book ends, I wondered how the intelligent and newly-wise Kate would support Sir William as he chooses sides in the show-down between the House of Lancaster and the House of York?
Our heroine, Kate, is reviled in her village for her shrew-like tendencies, but not all is as it seems. Men come courting, though their attentions center on Kate’s fair sister, Blanche. One of the potential suitors, Sir William, sees through to the reasons that underlie Kate’s behavior, and takes her as his wife. Sir William remolds Kate as the lady of his house with methods—starvation, sparse quarters, filthy clothing, and sharp-tongued criticism—that, while misogynistic by today’s standards at best, begin to turn the light bulb on for Kate. Her triumph in leaving her “shrew” image behind as she becomes a loving wife and essential partner to Sir William is memorable. As the book ends, I wondered how the intelligent and newly-wise Kate would support Sir William as he chooses sides in the show-down between the House of Lancaster and the House of York?
June 4, 2018
With her crisp storytelling, impressive command of historical detail, and elegant prose, Maryanne Fantalis pulls off a difficult feat: She transplants Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew to Medieval England, then allows the "shrew" herself to tell us her story—a fascinating take on a play that’s especially tricky (and important!) to revisit in the age of #MeToo.
FINDING KATE is both binge-readable and yet challenging, making it a terrific choice for book clubs. It raises lots of meaty, topical questions such as: Why do nearly all of us--"woke" or otherwise--still penalize a woman who speaks up for herself (as research shows)? What do *you* think about a woman when she disagrees with you, or when she shows anger? And what’s more: what happens to a person after a lifetime of being treated like a second-class citizen?
Even where anger is warranted, what does it *do* to a person, over the course of a lifetime?
As I read FINDING KATE, I found myself thinking about “Cinderella,” and wondering how in the world *she* wasn’t more pissed-off, too. Then it hit me: Cinderella responded to her ill-treatment with [unrealistic] meekness, and got a Disney princess coined in her honor as a reward. In contrast, the “shrew” of Shakespeare’s play lashes out at her tormentors, and pays a price for it—as have many historical women who’ve dared to behave out of turn when they were wronged.
Fantalis’s FINDING KATE goes a long way to righting that wrong, thankfully. By finally letting this particular heroine—and a heroine she is!—define herself, on her own terms, and in her own words.
FINDING KATE is both binge-readable and yet challenging, making it a terrific choice for book clubs. It raises lots of meaty, topical questions such as: Why do nearly all of us--"woke" or otherwise--still penalize a woman who speaks up for herself (as research shows)? What do *you* think about a woman when she disagrees with you, or when she shows anger? And what’s more: what happens to a person after a lifetime of being treated like a second-class citizen?
Even where anger is warranted, what does it *do* to a person, over the course of a lifetime?
As I read FINDING KATE, I found myself thinking about “Cinderella,” and wondering how in the world *she* wasn’t more pissed-off, too. Then it hit me: Cinderella responded to her ill-treatment with [unrealistic] meekness, and got a Disney princess coined in her honor as a reward. In contrast, the “shrew” of Shakespeare’s play lashes out at her tormentors, and pays a price for it—as have many historical women who’ve dared to behave out of turn when they were wronged.
Fantalis’s FINDING KATE goes a long way to righting that wrong, thankfully. By finally letting this particular heroine—and a heroine she is!—define herself, on her own terms, and in her own words.
December 30, 2018
I have very little understanding with Shakespeare, so I was hoping that I wasn't going to feel lost in this book. I'm glad to report that I caught on well. Maryanne Fantalis made it easy to understand the idea of the plot and its progression.
The first book (act?) was good. The second book felt dry and boring and I wanted to chuck it. The third book picked up better, but it just wasn't the same as the first book. I felt like the ball had been dropped into a big dark hole and lost to the world. *shrugs* Oh well.
I think I could rate it better if the last two acts had been a little more like the first. But that's my unasked opinion. I can't see myself re-reading it. If I'm going to keep a book, I want to gush over it. But if you are true-blue Shakespeare fan, you might like this book!
The first book (act?) was good. The second book felt dry and boring and I wanted to chuck it. The third book picked up better, but it just wasn't the same as the first book. I felt like the ball had been dropped into a big dark hole and lost to the world. *shrugs* Oh well.
I think I could rate it better if the last two acts had been a little more like the first. But that's my unasked opinion. I can't see myself re-reading it. If I'm going to keep a book, I want to gush over it. But if you are true-blue Shakespeare fan, you might like this book!
March 18, 2017
I received this book from net galley for an honest review. Thank you!!
This novel was a bit different from books I normally read. I have never read Taming of the Shrew, but this novel was a good read.
Kathryn is called a shrew by the people in her village. She always has a reply to something that is said and it is as if she is always "defending" herself. She is very clever, but feels her father cares more about her sister Blanche, than her. Her father will have Kathryn married first before Blanche can marry. Blanche is a rather selfish and conceited individual. She uses her wiles to entice men and likes to have attention on her.
Sir William arrives and meets Blanche and Kathryn. Blanche believes William is for her, however, William seems to be more interested in Kathryn and even begins calling her Kate, which annoys her. Kathryn feels as though everyone is against her. William asks her father for Kate's hand in marriage but her father denies him and tries to give him Blanche, to which William refuses. Eventually, Kate accepts his proposal but then William does not show at the church and Kate is hurt and embarrassed. William comes to her that night and takes her to his home. His attitude does a 180 and Kate is treated poorly. She is upset and does not know how to handle this., At times, she sees the William she first met, and others, this terrible man. In his own way, William is trying ti teach Kate a lesson about herself as well as doing the unexpected. Will Kate realize and understand what William is trying to do or will she live up to her title as a shrew?
This novel was a bit different from books I normally read. I have never read Taming of the Shrew, but this novel was a good read.
Kathryn is called a shrew by the people in her village. She always has a reply to something that is said and it is as if she is always "defending" herself. She is very clever, but feels her father cares more about her sister Blanche, than her. Her father will have Kathryn married first before Blanche can marry. Blanche is a rather selfish and conceited individual. She uses her wiles to entice men and likes to have attention on her.
Sir William arrives and meets Blanche and Kathryn. Blanche believes William is for her, however, William seems to be more interested in Kathryn and even begins calling her Kate, which annoys her. Kathryn feels as though everyone is against her. William asks her father for Kate's hand in marriage but her father denies him and tries to give him Blanche, to which William refuses. Eventually, Kate accepts his proposal but then William does not show at the church and Kate is hurt and embarrassed. William comes to her that night and takes her to his home. His attitude does a 180 and Kate is treated poorly. She is upset and does not know how to handle this., At times, she sees the William she first met, and others, this terrible man. In his own way, William is trying ti teach Kate a lesson about herself as well as doing the unexpected. Will Kate realize and understand what William is trying to do or will she live up to her title as a shrew?
May 25, 2017
*This is an honest review based on an ARC received from NetGalley.*
Finding Kate is a story based on William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew. For those who are unaware, the book is one of Shakespeare's comedies, which, besides being funny, are also meant to be satirical. It is NOT a book that promotes abusing women into obedience. Rather, it is a critique of society.
Finding Kate is a quick, fast-paced read and blends popular Shakespearean scenes with a new spin on the story. I always enjoy an independent, sassy heroine and Kathryn was no different.
I would recommend people to look up the Taming of the Shrew's plot summary, in order to enjoy the book better.
Finding Kate is a story based on William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew. For those who are unaware, the book is one of Shakespeare's comedies, which, besides being funny, are also meant to be satirical. It is NOT a book that promotes abusing women into obedience. Rather, it is a critique of society.
Finding Kate is a quick, fast-paced read and blends popular Shakespearean scenes with a new spin on the story. I always enjoy an independent, sassy heroine and Kathryn was no different.
I would recommend people to look up the Taming of the Shrew's plot summary, in order to enjoy the book better.
June 15, 2017
Finding Kate is based on Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew. Although I haven't read The Taming of the Shrew, I requested Finding Kate so I'd have a good picture of the classic story. It was both entertaining and painful to watch the unfolding of Kathryn becoming Kate. I felt so sorry for her most of the time, even though I didn't like her personality very much in the beginning; she was a miserable thing, but I loved how she changed near the end. Will and Kate are perfect for each other! Thank you, Netgalley and Maryanne Fantalis, for a digital copy of Finding Kate in exchange for my honest review.
May 1, 2022
To the extent that The Taming of the Shrew is nearly impossible to redeem, Fantalis made as good an adaptation as anyone could. The idea that Kate doesn't have to be stuck being the person everyone sees her as is actually pretty uplifting. Still, even if Sir William ( the Petruchio character, but with Will puns) is motivated by wanting to get Kate to see her true self, the "taming" is hard to read. These scenes come straight out of the play.
May 26, 2017
Enchanting
The novel carries you back in time and puts you in the middle of a medieval village where you experience the life of the characters that are so well described that you feel you know them personally.
The novel carries you back in time and puts you in the middle of a medieval village where you experience the life of the characters that are so well described that you feel you know them personally.
October 22, 2021
I didn’t like Will’s abuse and to-be-honest torture of Kate to make her change. And then to have her “fake” submission in front of her family. Not something I would recommend for lovers of historical romance.
July 27, 2020
This is a great book! Definitely add to a must read list! The characters are great and the story is well written! Thank you for the opportunity to read this book.
April 8, 2017
Publisher's Description:
Kathryn’s strong will and sharp tongue have branded her a shrew in her small town. Now, not even the generous dowry offered by her wealthy father can tempt any man to court her. But when Sir William rides into town on his magnificent war horse, Kathryn’s world turns upside down.
William is like a burr in Kathryn’s side from the very beginning. Even the way he insists on calling her “Kate” irritates her thoroughly, yet she can’t keep from listening for his voice. Though he claims he is the only man for her, she is certain he only wants her rich dowry. When he proposes marriage, she accepts as a way out of her miserable home.
Freed from her cruel family and judgmental town, Kathryn must decide whether she will continue her battle of wills with the sometimes charming, often maddening Sir William. Will she remain the shrewish Kathryn or find a way to be Will’s Kate?
This delightful reimagining of “The Taming of the Shrew” is sure to enchant longtime Shakespeare fans and newcomers alike.
My Thoughts:
This is a delightful debut novel. The description tells us exactly what to expect with this retelling of Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew.
Even had I not read the description I would have recognized this tale for what it is, after all we have been regaled with many different versions of this tale.
The characters are very well done recreations of the ones well remembered in the Shakespearean classic. Kathryn is the perfect recreation of the shrew and Sir William of the love she is certain was bought for her by her father who simply wants to be rid of her.
I gave this book 4.25 of 5 stars for storyline and characterization and a sensual rating of 3 of 5 flames.
I received a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley to read. This in no way affected my opinion of this book which I have reviewed voluntarily.
Kathryn’s strong will and sharp tongue have branded her a shrew in her small town. Now, not even the generous dowry offered by her wealthy father can tempt any man to court her. But when Sir William rides into town on his magnificent war horse, Kathryn’s world turns upside down.
William is like a burr in Kathryn’s side from the very beginning. Even the way he insists on calling her “Kate” irritates her thoroughly, yet she can’t keep from listening for his voice. Though he claims he is the only man for her, she is certain he only wants her rich dowry. When he proposes marriage, she accepts as a way out of her miserable home.
Freed from her cruel family and judgmental town, Kathryn must decide whether she will continue her battle of wills with the sometimes charming, often maddening Sir William. Will she remain the shrewish Kathryn or find a way to be Will’s Kate?
This delightful reimagining of “The Taming of the Shrew” is sure to enchant longtime Shakespeare fans and newcomers alike.
My Thoughts:
This is a delightful debut novel. The description tells us exactly what to expect with this retelling of Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew.
Even had I not read the description I would have recognized this tale for what it is, after all we have been regaled with many different versions of this tale.
The characters are very well done recreations of the ones well remembered in the Shakespearean classic. Kathryn is the perfect recreation of the shrew and Sir William of the love she is certain was bought for her by her father who simply wants to be rid of her.
I gave this book 4.25 of 5 stars for storyline and characterization and a sensual rating of 3 of 5 flames.
I received a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley to read. This in no way affected my opinion of this book which I have reviewed voluntarily.
June 2, 2022
How I love a book that almost makes me miss my subway stop. And stay up into the wee hours reading by the light of my cell phone so as not to wake my husband! That was my experience reading Finding Kate, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I was fortunate enough to meet the author at a writing conference and after I found out about the series of novels she's writing about the women in Shakespeare's plays, she gave me a copy of her book, which I really had a hard time putting down. The Taming of the Shrew is such a troubling play, and the author does a convincing job of making this an actual love story, while staying true to both the play and the social strictures of the day. I am very much looking forward to the rest of the books in the series!
January 30, 2019
I would like to thank netgalley and City Owl Press for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
I love taming of the shrew and this novel perfectly puts down how I see the play, it's not necessarily sexiest and actually looks at a women who is deeply unhappy in her life. The sexism lays in how Kate is treated by those in her village, not by sir William. You have to look at this play with the ideals of the time it wad written in and not our modern ideals.
I love taming of the shrew and this novel perfectly puts down how I see the play, it's not necessarily sexiest and actually looks at a women who is deeply unhappy in her life. The sexism lays in how Kate is treated by those in her village, not by sir William. You have to look at this play with the ideals of the time it wad written in and not our modern ideals.
October 13, 2020
Luscious yet clean. Shakespeare's SHREW came to life.
March 28, 2017
I admit I picked up this book because it was The Taming of the Shrew without the Shakespere language. They didn't try to take it into a different time period or modernize it at all. This was pretty much the play written out in prose. I thought it was well fleshed out with only a few minor changes and some additional back story added to Shakespere's basic plot.
I felt horrible for Kate when she is starved and kept uncomfortable. I couldn't quite understand how this was going to work out to be "for her good" but I think it finished well. I loved watching Kate come to a realization of why she was acting that way and how it affected how she saw herself and how others expected her to be.
I felt horrible for Kate when she is starved and kept uncomfortable. I couldn't quite understand how this was going to work out to be "for her good" but I think it finished well. I loved watching Kate come to a realization of why she was acting that way and how it affected how she saw herself and how others expected her to be.
March 31, 2017
Not an official Hogarth, but should've been! (Taming of the Shrew) Very well-written and a great read! Much better than the Anne Tyler version, in my humble opinion! Loved the cover as well! Thank you NetGalley for the free read!!!!
April 5, 2017
This is a redo of The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare. I've never read or seen the play, though I've watched the musical Kiss Me Kate. Unlike the play, this story is set in C15th England in the reign of Richard III rather than Italy. From what I remember a lot of the dialogue in this book is in fact lifted from the play, including the cruelty after the marriage (or in the case of this book, after the betrothal). From other reviews I have seen, I think some readers would have preferred the author to deviate from Shakespeare's plot and find another way for Kathryn/Kate to reconcile with her lot and it does appear that Sir William "got her" and his treatment of her in his own home seems unnecessarily harsh but that is the way the story was originally written and this author has gone with it. I enjoyed it and felt it was well written
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not compensated for my review, and I was not required to write a positive review. The opinion expressed here is my own.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not compensated for my review, and I was not required to write a positive review. The opinion expressed here is my own.
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