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Summary: God has come and I have risen
Review: This book is no mere book. This is thee bible of the chaote. A model of reality in it's finest and exsquisite interplay. No need to read Beowulf or what not. Grendel is thee monster ov all. Grendel is the demonic twin of thee angel and WE are the adoptive son of thee Dragon. Grendel is Awesome.
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Summary: Great fun, good literature
Review: Anyone who has agonized over having to read Beowulf for school should read Grendel. It not only presents the monster's point of view, it does so with such eloquence and poise that anyone reading this book will probably remember it more than the epic story it was based on. Gardner has taken what we know of Grendel and made this legendary beast into a three dimensional creature the reader can both relate to and empathize with. He has great fun with his characters too. See how he describes Beowulf himself, as seen through Grendel's eyes. It's guaranteed to bring a smile to your face. The book itself is far from a comedy, but it is so well written that it can combine comedic sidenotes with philisophy and humanity in a unique way. Do yourself a favor and read this book.
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Summary: Monster mayhem and philosophy
Review: The meaning of life and language, through the eyes of the most famed monster of Nordic yore. Grendel reels and crashes against reality and his lot in life in this brilliant novel by Gardner. You will read it over and over again because a)you will love the story b)you will love the language c)you will love (and hate) Grendel d)you will need to if you want to catch the all the connections, all the references: the zoological symbols, the recurring characters, the philosophies; the thin, yet strong, threads that piece together the novel. A masterpiece.
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Summary: Absolutely Wonderful!
Review: Certainly pay attention to the chracter of the Dragon, and Beowulf's words at the end. Beautifully written.
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Summary: Finally somebody speaks out in our defense
Review: It would not come too soon if this book would appear 500 or 5000 years ago to present the pesky humans with OUR view of their "world", their "kings" and "heroes". But finally the justice has been done to Grendel and through his memory to us all in this book by a human writer with unusually sharp eye and nose for all things beastly. A book no monster should be without.
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Summary: A first class retelling with a contemporary beat
Review: It never ceases to impress me. He has done such a wonderful job of turning the tables around to Grendel's favor, that Grendel becomes a living, feeling being, and not the creature of old myths. In a strange way, you actually can relate to Grendel's emotions, and it teaches an important lesson: we are all the same, deep down, and we can to learn to appreciate those differences, and we can avoid conflicts this way. And this story is the perfect example of a prejudice that led to a hatred, and a hatred that turned into a war that was totally unneccessary.
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Summary: Very Good book but need to buy more to understand
Review: I really enjoyed the book "Grendel" but I really didn't understand it alot until I had to read "Beowulf" for school. The story "Beowulf" really helped me out in understanding "Grendel" because it's bacially the same story but from different point of view which is Beowulf and Grendel. I really recommend this book because once you read it, it will give you a whole new view on the issues of good and evil. It is a very detailed story and once you understand what is going on, you will not put the book down.
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Summary: The most existential book I have ever read...
Review: Gardner took the legend of Beowulf and breated life into it. When I first read Beowulf, I wondered "What's the point?" Having read this book, I realized that there is something important about mythology depending on your interpretation. Grendel has the best statement on the human condition ever to come from the mouth of a nonhuman narrator.
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Summary: A Great Monster ; A Great Human
Review: Grendel. A "devil" from the hunan's point of view in the great epic Beowulf. But I found a human being from him. Once, he was a child who loved to wander around, then a teen who looked for his root, just like mankind does.During his beginning of adult time, he found out he couldn't be part of the human's world only because of how he looks. Finally Grendel, " a powerful monster," finds way to be a part of the Herot -- to be " Ruiner of MeadHalls, Wrecker of Kings." We, all human beings, have two sides of mind -- good and evil. Grendel was not an exception. It was human who emphasized his evil side and de-emphasized the good side. Our prejudice, selfishness, and too much of pride as human being made one sad death scene. "Is it joy I feel? They watch on, evil, incredibly stupid, enjoying my destruction." Grendel made this comment, putting us, human, in evil's place. Then ending. Not the way I thought the book is going to be. But it made me think for a long time about a mankind. The Grendel was a great chance to look back my life.
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Summary: IT GETS BETTER EACH TIME
Review: I have read Grendel several times and each time follow it with a second reading og Beowulf. Grendel is the Beowulf legend written from a different persective and as such, imparts a better understanding of the original. A very enjoyable read.
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