This may be taboo to say as an English major, but I do not like Shakespeare. I never have. It’s not that I dislike every play, but they have never been among my favorites to read in the classroom, and I would never pick up a Shakespeare play unless it was assigned. Still, I have to admit, some of the plots might actually be interesting. If it wasn’t, you know, Shakespeare. Here are a few modern adaptations involving the plot without the iambic pentameter that I promise are better than Gnomeo and Juliet.
- The Dream of Perpetual Motion — Dexter Palmer
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Steampunk dystopian meets Shakespeare in this adaption of The Tempest. Instead of a magician, Prospero is an inventor who keeps his daughter Miranda isolated from society. Harold, trapped in a Zeppelin, spends his days floating above the city, writing his book. His sole companion is Miranda’s voice. When he tries to save Miranda from her own father, he must confront the most terrifying of Prospero’s inventions, the perpetual motion machine.
- Enter three witches — Caroline B. Cooney
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A fresh take on Macbeth, the events of Shakespeare’s play are told from the eyes of a young girl, Lady Mary, after her father, Lord Cawdor, is put to death for treason. Trapped in a castle with the power-hungry Lord and Lady Macbeth, Mary must survive and do what she can to prevent more bloodshed. - Nutshell — Ian Mcewan
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Nutshell is a retelling of Hamlet from the perspective of an unborn child. It’s weird. I won’t lie to you. But I’m always looking for an unconventional narrator and Nutshell definitely fits that description. This child hears his mother and her lover plot to kill his father from inside the womb, finding a way to take action despite his powerlessness. This is a classic story told from an original, creative new perspective.
- Tigers, Not Daughters — Samantha Maybry
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This reimagining of King Lear has romance, family drama, and a ghost story. Following the Torres sisters, this novel embraces their need for escape from an overbearing father and the expectations of their San Antonio neighborhood.
- The only thing worse than me is you — lily Anderson
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This is a young adult adaptation of Much Ado About Nothing. High School academic rivals Trixie and Ben are forced to make tenuous peace when their best friends start dating. However, when Trixie’s best friend is accused of cheating, she suspects foul play, and her friendship with Ben is put to the test.
Now you have some new titles for your TBR list.