When I delved into 'The Book of Ruth,' I was immediately captivated. It struck me as one of the finest novels I had ever had the pleasure of reading.

On the other hand, 'The Short History of a Prince' didn't quite have the same profound impact on me. However, it cannot be denied that it is a remarkable character study.

I have a deep affection for the way Hamilton portrays the lives of ordinary individuals who encounter tragedy. These are not grand, over-the-top tragedies but rather the common ones that many people face in their daily lives.

It seems to me that the majority of novels focus on characters in extraordinary situations or those who are overachievers. But novels like this one are truly a tribute to real lives. They give a voice to the ordinary people and make them heroes in their own unique ways.

It is refreshing to read about characters who are relatable and whose struggles and triumphs we can identify with. This kind of literature has the power to touch our hearts and make us appreciate the beauty and complexity of the human experience.

The Short History of a Prince is a captivating coming of age story that spans across one man's entire lifetime.

It vividly demonstrates that "coming of age" is not a one-time event but an ongoing process that occurs at various stages of a person's life.

In the early 1970s, as a teenager, Walter faced numerous challenges. He grappled with his sexuality, his deep feelings for his best friend Mitch, and his aspiration to become a ballet dancer despite lacking natural talent.

Adding to his turmoil was the slow and painful death of his older brother from cancer.

However, his crowning moment arrived when he landed the part of the Prince in a community theater production of the Nutcracker.

This achievement was both a realization of his dreams and a rather backhanded compliment, considering it was in a community theater.

A lifetime later, the adult Walter decides to move back to the Midwest, specifically to a fictional town in Wisconsin that is curiously close to where the author lives.

Along with the typical life redefinitions that come with such a move, he is compelled to reconstruct the year his brother passed away, confront the decisions he made during that time, and figure out how to come out to his family.

All of these events are centered around the family's summer house in Lake Margaret.

This is a complex story with many layers. While the main characters are well-developed, there are also a number of significant characters who are little more than sketches or even stereotypes.

Overall, the story is well-told, although there are some scenes that seem to drag on.

Stories that explore very ordinary lives may not appeal to everyone, but if that's your preference, this novel is likely to engage you, even if you don't reside in Southwestern Wisconsin.

TW for the book: Casual ableism (includes r-slur and cr*****); homophobia and internalized homophobia (includes f-slur, d*ke, q-slur (used in a derogatory way obvsly), and every other word you can think of, I stopped writing shit down after a while; also deals with violence from authority figures); misogyny, slut-shaming, fat-shaming; animal abuse; possibly racism against Native Americans, but I’m not completely sure.. something the character said did not sit right with me, but I’m white and not American, so I’m not completely sure if it was racism or simply weird wording??

I initially had some positive thoughts about the book's structure. At the beginning, it was quite engaging. Each chapter had a time jump between 1972/’73 when the protagonist, Walter, was 15 - 16 years old and 1995/’96 when he was in his late thirties. However, halfway through the book, this separation started to lose its sense. The chapters in ’73 included flashforwards and the ones in ’96 had flashbacks. This didn't make the book confusing, but it made the previously established clear separation between past and present chapters seem unnecessary.

The characters in the book are indeed very flawed, yet in some strange way, you can still find yourself rooting for them. Well, most of them anyway. One of them, to be honest, can go eat a dick. I don't want to go into too much detail about the characters as I found them to be the most interesting aspect of the book, and the plot was mostly just background noise. So, I won't spoil any of the characterizations here.

In addition to the plot not being overly engaging, the ending was also rather lacklustre and highly predictable. Maybe it's just me, but I was certain that the big event at the end would happen regardless, so when it actually did end that way, I was a bit disappointed. It was like, "That's it? Okay then."
Ultimate thoughts: This book is definitely showing its age and I would probably not recommend it. If you're not bothered by any of the things listed in the TW above, you might be able to pick it up. But for me personally, I think half of that stuff was really unnecessary. Like, I understand the homophobia as it's part of Walter's journey of self-discovery in the seventies. But why introduce a disabled character who has no real function in the plot other than to be called the r-slur in a few sentences? What was the point of that?
Update: I'm dropping the rating from three to two stars because every time I think about this book, the ableism really makes me angry and it kind of spoils the entire experience for me.

It's a shame because there were some aspects of the book that I initially liked, but these negative elements have really outweighed the positives for me.

I hope that future books will be more sensitive and inclusive, and not rely on such harmful and offensive language and tropes.

I got the book at a book sale.

To be honest, at first, I was more interested in the author than the book itself.

I wasn't entirely sure whether I would like the book or not.

However, once I started reading it, I found myself getting more and more engaged.

What really amazed me was that a woman writer could write so clearly and vividly about a gay young man and his coming-of-age journey.

She managed to capture the emotions, struggles, and growth of the character in a way that made me feel like I was right there with him.

The story was not only about his sexual orientation but also about his search for identity, acceptance, and love.

It was a powerful and moving read that made me think about many things.

I'm glad I decided to give this book a chance.

I have a profound love for her writing. She demonstrates a remarkable willingness to delve deep and meticulously examine various aspects, especially those related to teenagers and sexual orientation.

She explores these themes on different levels and throughout the years, presenting a complex and nuanced picture.

The story had a somewhat slow start, but as it progressed, it developed beautifully. Thankfully, she doesn't neatly tie everything together in a convenient package.

Just like her other two outstanding reads, this one is also filled with sadness and a touch of bittersweetness. It truly showcases her gift of prose, allowing the readers to be fully immersed in the story and experience a wide range of emotions.

I am constantly amazed by her ability to craft such engaging and thought-provoking works.

For Sabrina...

I must say that I truly relished this book. It's not hard to fathom why my dear friend Sabrina had such an intense love for it. The writing within its pages is of a very high caliber. The storyline is not only interesting but also presented from a rather unique angle compared to the norm. However, what I cherished the most was Sabrina's review of the book, which is as follows: "There were lines that I read, re-read, and underlined (in the library book), because I had this strong urge to share the words with someone, to etch them in my memory, and to make them stay with me. I devoured this book as if I was indulging in something that was not only delicious but also peculiarly beneficial for me. And, to top it off, it was hilarious."

The fact that by reading this book, I could, in some small measure, share one last thing with her means a great deal to me. It's as if through the words on the page, I can still have a connection with her, even though she may no longer be here. This book has become a precious link between us, and I will always hold it dear.

I can remember absolutely nothing about this book. I firmly believe that this can be attributed to the profound depression that I was experiencing at that particular time.

It is quite possible that if I were to pick up this book and reread it, some memories might start to surface. However, at present, my mind is completely blank when it comes to any details or情节 of this book.

The power of depression can be truly overwhelming, and it seems to have wiped away any trace of my encounter with this book from my memory.

Nonetheless, I remain hopeful that a second reading could potentially unlock those hidden memories and allow me to rediscover whatever it was that this book had to offer.

Hamilton must truly have a deep affection for people.

She crafts her characters in such a way that they are completely human and irresistibly lovable, despite all their flaws and idiosyncrasies.

In this book, her homosexual lead character is depicted with such profound empathy that it is simply impossible not to like him.

The McCloud family endures the heartbreak of losing one son and then has to adjust to the homosexuality of their other son.

All of this takes place within the context of a broader family drama that involves memories and sibling rivalries.

As the story progresses from Walter's adolescence to his middle years, these elements emerge layer by layer, adding depth and complexity to the narrative.

It is a testament to Hamilton's skill as a writer that she can create such a rich and engaging story that explores the full range of human emotions and experiences.

I really liked the setting of the story.

It was so vivid and detailed that it made me feel as if I was actually there.

The descriptions of the scenery, the buildings, and the people were all very well done.

However, that was about it.

The plot was rather thin and predictable, and the characters lacked depth and development.

I found myself getting bored after a while because there wasn't much to keep my interest.

Overall, while the setting was a strong point, the story as a whole needed more work to make it truly engaging and enjoyable.

I hope the author will consider adding more complexity to the plot and developing the characters further in future works.

This is not my favorite of her books but good, nonetheless.

Although it may not hold the top position in my list of her works, it still has its own charm and value.

The story unfolds in an interesting way, capturing the reader's attention from the very beginning.

The characters are well-developed, with their own unique personalities and motives.

The author's writing style is engaging, making it easy to get lost in the pages.

Despite not being my absolute favorite, I still found myself enjoying the book and looking forward to seeing how the story would end.

It's a testament to the author's talent that she can create a book that is enjoyable even if it doesn't reach the highest echelons of my personal preferences.

Overall, it's a good read that I would recommend to others who are fans of the author or who enjoy this particular genre.

Jane Hamilton is a remarkable author who has an uncanny ability to make the ordinary seem extraordinary.

Her works are a testament to her keen understanding and portrayal of human behavior and human emotion.

In her writing, she delves deep into the hearts and minds of her characters, revealing their joys, sorrows, hopes, and fears with such authenticity and precision that it is impossible not to be moved.

Whether it is a simple act of kindness, a moment of self-discovery, or a complex relationship, Hamilton has the gift of making these ordinary experiences come alive on the page and seem truly extraordinary.

Her writing is a celebration of the human spirit and a reminder that even in the most ordinary of lives, there is beauty, meaning, and wonder to be found.

A truly wonderful story penned by Jane Hamilton. The main character is an extremely interesting boy who has a deep love for ballet. He also has two great friends by his side, and a brother who is unfortunately suffering from a terminal illness. What I really admired about this story is the way it skillfully shifted between Walter's youth and the present time. It managed to strike a perfect balance between then and now, gradually weaving the two timelines together. Eventually, it came together in a beautiful way to vividly illustrate how Walter's past experiences had a profound impact on shaping his future. This kind of storytelling is truly engaging and makes the reader become fully immersed in Walter's world, feeling his joys, sorrows, and the various emotions that come with growing up and facing life's challenges.