About this episode

The episode discusses Maggie O'Farrell's novel Hamnet, exploring themes of grief, motherhood, and creativity.

What book has broken your heart in the best possible way? In episode 313, we’re discussing Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell ( Bookshop . org | Libro . fm ), our May 2026 Book Club pick. Before we dive into this moving novel inspired by the life and loss behind Shakespeare’s Hamlet, we share our Bookish Check-in. In our discussion of Hamnet , we talk about Maggie O’Farrell’s stunning portrayal of grief, motherhood, art, and love. We discuss Agnes as such a compelling and unconventional character, the emotional power of Hamnet and Judith’s bond, and the way the novel captures both intimate family moments and sweeping questions about loss and creativity. We also share pairings, including Weyward by Amelia Hart ( Bookshop . org | Libro . fm ) and Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel ( Bookshop . org | Libro . fm ). Whether you’ve already read Hamnet or have been meaning to pick it up for years, we’d love for you to join us for this conversation. Bookish Check-in Ashley - Sally Smith’s A Case of Mice and Murder ( Bookshop . org | Libro . fm ) Jen - Vauhini Vara’s Searches: Selfhood in the Digital Age ( Bookshop . org | Libro . fm ) Visit the Unabridged website for our full show notes and…

People in this episode

Hosts: Ashley Dickson-Ellison, Jen Moyers

Topics covered

• grief
• motherhood
• art
• love
• family
• loss
• creativity

Keywords

• Hamnet
• Maggie O'Farrell
• grief
• motherhood
• art
• loss
• creativity
• book club
• literature
• podcast

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Hamnet, Hamlet, Weyward, Station Eleven, A Case of Mice and Murder, Searches: Selfhood in the Digital Age

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