Romeo and Juliet (Shakespeare Made Easy)

Rating:
Summary: Not Shakespeares greatest work; read his other plays
Review: I love the works of Shakespeare. They offer life, comedy, tragedy, love, and more, but of all Shakespeares plays, Romeo and Juliet ranks very low. The story is rather tragic, but it is unoriginal and over done (it was even in Shakespeares time), afterall, Shakespeare got it from another contemporary story which got it from another story and so on. It is also rather extreme and unrealistic. Many say it is the perfect teen love story, however, it does little to explore true love. Bring me proof that "love at first site" can actually exist (I know LUST at first site does, but true love, no), and I might consider this a realistic love story that real people can realate to! Many educators wonder why so many children and teenagers are so uninterested in Shakespeare; prehaps because they are required to read this particular play is why. For those who love tragedy, I recommend Othello or Odepius Rex, and for those who like Shakespeare, I recommend Much Ado About! Nothing, A Midsummer Nights Dream, The Tempest, the history plays (i.e. Henry IV, Henry V, etc.) and any other play by Shakespeare, except Romeo and Juliet!

Rating:
Summary: Compelling and complex
Review: This familiar story has been reflected on by so many people, and their outlooks tend to be differed. Some think it a romance, some a drama, some a tragedy. I consider this amazing tale all of these. Sometimes, I will read it and I will cry, sometimes I can read it and not feel a specific emotion. That's whats so interesting and wonderful about this play. It is difficult for a thirteen year old to comprehend the complex structure, but it has touched me so, that I find myself using quotes on my peers! They may find it strange, but the fueds between the two infamous families relates much to the war to scrabble to the top of "popularity"It's really intriguing to compare it to everyday teeenage life. It's quite a load to handle, but it leaves an imprint on your soul forever.

Rating:
Summary: A heart breaking love story between two lonely youths
Review: I had to read this book in school and at first I thought: "I believe in love and all, but how will I understand it?" Well, luckily, we had an updated version that put it in words we knew. And I must say, it really does deserve all the tv references it's gotten over the decades. Not only did I feel my heart break when Romeo died with tears running abundantly down his cheek, and when Juliet awoke hoping to be reunited with her love and instead finding his body on the floor, but I also felt crushed when Mercutio died. He was the one character I felt most similar to. Shakespeare knew how to break your heart right open. Each time I go back to that paragraph where Mercutio refers to Queen Mab and the way she makes dreams and when he talks about reputations being the determining factor of someone's character instead of personalities, I feel even more attached to Mercutio. I'm sure everyone can find someone with similar personality traits if they read Shakespeare. But this truly is one of the greatest love stories and anyone who's lonely and finds themselves wishing for love should read this. Romeo was that same sort of person until he met Juliet. But one has to wonder, was it simply an intense infatuation? This question has been posed before and I'm not so sure it's a wrong question. But perhaps it really was love. Only Shakespeare knows...And he took secrets like those to his grave...I also recommend this to people who have already found love as it is a chilling reminder that love can surpass anything and anyone in love should do anything in their power to make sure that the flame never goes out, even if it means death.

Rating:
Summary: This book is romantic,spirited,and action packed.
Review: We all felt that nothing could come between them not even in death. Death would actually keep them together. This unleashed the romantic part of our hearts.

Rating:
Summary: This is the best love story of all times/nothing comes close
Review: We had to read this for a school project and I got so involved in it that I had finished the whole book before everyone else in my class. I get so moved by the way Shakespeare writes, I go around reciting qoutes. He defines each character to extent of their personality. Each setting is so different but I love them all. They're all so interesting from the fighting to the parties to the church. I don't know how to say it any clearer but this would have to be my all time favorite love story and I just wanted to express how much I enjoyed this to someone and if you havem't even seen the movie I pity you.

Rating:
Summary: The most poetic review you'll ever read!
Review: The town of Verona provided the scenes
of a tradgedy spawned by some quarreling teens
Two of them, though, from two different clans
Met and then fell deep in love at a dance.

They were married in secet at a good Friar's place
Then the youth killed her cousin and left in disgrace.
Through a bad turn of fate she descovered him dead
And in desperation made her own death bed.

This tale of woe written by Shakespeare
Is a classic for all, and a story to hear.
Although a romantic and a tear-jerker too,
I do recommend it as reading for you.

Rating:
Summary: Young love, and the hatred of 2 families!!
Review: I have always loved the story of Romeo and Juliet. This book brings hope and sorrow, laughter and tears. It is a must to read and I highly recommend it to all

Rating:
Summary: Recomended for anyone who enjoys Shakespeare !!!!!!
Review: I have read Romeo and Juliet in 6 different versions, but this one I really enjoyed. It's underdstandable and easy to read. Good for all ages !!!!

Rating:
Summary: Romeo and Juliet-Warning: May Cause Pulmonary Problems
Review: Caution Scalawags: May Cause Pulmonary Failure!, July 29, 2004
Reviewer: Professor Emeritus Percy Q. Johnstone (Darkest India) - See all my
reviews
Yes dear reader, it is I, Professor Emeritus Johnstone. As you may have
divined, as Professor Emeritus of American Literature, I am well versed with
dramatic writings from our sister nation, England. Now, many of you are
unfamiliar with the work, as William Shakespeare is relatively unknown in
the bumpkin-ridden land you call "The Colonies". However, you
lucky few will discover a goldmine of quotes such as "Alack, Alack,
Alack" and other favorites. But I, Professor Emeritus Johnstone,
diverge. Yes yes. For those of you who wish to pursue the god-given purpose
of the most noble art of teaching American Literature, you must be familiar
with the works of Shakespeare. As you are stupid, and not a professor, like
I, Professor Emeritus Johnstone, you undoubtedly do not understand, but no
matter. The story of "Romeo and Juliet" is simple. it opens in a
court yard in Venice where the political rebels, Pyramus and Thisbe are
plotting to overthrow the evil fascist government (oh how I, Professor
Emeritus Johnstone know that feeling. I confess, dear reader, that once I,
Professor Emeritus Johnstone, lived in America until government stooges
exiled me to darkest India for poliical subterfuge. Suberfuge! Bah!). Alas,
Lord Capulet's men break into the meeting and arrest poor Pyramus and
Thisbe, casting them into the darkest dungeon. Ah, but fortune smiles on our
two heroes, for in the cell next to them are the "Star-burned
lovers" Romeo and Juliet, who were imprisoned for plotting to overthrow
the evil Capulet. Together, they escape the prison, kill all the
fascist-swine guards, and blow up the prison, bringing us, dear reader,
rather neatly to the end of Act I.
Act II opens in Lord Montague's (Lord Capulet's chief of security) hall,
where he has just made posters offering 5000 marks for the heads of the four
rebels. Enter the villain (mustache and all) Tybalt (cousin to Count Paris)
the bounty-hunter. Tybalt, in a scene that moved even I, Professor Emeritus
Johnstone, gives a heartrending "soliliquy" in which he mourns on
he pain of killing those whose politico agendas you support. Thus ends Act
II. In Act III, we find...ROMEO WORKING FOR LORD CAPULET! He has become a
traitorous lap-dog to the very system he despises (oh reader, how I,
Professor Emeritus Johnstone, know this feeling!). Pyramus and his rebel
army storm the palace, and in the final scene, Pyramus kills his traitorous
lover, Romeo, driving a dagger through his jugular...only to find out that
Romeo was a spy. Pyramus then jumps out the highest tower in penance to end
the play.
Genius. Every potential collegiate scamp should read this edition, for it
has a preface by one of the greatest scholars of our age...none other than
I, Professor Emeritus Johnstone.
Hark, I hear my Biddy calling me to gruel and morning prayers. As Hamlet
said, "Adieu Fair Readers!"

Bitterly,
--Professor Emeritus Percy Q. Johnstone

Rating:
Summary: Italian Lovers
Review: This might be shakespeare's best. Its certainly more accessible than Hamlet. This doesn't really need another review at all. I write to inform the reader of another monumental book. This may be the most famous story of Italian Lovers. If you like Italy and/or love Stories, I recommend The Betrothed(I Promessi Sposi) by Alessandro Manzoni. Renzo and Lucia(from the book) are almost as famous as Romeo And Juliet. If Shakespeare and Leo Tolstoy ever wrote a book together, their book would look like The Betrothed. Yes, its THAT GREAT!