READING
Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell
In Hamnet, O’Farrell has created the world of William Shakespeare’s son, Hamnet, at the time of the bubonic plague. While 11-year-old Hamnet is present in the early chapters, he haunts the remainder of the novel after his death. In many ways, the novel is a story of motherhood, marriage, and grief with a focus on the mother. Agnes, Hamnet’s mother, is a creature of the woods, a skilled herbalist, yet unconventional and socially inept. She chafes under her mother-in-law’s strictures, misses her husband whom she sent to London to get him away from his abusive father, and mightily grieves for her son, seeking and seeing him everywhere.
The descriptions of the environs are so graphic one can easily picture town life in Stratford and life on the farm where Agnes grew up. O’Farrell lists, annotates, categorizes, and catalogs the implements of home life and the branches, leaves and blossoms in the wood; at times, the writing is staccato-like. It’s a beautifully written book about a horrible pandemic—timely and richly deserving of its several literary awards. Highly recommended! (~JWFarrington)
WATCHING
The Lost Daughter (Netflix)
I am not familiar with the novel by Elena Ferrante that inspired The Lost Daughter, but I’m a big admirer of Oliva Colman and would see her in almost anything. Here, she is a comparative literature professor on a beach vacation in Greece. Leda is alone and prepared to work, but she becomes fixated on watching a young mother, Nina, and Elena, her little girl, romp and play on the shore. Leda exchanges brief pleasantries with Nina and her aunt and interacts with Lyle, the apartment caretaker, and Will, an engaging college student. In flashbacks, she begins reflecting on her own experiences decades ago as an ambitious academic with two young daughters and a busy husband. As she said to Nina earlier, “motherhood is a crushing responsibility.”
When Nina’s daughter goes missing, the extended family and friends fan out to search for her. Leda finds Elena with her doll. What happens afterward is puzzling and strange with an even stranger, more mystifying ending. I wondered whether Leda was truly unbalanced and what state we find her in in the last scene.
It’s a slowly paced film with sparse dialogue, yet the camera lingers on the physical: limbs, breasts, and bodies. Colman is superb as 48-year old Leda while Jessie Buckley is marvelous as Leda, the young mother. The depiction of motherhood is both joyous and wrenching with greater emphasis on the demands of being a mother. Painful to watch at points, this may be film fare for a more selective audience. (~JWFarrington)
DINING
Whitney’s
Located on the northern end of Longboat Key, Whitney’s is a former gas station turned into a casual restaurant. Seating includes tables on the gravel outside as well as booths and tables inside. Open for lunch and dinner on a first come, first-served basis, it’s a welcome addition to the LBK dining options.
A friend and I ate at a small round table outside. Our waitress was friendly in the nicest way, and we enjoyed shrimp Louie and the mixed greens salad with tiny cubes of manchego and a choice of dressing and protein. I opted for the salad with champagne vinaigrette and grilled shrimp. Both dishes were excellent. Whitney’s also serves burgers, fish tacos, crab cakes, tuna tartare, and other fish entrees. Wine and beer are also available. Several days a week there is live music, so you might want to plan accordingly.
Note: Header drawing of a harried mother is from Time Magazine (time.com).
