Quote Originally Posted by iansteere View Post
Having spent many an hour on these poems, I find them by far the most fascinating of Shakespeare's works. There is some glorious poetry (and some that is not). But it is the extra dimensions of parallel meanings and autobiography - only really appreciable if one absorbs the collection in its entirety - which makes them unique.
I think the best way to read the sonnets is as a collection. They do have a narrative, albeit a disjointed one, and the poet, Fair Youth and Dark Lady all become interesting characters. You can find nice poetry and clever lines in his plays- the sonnets are more than that.