Pamela Beckford's Reviews > By Any Other Name

Reading this will make you doubt so much of what you learned in school.

The story was told in two time periods - modern day with Melina and her best friend Andre. Melina aspires to be a playwright but feels beaten down at every turn because she was a woman. She submitted (well, Andre submitted on her unbeknownst to Melina) her current play. But since the judges were known to favor men, it was submitted under the name of Mel instead of Melina. The ruse continued while Andre becomes Mel - until it all goes south.

The other time period is the set in the 1500's where Emilia Bassano is driven to become a writer. It just wasn't done that way then and Emilia goes through many trials but perseveres to have her poems and plays published through none other than William Shakespeare.

Melina's play narrates a story of Emilia that highlights the struggles of women in writing and publishing and acceptance.

I found myself fascinated by the historical events and questioned what was real and what was fiction (be sure to read the author's note at the end). I loved this book but it did feel a bit long at times. It was like reading two separate stories that were interlocked. Read this to learn. Read this to be entertained.

I was given this book by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.