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Grendel
Grendel | John Gardner
The first and most terrifying monster in English literature, from the great early epic Beowulf, tells his own side of the story in a book William Gass called "one of the finest of our contemporary fictions." From the Trade Paperback edition.
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dabbe
Grendel | John Gardner

#HauntedShelf
@PuddleJumper @Jadams89 #FrightClub
#BookScavengerHunt
#beast

I can think of no better book to portray BEAST. And POV. We all know Beowulf's side of the story, but what about Grendel's? 🐉

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dabbe
Grendel | John Gardner
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Pickpick

Having taught BEOWULF for a number of years to my sophomore honors, why didn't I have them read this, too? This book is not simply a retelling of BEOWULF from the monster's point of view; it is highly intellectual and philosophical as Grendel seeks to find some sort of meaning to his life. Drawn to and repulsed by humans, he reminds me of Frankenstein's creature, who also seeks the purpose to his existence. ⬇️

dabbe Several philosophies are explored here, most of which I can't wait to look into. The trope of reading a story from the supposed villain's point of view is not new, but it is absolutely heart-wrenching here. I dare anyone who reads this not to be touched by Grendel's utter isolation and loneliness. What a read.
#BookedInTime
@Cuilin
10mo
Cuilin I read Beowulf with a group of middle schoolers years ago. I enjoyed it but never thought I‘d read it or anything connected with it until now. I‘m intrigued. 10mo
dabbe @Cuilin I will be interested to see what you think. The writing was gorgeous and ghastly as only an intellectual monster's thoughts would be, I guess. But so profound. For me, a whoah book. 💜🩶💜 10mo
See All 8 Comments
Suet624 Great review. 10mo
dabbe @Suet624 💜🩶💜 10mo
dabbe I forgot to add my point tally for this book:
#EarlyMedieval: 1 pt.
#Artist: 1 pt.
#Confession: 1 pt.
#Revenge: 1 pt.
#AQuest: 1 pt.
#Mythical: 1 pt.
#Retelling: 1 pt.
TOTAL: 7 points
@Cuilin
#BookedInTime
9mo
Cuilin @dabbe amazing 🤩 9mo
dabbe @Cuilin 🖤🩶🖤 9mo
66 likes3 stack adds8 comments
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Singout
Grendel | John Gardner
Pickpick

My #Booked2023 #Monster book: a retelling of one of the English language epics, (although I learned that it wasn‘t set in England) from the perspective of the “monster,” instead of the human heroes. Mostly well written and intriguing (sometimes confusing), although it‘s been 34 years since I read Beowulf, and I‘m not going back to it! Good exploration of the pain and isolation that Grendel, who doesn‘t fit into the surrounding culture experiences.

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dabbe
Grendel | John Gardner
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I taught BEOWULF to my honors sophomores for years: time to read the same tale from the villain's point of view.
#JanuaryBIT #BookedInTime #EarlyMedieval @Cuilin

Mollyanna I‘ve heard good things about Grendel. I loved learning Beowulf in school. I‘ll be anxious to hear what you think. 10mo
Cuilin Oh, sounds scary but good. 10mo
dabbe @Mollyanna 🤩😍😃 10mo
See All 6 Comments
dabbe @Cuilin Dark Ages ... Anglo Saxons ... monsters ... bring it on! 🤩😍🤗 10mo
JenniferEgnor One of my favorites! I loved Grendel‘s philosophical approach. 10mo
dabbe @JenniferEgnor Yay! I'm excited to read it! 🤩😍😃 10mo
58 likes2 stack adds6 comments
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BkClubCare
Grendel | John Gardner
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Pickpick

For my #HoppingGnomedePlume book club. Not what I was expecting- it exceeded any ideas I had. Quite entertaining. Listening, tho, as delightful as the language is, makes bookclubbing reviews SO difficult; bought the tradeback edition for further study. Beowulf barely makes an appearance! #PurpleFlowers #Classic #CC50 #Oct2023

39 likes1 stack add
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Pinta
Grendel | John Gardner
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Pickpick

Grendel the nihilist-Romantic loner, ruminating & chewing up Danes. A comic monster, smiling rage. Much strangeness. Energetic prose sometimes mimicking epic verse. P8 “(Talking, talking. Spinning a web of words, pale walls of dreams, between myself and all I see.)” P28 “The world resists me and I resist the world.” P44 “Thus I fled, ridiculous hairy creature torn apart by poetry—“ P138 “Tedium is the worst pain.” P173 “Is it joy I feel?” 1971

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johncadams
Grendel | John Gardner
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Pickpick

A ground-breaking fantasy novel told from the perspective of the monster rather than men. I really enjoyed it. Very funny too.

#fantasy

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StellaDz
Grendel | John Gardner
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Mehso-so

At times I felt like I was missing the point. Beowulf is my favourite poem, and the story from Grendel‘s POV, I was expecting violence and debauchery. Instead, it was philosophical.

A lonely, isolated and confused creature, Gardner gave him humanity (sometimes more than the fabled Danes). His inability to understand his hatred and draw to humans, presented an interesting dichotomy.

The stream of thought narrative, though, was daunting. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

14 likes1 stack add
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StellaDz
Grendel | John Gardner
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Beowulf is my favourite poem so when a friend mentioned this book, I immediately bought it. I‘m not sure how it flew under my radar! #currentlyreading

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Lindy
Grendel | John Gardner
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Pickpick

A deeply philosophical novel, told from the viewpoint of the monster in Beowulf. Some parts are funny, like when the dragon tries to explain the nature of time and poor Grendel cannot follow the lofty academic discourse. Other parts are heartbreaking, like when music and poetry pierce Grendel with inchoate longing. Because Beowulf has been told so many times, we already know Grendel‘s ultimate fate. John Gardner makes that fate poignant.

27 likes1 stack add
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Lindy
Grendel | John Gardner
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I have eaten several priests. They sit on the stomach like duck eggs.

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Lindy
Grendel | John Gardner
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Owls cross my path as silently as raiding ships, and at the sound of my foot, lean wolves rise, glance at me awkwardly, and, neat of step as lizards, sneak away. I used to take some pride in that—the caution of owls when my shape looms in, the alarm I stir in these giant northern wolves. I was younger then. Still playing cat and mouse with the universe.

23 likes1 stack add
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Cortg
Grendel | John Gardner
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Pickpick

This is a reading challenge “Read a book challenged or banned in your state.” In 1978 Fredrick County (MD) challenged it for being “anti-Christian, anti-moral and violent.” Grendel is the “monster” in Beowulf. I chose this book because I remember reading and enjoying Beowulf in high school. Grendel is a short read, written in the 70‘s. It was interesting to hear the story from his point of view and makes me want to reread Beowulf.

38 likes1 comment
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Nebklvr
Grendel | John Gardner
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed most of this. The dragon portion and the final meeting were too esoteric in nature to add much to the story for the general reader. The parts where Grendel becomes more brutal and similar the the Thanes was interesting.

39 likes1 stack add
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SaunteringVaguelyDownwards
Grendel | John Gardner
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Mehso-so

I appreciated the use of poetic features from Beowulf, but the philosophical musings were trying too hard.

PopSugar Reading Challenge 2019: a retelling of a classic

LiteraryinPA I had to read this in AP English Lit about 18 years ago. I don‘t think I liked it at the time. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 5y
9 likes1 comment
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AChickThatDigsBooks
Grendel | John Gardner
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Current Read 🤓📚

Suelizbeth I love this book!! I own two copies (paperback) because I thought I had lost one, only to realize when I received my 2nd copy that I hadn't remembered what size the book really was and was looking in the wrong bookcase. So, two copies. Not that I mind. 5y
AChickThatDigsBooks @Suelizbeth I just started it. It looks great 5y
6 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Ladygodiva7
Grendel | John Gardner
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I like the cover!

5 likes1 stack add
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MStew
Grendel | John Gardner
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Found these at thrift store, I want to read Grendal so I need to read Beowulf first I've not read it yet. Classics intimidate me I'm always afriard of them being dry and stuffy . So guess I'll give them a go.

#classics
#bookhaul

Emilymdxn Seamus Heaney‘s translation is amazing! 6y
intothehallofbooks This is a great translation!! I reread it a few months ago with my girls and just loved it. Now I want to read Grendel too!! Hopefully soon (: 6y
gradcat I loved Beowulf, and I read it well before this translation was out, so I‘m looking forward to your thoughts. 6y
Lcsmcat This is such a great translation! Don‘t be intimidated- it‘s a story that has been told for centuries because it‘s interesting. Otherwise it would have been forgotten. And the Heaney translation is excellent. 6y
94 likes2 stack adds4 comments
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ravenlee
Grendel | John Gardner
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Panpan

Well, I pushed through. I did not care for this book, which was a big disappointment for me. I like the premise but not the execution. It's very philosophical, existential, constantly changing, and very hard to follow. Maybe back in my uni days, when I read "literature" more often and more carefully, I would have done better, but not now.

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AMVP
Grendel | John Gardner
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Pickpick

Like me some philosophical fiction, if only because I like feeling what it must be to live in someone else's head. This is a fairly quick read, so I'd encourage anyone on the fence to take a chance on it at least.

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AMVP
Grendel | John Gardner
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Picked up a long overdue read, as well as some spiffy looking Penguin Deluxe editions, with the last of my store credit.

#bookhaul

13 likes1 stack add
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LoverofLit
Grendel | John Gardner
Panpan

Terrible. Just terrible. I get the noble idea this book was pushing; that humans are unkind and can be cruelly exclusive to those who are different. BUT I didn't feel sorry for Grendel. He was a terrible monster, who did awful things. Blech. I almost didn't make it through.

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LoverofLit
Grendel | John Gardner
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Not enjoying the overly unnecessary writing so far....

Kaye Welcome and thanks for the follow. 🙂 7y
LoverofLit You're very welcome @Kaye and thank you as well! 7y
13 likes2 comments
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LoverofLit
Grendel | John Gardner
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Starting this to distract myself from the frustrations of rush hour 😑

10 likes1 stack add
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LauraJ
Grendel | John Gardner
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For 2017, my #firstreadoftheyear was a good one! Velvet Elvis hadn‘t even been conceived yet, but she assures me that she would have commiserated with Grendel. #allthebooksof2017
p.s. looks like Elvis still needs a home. Her adopter disappeared.

Suelizbeth I love this book and I periodically reread it. (edited) 7y
LauraJ This one also is my #bestsequel too (though it‘s not technically a sequel) 7y
44 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Litlady
Grendel | John Gardner
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Habitat Restore mini book haul. Seems like I find a little pot of literary gold with each visit! 📚❣🌈

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bitterbear
Grendel | John Gardner
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I love these old covers 💖💖💖💖 #riotgrams #day3 #onewordtitle

13 likes2 stack adds
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LauraJ
Grendel | John Gardner
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Pickpick

Grendel is an outsider with identity issues. He grapples with philosophical questions about the meaning of life and his place in the world. If you liked Beowulf, check out the monster's side of the story. #birthdaychallenge #popsugarchallenge

Cinfhen Was this your 1971? I'm thinking of switching to this book because I can't get into 8y
LauraJ @Cinfhen Yes, it was. Got any ideas for 1972? (edited) 8y
Dragon I always preferred Grendel to Beowulf 👍 8y
LauraJ @Dragon The villains are usually more interesting than the heroes. 8y
LectricSheep I'm so glad you liked this!!!! ❤️️ 8y
47 likes2 stack adds5 comments
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GoneFishing
Grendel | John Gardner

I understood that the world was nothing: a mechanical chaos of casual, brute enmity on which we stupidly impose our hopes and fears. I understood that, finally and absolutely, I alone exist. All the rest, I saw, is merely what pushes me, or what I push against, blindly—as blindly as all that is not myself pushes back.

30 likes4 stack adds
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Fishmouse
Grendel | John Gardner

Banned books week! What are you reading this week?

diresu Reading The Witches to the kids. 8y
3 likes1 comment
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Doug
Grendel | John Gardner
Pickpick

Interesting reimagining of a classic character.

1 like1 stack add
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HotCocoaReads
Grendel | John Gardner
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Pickpick

I didn't think it possible that I could cry for the man-eating monster of Beowulf, but I did! This book is the ultimate example for showing the other side of the story. Every one has a story, even Grendel. He was so misunderstood! This book reached my core. I absolutely loved it.

5 likes1 stack add
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HotCocoaReads
Grendel | John Gardner
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"When I was a child I truly loved:
Unthinking love as calm and deep
As the North Sea. But I have lived,
And now I do not sleep."

7 likes1 stack add