J. I. Davenport

I should probably admit, upfront, to my love of Shakespeare. I studied the plays in College, and I've spent many wonderful hours at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in England soaking up whatever I could. I was a bit worried when I sat down to read this... because my fear with retellings is always that they won't live up to the feel and quality of the original. This story was wonderful!
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This is the story of Romeo and Juliet told from the perspective of Mercutio. The timeline of events is basically the same, but the reader stays with Mercutio. Mercutio is a lovely character. outwardly, he's joyful and free. He's the joker, the light-hearted romancer. Inwardly, Mercutio is struggling with an unrequited love that, at times, he doesn't even seem to really understand. Mercutio is in love with Romeo. They grew up together, and ever since they were young, Mercutio has harbored a fierce love for his best friend. It hasn't changed as they become adults.
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As Romeo moves on and falls in love... Mercutio tries to bury his feelings. He enters a carnival-like world of drugs, alcohol, dreams that seem real, reality that he can't accept. All the time he seems to try and have a smile on his face. I'm simplifying this... there's something very heavy and lyrical about the prose in this book. I was caught up in Mercutio's mind. He feels things intensely even at the same time as he appears lost in his thought and emotions. The author has captured this character wonderfully and really gives one the idea of what turmoil was going on within Mercutio.
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This is a lovely book... it's emotional, tragic and touching.… (mais)