By Any Other Name: A Novel

I am astounded by the amount of research that Jodi PIcoult invests in each novel. It is as profound as the subject matter and the sweeping novel I just finished. Every obscure reference the novel brought up, I would stop and look up and they were all true! I always love how novels find me when I am the most in need of a companion. Telling the true story of Emilia Basano through the journey of an aspiring Playwirght Melina Green was a brilliant device. As a believer in equality, I work hard to make sure women have the same opportunities as men and I rarely believe we get the same opportunities or respect as men. As a theatre founder, I related to Melina’s fear of submitting her play and the fear she experienced. It helped to articulate some of the uncertainty I am currently experiencing. My early reservation about the novel is that I am not a Shakespeare aficionado, even though we have the Shakespeare Tavern down the road and I spent many years going to Georgia Shakespeare. I was pleasantly surprised by how many references I understood and related to how the pain of our real lives gets translated into the ART we create. The epic tale of Emilia’s lifelong deception hooked me. Her words felt stolen by Shakespeare although she monetized her ART which I talk about all the time to our Apprentices. She undervalued her worth and she longed to be with the love of her life. Melina’s story was just as compelling. Living in New York with her best friend Andre (the name of my best high school friend) both trying to make it as playwrights, rooting for her to get her play produced was exciting. Proving the critics wrong! That is what have been spending my entire career doing. Having just returned from London, my greatest regret may be that I didn’t go to Victoria and Albert Museum to see the miniature portraits of Emilia and Southampton “the unknown man” for myself, but I will fondly remember our boat ride on the Thames past the Old Globe Theatre in 2025. If I had one small quibble, it would be that Goodspeed Opera House was producing someone’s play! The Main Opera House only produces musicals and their Norma Terris Theatre may host a casual play reading, they are known for producing MUSICALS ONLY! However, I smiled remembering my wonderful 2 years there as a musical director when I was early on my journey to be a producer half as good as Michael Price and now Donna Lynn Hilton. (Again, it was the novel I needed during this uncertain time.) Thank you for a wonderful novel Jodi. The friends I was traveling with insisted I read MAD HONEY next, so I immediately downloaded it to read in the next few weeks. They also suggested I look into producing the musical you wrote with your daughter called, “Between the Lines.” You continue to inspire me as a powerful and outspoken woman ARTIST!

4.5 ★ I loved this book for many reasons, including the characters, the plot, and the emotions of the characters. I've been reading Jodi Picoult since I was in college for my associate’s degree, and while there were some that I loved more than others, there hasn't been a single book of hers that I didn't enjoy reading. I've heard a lot about her recent book, By Any Other Name, and the title alone will make anyone curious enough to pick it up and check it out. I'm so glad I finally got the chance to read this book, and now that I've done so, I can see why so many people were talking about it and why it was nominated for favorite historical fiction in the Goodreads Choice Awards. This is unlike any other Picoult book I've read, and it had me up until 1:00 a.m. because I wanted to know what happened to all the characters, particularly Melina and Emilia. I liked how it was done in two timelines and from the perspectives of Melina and Emilia; I thought it brought the story to life more. I liked how the play's writing intertwined Melina and Emilia's experiences and how the two timelines related to each other. I liked reading about Emilia and Melina because, despite their own perceptions, they were both strong and inspirational women. Nevertheless, I found Emilia's story to be more engaging to read; I sensed that more was happening in hers. I was impressed by Emilia's determination; she never gave up and continued to write despite everything that was going on in her life. A part of me wondered if the real 'author' would be uncovered; I didn't think it was fair that she wasn't receiving credit for all her writing. Throughout the novel, I was rooting for her happy ending. I was cheering for Melina to get her play produced because I had a sense there would be problems if a real writer was discovered. I studied and read William Shakespeare's plays in high school. Never did it occur to me that he was not the author. That surprised me, and it motivated me to conduct my own research on the topic. Picoult's novel, By Any Other Name , reflects her deep research. It's one of the reasons I adore her books. However, I believe the book was a little too long, and some portions dragged on and were difficult to get into. Despite that, the book was difficult to put down. This is the novel that will make you think; a story that you will be unable to forget. Following this book, I'm eager to see what Jodi Picoult has in store for us next!

This book is mind-blowing in its beauty of prose, the interconnections of time and history, the power and beauty of the character, Emilia, as well as the tenacity and passions of both Melinda and Emilia as they plot to make sure their writings are shared and honored. I am so very inspired this woman artist from the 1500's. As a woman choreographer and artist myself, I feel deeply her pain and passion, and oh! the power and richness of Jodi Piccault's writing to bring it all forward. What a magnificent book. It needs to BE A FILM.

This book is so excellent! She is a great writer but I love how she has such historical details about William Shakespeare

2024年8月発表のJ. Picoult最新作。 1600年を挟んで実在したシェークスピアの女性ゴーストライター候補Emilia、その子孫で自分も劇作家を目指す現代女性Melina、その彼女がEmiliaを主人公として書いた芝居の脚本、更にはEmiliaが書いた詩まで出て来ます。 英語が過去と現在で違い、また詩や演劇の脚本も小説とは違う上に、話が混み入ってややこしく、読み進めるのに相当な忍耐が必要です。私はダメで今までほぼ1年掛かりました。 果たしてそこまで手を広げてややこしくする必要があったのか甚だ疑問で、リベラルな思想をベースに「大御所」を目指して高尚な作風・作品を志向したのではと邪推したくもなります。 ラストに炸裂する渾身のサプライズ一発に賭けた初期の作風が懐かしいです。

Having never read this author’s previous books, I am impressed with the diversity of characters and settings. I enjoyed moving between centuries and societal norms while following the two main characters of this book; both strong women. I am still reading this book and expect to love it to the very last page.

Très passionnant

By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult is a marvellous dual timeline novel that I really enjoyed. It has its’ roots in fact and will educate you as you read. There are actual historical figures including Christopher Marlowe and William Shakespeare. The leading lady in the sixteenth century is Emilia Bassano who we know actually existed. Jodi Picoult’s notes at the end of the book are fascinating. Emilia Bassano is the focus of the novel and has links to present day author Melina who is researching her as she is her ancestor. There are many parallels between the two women as they are both seeking to write, and both are marginalised in favour of men. Jodi Picoult has created a fascinating tale around the subject of invisible women. “There was a girl who became invisible so that her words might not be.” Women, it seemed, were invisible in all sorts of walks of life. As they aged, they were passed by. Writing about Alice Arden who murdered her husband Thomas, Emilia Bassano says: “For a woman to have status, she must be married. Yet a married woman loses everything – her name, her body, her property, her money. It all belongs to her husband. A widow… is given back all that rightfully belongs to her… It is a wonder there aren’t more husbands murdered.” It is very sad to see women “sidelined because of gender.” There is a rumour that William Shakespeare did not write his plays but Emilia Bassano did. There is not a scrap of physical evidence but “when it came to history, absence of evidence was not evidence of absence.” In the sixteenth century we see that young women were given as mistresses to older men. They were property to be passed about. It is awful to read of the domestic violence committed. We see the kindness of other women towards the woman. In both time periods, the women find their great love. For Emilia Bassano it is a love that will never die even though it is a love that must be hidden. There are parallels in both tales. Jodi Picoult has constructed a marvellous tale. It is one that will consume you; make you feel anger on behalf of the women; and applaud their strength of character. I will leave the final words with Emilia Bassano: “I believe we are all God’s children… If we were made in His image, should we not be equal in His regard?”

This book is written to captivate the readers. It is written in the present and past tense so you get the parts of the story and it builds as you read. Great story.