2012 Puddly Awards
 
 
Follow us on TwitterFollow us on FacebookFollow us on TumblrSubscribe to RSS

Recently Viewed clear list

Interviews | Today, 2:26pm

Jill Owens: IMG Stephen Dau: The Powells.com Interview

0 comments By Jill Owens

Stephen DauStephen Dau's The Book of Jonas is a marvelous, lyrical debut that examines the effects of war on everyone involved. Dau weaves together the stories... Continue »
  1. $17.47 Sale Hardcover add to wish list

    The Book of Jonas

    Stephen Dau 9780399158452
spacer
Free Shipping!

Ships free on qualified orders.
$16.95
New Hardcover
Ships in 1 to 3 days
Add to Wishlist
Qty Store Section
5 Local Warehouse Children's- General
2 Remote Warehouse Children's- General

Romeo's Ex: Rosalind's Story

by Lisa Fiedler

Romeo's Ex: Rosalind's Story Cover

ISBN13: 9780805075007
ISBN10: 0805075003
All Product Details

 

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

Shakespeare's classic retold from another perspective
 
Rosaline won't let anyone or anything get in the way of her future as a healer. That is, until she meets Benvolio. Where Romeo's words had been hollow and unfounded, Benvolio's are filled with sincerity and true love. Now Rosaline finds herself caught between her feelings, her ambition, and her family's long-standing feud with the Montagues.

When Romeo turns his affections toward Ros's cousin, Juliet, their relationship brings the feud of the two houses to a new level. Rosaline and Benvolio hatch a plan to bring peace to the two families. But will they succeed?

Review:

"Having told Hamlet's story from Ophelia's point of view in her Dating Hamlet, Fiedler here cleverly retells Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet from the perspective of 15-year-old Lady Rosaline, Juliet's cousin. Strong and smart Rosaline, who is training to be a healer, catches Romeo's eye when the young Montague brings to her his wounded friend for treatment. But when romantic Romeo meets innocent Juliet at the fateful Capulet costume fete, they are instantly infatuated; despite the fact that 'Montagues spit upon Capulets, and Capulets, in turn, hurl stones at Montagues,' they secretly marry, which of course leads to terrible tragedy. This is Rosaline's story, but other characters narrate, including kind Benvolio (a Montague), who loves Rosaline, and even her cousin Tybalt, who as a ghost is able to provide narration of scenes just between Romeo and Juliet. There are so many humorous touches in this retelling: the wounded friend whom Romeo first brings to Rosaline is Petruchio, whose name Bard fans will recognize from The Taming of the Shrew, for example. The author shares Shakespeare's love of wordplay; she uses lines from his original text, and waxes memorable lines of her own ('Tis not thou...'tis I,' says Rosaline as she rejects Romeo). The author modernizes the message here, too, making Romeo and Juliet's suicides seem more foolish than poetic: When Rosaline hears of Juliet's plan to kill herself, she tells her young cousin that 'There is nothing mighty in quitting life'; later she tells a distraught Romeo, 'You settled for desire, but did not allow time for love.' This novel manages to be both witty and multilayered, leaving readers with plenty to ponder. Ages 12-up. (Sept.)" Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)
back to top

About the Author

Lisa Fiedler is the author of a number of popular young adult novels, and this is her second retelling of a Shakespearean story from the female point of view. She lives in Connecticut with her family.
back to top

What Our Readers Are Saying

Add a comment for a chance to win!
Average customer rating based on 1 comment:
moiraethefatesbookreview, January 5, 2012 (view all comments by moiraethefatesbookreview)
* Hardcover: 256 pages
* Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR); 1st edition (September 19, 2006)
* ISBN-10: 0805075003
* Author: Lisa Fiedler
* Cover art: Love the cover art.
* Overall rating * out of 5 stars
* Obtained: My personal book shelf.










Romeo's Ex by Lisa Fiedler
Reviewed by Moirae the fates book reviews
Rosaline won't let anyone or anything get in the way of her future as a healer. That is, until she meets Benvolio. Where Romeo's words had been hollow and unfounded, Benvolio's are filled with sincerity and true love. Now Rosaline finds herself caught between her feelings, her ambition, and her family's long-standing feud with the Montagues.
When Romeo turns his affections toward Ros's cousin, Juliet, their relationship brings the feud of the two houses to a new level. Rosaline and Benvolio hatch a plan to bring peace to the two families. But will they succeed? (Synopsis provided by goodreads)


Okay so I wanted to love this book. I really enjoy re-tellings of Shakespeare, myths and fairytales, if they are done well. For me, this book fell flat. I felt that the author was trying too hard to sound Shakespearean. There was a massive over abundance of words like "thee", "thou" and "doth". This was mixed in with more modern day writing as well. I found myself unable to enjoy the story I was wanting the book to pick a style of writing and stay in it.
I felt like the author disliked the original story and felt that Rosaline got the shaft in the original text and wanted to change her story. That's all nice and fine, but please don't make it clear how much you seem to dislike the original story. That takes away from your book.
I found myself skimming parts just to get to the end so I could move on to the next book in my pile.
I also found myself rolling my eyes everytime actual lines from the play were in placed in the text, they were always italicized.
The book ridiculously simple and felt like Fiedler was "dumbing" down the story for the reader. Most readers are smart enough to know what's going on thank you.
The story also felt very preachy saying how Romeo and Juliet hardly knew each other. Yes, this is true, in the play they only knew each other for a few days.
I could go on, but that would lead to spoilers, so instead all I'll say is there were some ideas brought up in the book that are ludicrous for a book set in 1595.
Sadly, the only thing I liked was the cover art.

If you are looking for a good re-telling I'd recommend Michelle Ray's Falling for Hamlet or Suzanne Selfors Saving Juliet. They are some of the best I have read.
Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No
report this comment
back to top

Product Details

ISBN:
9780805075007
Author:
Fiedler, Lisa
Publisher:
Henry Holt & Company
Subject:
General
Subject:
Love
Subject:
Love & Romance
Subject:
Children's 12-Up - Fiction - Romance
Subject:
Healers
Subject:
Vendetta
Subject:
Love stories
Subject:
Children s-General
Publication Date:
20060931
Binding:
HARDCOVER
Grade Level:
Young adult
Language:
English
Illustrations:
192
Pages:
256
Dimensions:
1 in.
Age Level:
08-12
back to top

Other books you might like

  1. $9.99 New Trade Paper add to wish list

    Janes in Love (Minx Graphic Novels)

    Cecil Castellucci 9781401213879
back to top

Related Aisles

Romeo's Ex: Rosalind's Story New Hardcover
0 stars - 0 reviews
$16.95 In Stock
Product details 256 pages Henry Holt & Company - English 9780805075007 Reviews:
"Publishers Weekly Review" by , "Having told Hamlet's story from Ophelia's point of view in her Dating Hamlet, Fiedler here cleverly retells Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet from the perspective of 15-year-old Lady Rosaline, Juliet's cousin. Strong and smart Rosaline, who is training to be a healer, catches Romeo's eye when the young Montague brings to her his wounded friend for treatment. But when romantic Romeo meets innocent Juliet at the fateful Capulet costume fete, they are instantly infatuated; despite the fact that 'Montagues spit upon Capulets, and Capulets, in turn, hurl stones at Montagues,' they secretly marry, which of course leads to terrible tragedy. This is Rosaline's story, but other characters narrate, including kind Benvolio (a Montague), who loves Rosaline, and even her cousin Tybalt, who as a ghost is able to provide narration of scenes just between Romeo and Juliet. There are so many humorous touches in this retelling: the wounded friend whom Romeo first brings to Rosaline is Petruchio, whose name Bard fans will recognize from The Taming of the Shrew, for example. The author shares Shakespeare's love of wordplay; she uses lines from his original text, and waxes memorable lines of her own ('Tis not thou...'tis I,' says Rosaline as she rejects Romeo). The author modernizes the message here, too, making Romeo and Juliet's suicides seem more foolish than poetic: When Rosaline hears of Juliet's plan to kill herself, she tells her young cousin that 'There is nothing mighty in quitting life'; later she tells a distraught Romeo, 'You settled for desire, but did not allow time for love.' This novel manages to be both witty and multilayered, leaving readers with plenty to ponder. Ages 12-up. (Sept.)" Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)
spacer
spacer
  • back to top
Follow us on...


Powell's City of Books is an independent bookstore in Portland, Oregon, that fills a whole city block with more than a million new, used, and out of print books. Shop those shelves — plus literally millions more books, DVDs, and eBooks — here at Powells.com.