Devon Book Club discussion

Hi all,

Below is a message just sent via email to reading group coordinators across Devon. If you read a Shakespeare play during this period (March/April) it would be great if we can start a discussion here. Thank you!

To mark both National Shakespeare Week (16th-22nd March) and Shakespeare’s traditional birthday (23rd April) Devon Libraries are offering reading groups in Devon the Shakespeare plays normally only available for loan through our play set service.

This offer will last throughout March and April so if your reading group would like to borrow one of the 25 plays held in the play set collection during this period send an message stating your group name and play choices (first and second choice) to: libraryreadinggroup-mailbox@devon.gov.uk

Also, at the same time, please let us know if you would like to borrow the play in addition to or instead of the book you would normally receive through the Choices service.

For more information about our Music and Play Set service: www.devon.gov.uk/musicandplaysets

For more information about National Shakespeare Week: www.shakespeareweek.org.uk/

The Available Plays

All's Well That Ends Well
Antony and Cleopatra
As You Like It
The Comedy of Errors
Coriolanus
Cymbeline
Hamlet
Henry V
Julius Caesar
King John
King Lear
King Richard III
Love’s Labour’s Lost
Macbeth
The Merry Wives of Windsor
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Much Ado About Nothing
Othello
Romeo and Juliet
The Taming of the Shrew
The Tempest
Timon of Athens
Troilus and Cressida
Twelfth Night
The Winter’s Tale

What a great idea, Colin. Hope it catches on. I'll flag on the facebook page too

An update, at last count eight reading groups have taken up the offer so far.

It isn't too late to take part during April - if so, send a message to:

libraryreadinggroup-mailbox@devon.gov.uk

Colin wrote: "An update, at last count eight reading groups have taken up the offer so far.

It isn't too late to take part during April - if so, send a message to:

libraryreadinggroup-mailbox@devon.gov.uk"

Be great to direct them to the Book Club for online discussion

We I have just read my first Shakespeare play since 'Measure For Measure' at A Level.

The Comedy of Errors was a quick read, perhaps a couple of hours in total, and I loved the language and experience of looking for phrases that have entered common parlance.

Perhaps a farce involving four sets of identical twins struggles to translate via the page rather than the stage.

But it was lots of fun to read. That Shakespeare, he could write a bit!

Pity this thread has been, well, silent, but good to know that people are reading Shakespeare last month and this who perhaps haven't read him in years.

I am just about to finish the book Shakespeare Saved My Life: Ten Years in Solitary with the Bard. Have really enjoyed it - inspirational. I will read some more Shakespeare as a result - has certainly rekindled my interest. Been some time since I read one of his plays.