What Should I Read Next?

Ep 513: Maggie O’Farrell

February 10, 2026

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  • The conversation between host Ann Bogle and author Maggie O'Farrell focuses on the creative process, emotional resonance in storytelling, and the transition from novel writing to screenwriting for the film adaptation of *Hamnet*. 
  • Maggie O'Farrell co-wrote the *Hamnet* screenplay with director Chloe Zhao, emphasizing that the film needed to be Chloe's vision and a non-identical twin to the novel, focusing primarily on Agnes's emotional landscape. 
  • The adaptation process taught O'Farrell the necessity of narrative economy in screenwriting while reinforcing the importance of trusting collaborators to visually convey the nuance and detail stripped from the novel's text. 

Segments

Introduction to Maggie O’Farrell
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(00:00:08)
  • Key Takeaway: The episode of What Should I Read Next? features author Maggie O’Farrell discussing the creative process and emotional resonance in stories.
  • Summary: Host Ann Bogle introduces Maggie O’Farrell, noting this is a rare author interview on the podcast. The conversation centers on why certain stories resonate broadly and individually, covering emotional resonance, joy, sorrow, and pain in bringing worlds to life. Listeners are encouraged to reflect on why they enjoy specific content on the page and screen.
Sponsor Segment: Fearless Finance
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(00:01:40)
  • Key Takeaway: Fearless Finance offers affordable, accessible virtual financial planning without high fees or minimum net worth requirements.
  • Summary: The sponsor addresses financial planning concerns, including college costs, by connecting users with virtual advisors. Fearless Finance charges by the hour, down to a quarter hour, ensuring clients only pay for the time used. Listeners can get $50 off their first meeting using the code READNEXT at fearlessfinance.com.
Sponsor Segment: Mint Mobile
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(00:03:15)
  • Key Takeaway: Mint Mobile disrupts the wireless industry by offering premium unlimited wireless service at a fraction of the typical cost.
  • Summary: Mint Mobile provides unlimited talk, text, and data without long-term contracts or hassle. New customers can switch and get unlimited premium wireless for $15 a month for a limited time. The switch can be completed in minutes by bringing your own phone and number to mintmobile.com/slashreadnext.
Context for Hamnet Film Discussion
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(00:04:37)
  • Key Takeaway: The interview centers on Maggie O’Farrell’s Hamnet novel and its film adaptation, which she co-wrote with director Chloe Zhao.
  • Summary: The discussion is prompted by the Hamnet film, an adaptation of O’Farrell’s prize-winning 2020 novel, starring Jesse Buckley and Paul Mescal. Ann Bogle explains why author interviews are rare on What Should I Read Next?, prioritizing regular readers, but makes exceptions for deep dives into the creative process. O’Farrell’s Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay is noted.
Ann’s Devotion to O’Farrell’s Work
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(00:07:40)
  • Key Takeaway: Ann Bogle became a devoted completist fan of Maggie O’Farrell after reading This Must Be the Place in 2017, finding her work emotionally resonant.
  • Summary: Bogle recounts staying up all night to finish This Must Be the Place during a trip, solidifying her fandom. Her love for O’Farrell’s work stems from the author’s ability to write wistful, realistic, and emotionally resonant novels about families in tricky situations. A real-life event mirroring a scene in the book deepened Bogle’s respect and trust in O’Farrell’s writing.
Sponsor Segment: Wayfair
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(00:19:15)
  • Key Takeaway: Wayfair offers a one-stop shop for home elevation, including lighting solutions to create comfortable indoor spaces during gloomy weather.
  • Summary: Wayfair provides numerous options for refreshing spaces, such as table, floor, and overhead lighting, making it easy to find items matching specific budgets. The host used Wayfair to find an ambient table lamp to improve the evening wind-down routine in her bedroom.
Sponsor Segment: Quince
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(00:20:36)
  • Key Takeaway: Quince offers high-quality, durable apparel and bedding made from materials like organic cotton and Mongolian cashmere at accessible prices.
  • Summary: Quince products, including sweaters and bedding, are designed to stand up to steady wear season after season. Their bedding selection includes linen sheets and cashmere pillowcases in various patterns and neutrals. Customers receive free shipping and 365-day returns by visiting quince.com/slashreadnext.
Screenwriting Collaboration with Chloe Zhao
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(00:22:49)
  • Key Takeaway: O’Farrell agreed to co-write the Hamnet screenplay because director Chloe Zhao insisted on centering the film on Agnes, not Shakespeare.
  • Summary: O’Farrell was initially hesitant about screenwriting but was persuaded by Zhao’s impassioned vision, noting Zhao’s down-to-earth demeanor contrasted with her expectations of an Oscar-winning director. Zhao immediately confirmed the film’s focus would be Agnes’s emotional landscape, aligning with O’Farrell’s intent for the novel.
Novel vs. Screenplay Structure
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(00:27:46)
  • Key Takeaway: The Hamnet screenplay required chronological restructuring from the novel’s non-linear timeline to avoid jarring flashbacks on screen.
  • Summary: The film retained the core structure where Hamlet dies halfway through, followed by the family’s recovery, but the first half was made chronological. The novel’s temporal jumps, manageable on the page, were deemed too jarring for the visual medium. O’Farrell views the film as a non-identical twin to the book, acknowledging the book remains her primary creation.
Lessons from Visual Medium Adaptation
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(00:30:25)
  • Key Takeaway: Adapting Hamnet taught O’Farrell narrative economy and the necessity of trusting collaborators to restore the novel’s descriptive nuance visually.
  • Summary: O’Farrell learned economy by seeing how Zhao stripped descriptive adjectives from the screenplay, realizing that detail is conveyed visually on set through set design, cinematography, and acting. This required immense trust in the crew to infuse the bare words with the emotion and nuance removed for the script.
Visualizing Agnes’s World
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(00:33:43)
  • Key Takeaway: The film’s production team incorporated subtle details, like dyeing Shakespeare’s costume with ink compounds and marking walls, to reflect the story’s violence and history.
  • Summary: O’Farrell praised the visual team, noting that costume designer Malgosha dyed Paul Mescal’s costume with the same ferrous compound used to make 16th-century ink, meaning he is literally ‘wearing ink.’ Set designers also included broken and repaired crockery and marks on walls to subtly speak to the violence within the Henley Street house.
Casting and Emotional Core
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(00:38:59)
  • Key Takeaway: Jesse Buckley was Chloe Zhao’s immediate choice for Agnes, and O’Farrell had long favored Paul Mescal for Shakespeare due to thematic links with Joyce’s Ulysses.
  • Summary: O’Farrell considers Jesse Buckley’s performance perfect, noting the seamless blending of actor and character, while Paul Mescal was her preferred choice since seeing him years prior in a Dublin theatre production. Zhao excels at expressing a character’s internal landscape through the external environment, visible in the actors’ surroundings reflecting their inner states.
The Story’s True Ending
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(00:42:01)
  • Key Takeaway: O’Farrell intentionally ensured Hamnet (book and film) avoids ending bleakly with the child’s death, concluding instead with the production of Shakespeare’s Hamlet.
  • Summary: The story was designed to be relatable to everyone without being bleak, focusing on how Shakespeare celebrated his son’s life through the creation of the play. The narrative must conclude with the production of Hamlet, showing the celebration and legacy that followed the loss.
Audience Surprise: Shakespeare’s Identity
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(00:43:36)
  • Key Takeaway: Several audience members did not realize the film was about Shakespeare until his name, ‘William Shakespeare,’ was spoken near the end.
  • Summary: O’Farrell intentionally omitted Shakespeare’s name throughout most of the book and film because the name itself is too iconic and distracting. She was surprised that some viewers missed the connection until the character Bartholomew names him late in the narrative, treating the reveal as comic relief.
Sponsor Segment: American Giant
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(00:46:42)
  • Key Takeaway: American Giant manufactures durable, long-lasting apparel, including slub cotton tees and classic full-zip hoodies, made in the USA.
  • Summary: Their products are designed to hold up to repeated wear and laundering without losing shape or quality. The slub cotton tees are soft and breathable, available in limited edition spring-like colors. Customers can receive 20% off their first order using code READNEXT at american-giant.com.
Sponsor Segment: The Pets Table
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(00:47:57)
  • Key Takeaway: The Pets Table, from the HelloFresh team, offers personalized, human-grade fresh or gently air-dried dog food formulated by a veterinary nutritionist.
  • Summary: The air-dried option is shelf-stable and minimally processed to preserve nutrients like protein and antioxidants. Plans are customized for a dog’s specific needs, offering nine recipes including allergen-friendly and seafood options. Listeners receive 55% off their first box plus 10% off the next two using code READNEXT55.
Episode Wrap-up and Credits
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(00:49:10)
  • Key Takeaway: Listeners can find companion materials, including the Maggie O’Farrell Completist blog post, in the show notes.
  • Summary: The host directs listeners to the show notes for links to the Hamnet film, the companion blog post, and past episodes. Listeners are encouraged to leave reviews on Apple Podcasts to help others find the show. The episode credits the production team at What Should I Read Next and Modern Mrs. Darcy HQ.