Well, it's reasonably amusing, but I got an ebook and it's nearly impossible to read - one line of original play text, one line of modernized text. I'm sure in the print book it's more reasonable, probably on facing pages, but wow the ebook is a pain and a half.

ETA: I'm sorry, I have to amend my original review, now that I actually looked at the book. It's actually laid out in three parts: the first part interleaved, the second just the "slackers" text, and the third the original text, which is much cleverer than I gave it credit for. On the other hand, on sitting down to read a whole act straight through, it's amusing enough but not the kind of thing I'd read just for the inherent hilarity. I think it'd be good for high school students, though. ( )

Irreverently funny, I loved the first couple of acts of this take on Hamlet. After that, it got a bit repetitive. I think this would suit reluctant scholars quite well, but I'm sure many subtleties were lost in translation as the text was modernized. In compensation, perhaps, they've added in a bunch of pop-culture references (like Monte Python), but that will just date this version as time goes on. ( )

I really enjoyed this reinterpretation of Shakespear. The original is as grand as ever, but the Slackers version is quite well done, really enjoyed it. I can see the Slacker version being performed at a High school play without looking awkward or dated. ( )

Shakespeare for Slackers translates the works of Shakespeare into the idiomatic English of dudes and dudettes. Perhaps the series could sub for Cliff Notes but I think the books are done more in fun than as study guides.

Unlike usual scholarly translations which place texts side-by-side for easy comparison, these books use italic and standard fonts to differentiate the texts and then set the translation directly under the original, running the lines very close together. The placement makes it impossible to read the adapted text out loud or to enact. This is a loss, I think, for teachers who might otherwise find the books to be useful teaching tools.

I received a review copy of Shakespeare for Slackers: Hamlet by Aaron Kite (Five Rivers Publishing) through LibraryThing.com. ( )

This book provides not just a translation into modern language, but a translation into modern attitudes. The "slackers" tone is ideal for Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet, at least, altho possibly not for all the plays. A Winter's Tale...Macbeth...probably less so, but who knows? This is a book (series) to shared around with the people I see plays with! It's a perfect window into the action, which can be obscured by the archaic language of Shakespeare's time. It is also a book (series) to recommend to school libraries and teachers, for the same reason.

Only negative thing to say is that reading it in an e-version is far less satisfying than a paper version would be, but the books are good enough to go and buy on paper for a Shakespeare enthusiast (such as myself).

Fantastic!