Rating: 
Summary: inspired spoofery
Review: It is obvious that Nagan must truly love the original classics to be able to savage them as effectively (and hilariously) as he does in his parodies. Jane Austen would definitely have approved! To paraphrase the parodist: Nagan's heart is most assuredly in the right place (i.e., above and a little to the left of center).
Rating:
Summary: Fractured Classics
Review: Not since Al "Jazzbo" Collins's Fractured Fairy Tales" has so much life and interest been given to literary masterpieces (and I use both terms loosely) that we all will easily claim to have read but probably only saw the movies.Greg Nagan pulls the mask off of erudition and gives us the opportunity to enjoy the convoluted plots and convulsed characters that have been the required backbone (and ball busters) for English Lit. majors since the turn of the last century. If Norman Cousins, the founder of The Saturday Review of Literature were alive today, he'd roll over in his grave. Thanks to Greg Nagan, we now have a new category, "The Saturday Night Live Review of Literature." Read the book, if you can keep the tears of laughter out of your eyes.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Lunch Hour Reading
Review: On my lunch break, I watched a businessman reading this book. He was trying not to laugh too hard, but every few minutes or so, he would laugh out loud. I was intrigued, so when I got up, I walked by close enough to see the title. Later I went to a bookstore to check it out. I flipped through the book and started giggling and understood why the lunchbreak man couldn't suppress his laughing. So I bought the book. I haven't read the whole thing (I read slow), but my favorite "chapter" so far is Crime and Punishment. It's just funny. What can I say? It's funny -- and it also makes me want to re-read Dostoevsky. I think that's pretty neat.
Rating:
Summary: Inspires Kleptomania
Review: The other day one of my friends saw this book on my coffee table and rolled her eyes. 'Just what America needs', she sighed, 'more dumbing down'. So I dared her to read it. She opened up to the Crime and Punishment parody, started giggling, and left my apartment with the book in her bag. Yesterday she told me she was keeping the book, so here I am to order a new one. Don't make the mistake my friend almost made! This isn't Cliff notes or a bunch of little summaries, these are hysterical parodies that would be equally at home in the New Yorker or Mad Magazine. The classics he chose are a pretty good survey of western lit, though I don't know as I would have included On the Road or Dracula, even though I think they're two of the funniest parodies in the book. I have to admit I never read some of the books before, and though the parodies were still pretty funny I think the ones of the books I've read probably made me laugh a little harder. Also I think the historical introductions are a howl, especially the one about Ulysses, but they're too short. Read this book, but keep it where your friends can't see it!
Rating:
Summary: Riotous romp through literature of the ages.
Review: There are no ifs ands or buts about reading this hilarious parody of the classics. The only choice the reader has is whether to laugh out loud or to giggle quietly. Either way you'll attract the attention of anyone within earshot. Greg Nagan has flawlessly caught the voice of the original author and embellished it with his own zany interpretation. This book will become a classic in its own right.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Hilarious
Review: THis book is laugh out loud funny. It is a series of parodies of classic novels, each with a brief blurb on the author and time setting of the book. The book begins with a brief history of Western Civilization, and then moves on to the parodies. First is the Iliad, which is hilarious, followed by Dante's Divine Comedy Part 1 which is written entirely in limericks. My personaly favorite was Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austin. WHile this book is funny, it has also encouraged me to find the orriginals and to read them, because I wouldn't want to miss any of the humor in this book. I do suggest that the reader know some about history and the books that are made fun of, because otherwise they will not understand this at all. If one does not know about totalitarianism, they will not understand 1984. In other words, this is not for kids. I recommend this book highly for those who enjoy a good laugh and have a great sense of humor. THese stories are great to read out loud and can make lunch time lots of fun. Happy Reading!
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Hilarious
Review: THis book is laugh out loud funny. It is a series of parodies of classic novels, each with a brief blurb on the author and time setting of the book. The book begins with a brief history of Western Civilization, and then moves on to the parodies. First is the Iliad, which is hilarious, followed by Dante's Divine Comedy Part 1 which is written entirely in limericks. My personaly favorite was Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austin. WHile this book is funny, it has also encouraged me to find the orriginals and to read them, because I wouldn't want to miss any of the humor in this book. I do suggest that the reader know some about history and the books that are made fun of, because otherwise they will not understand this at all. If one does not know about totalitarianism, they will not understand 1984. In other words, this is not for kids. I recommend this book highly for those who enjoy a good laugh and have a great sense of humor. THese stories are great to read out loud and can make lunch time lots of fun. Happy Reading!
Rating: 
Summary: You better already know your classics or you'll be confused!
Review: This book was really irritating. If you already know your classics, then perhaps you too will think "it's funny"; but it is hard to dissect which is the "funny" stuff input by the author and which is actually from the classic.
Rating:
Summary: Gasping with Laughter
Review: This was the funniest book I have read in...well, ever. The Iliad was so funny, that I still cannot read certain parts aloud because I can't stop laughing long enough to spit the words out (page 26). Paradise Lost was also a scream, especially the "As If". I do hope the author skewers a few more classics. Just think of the fun he could have with Madame Bovary!
Rating:
Summary: Feel Smart Again!
Review: Why bother reading the classics when you can read Nagan's versions of them? Nagan expertly summarizes all the important things from the books you've never wanted to read. Now you can discuss The Iliad, 1984, Crime and Punishment and a whole slew of other novels without actually reading them! This book is great for the college student who never plans on reading [stuff]written by dead white guys, but doesn't want to feel out of the loop when hearing allusions to these novels. Also, while the stories are quite funny if you've actually read the real versions, they are equally amusing if you have not even glanced at the originals. This is a must read for any person with taste (taste enough to avoid the originals) and a good sense of humor. Enjoy!
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