John Gardner's Grendel is truly an astounding little book, filled with charm, thought provoking insights into the human condition, as well as a healthy dose of dry humor.





Although, not the sheer literary genius (in my opinion only of course) of William Golding's Lord of the Flies Grendal explores human nature and society with unflinching candor if not altogether transparent satire.

The story is a retelling of the Beowolf saga (sort of), from the personal perspective of Grendal. Don't get this wrong--this is not an apologetic book which seeks to turn Grendal into nothing more than the victim--Grendal is still a monster, and he still regards humans with casual regard, if any at all. He's not necessarily a moral figure at all--he simply sees humans as odd and out of step with the world around him, which he views with a certain fascination if not love.

Whereas Beowolf is a reflection of the way men viewed the 'scary' world around them as well as a damning reflection of man's own nature, Grendal seeks to give us a fresh perspective of the often times absurd nature of man--sometimes funny, sometimes brutal, and always tragic.

Here's an excerpt I fucking love....

(told in first person perspective by Grendal himself)

They hacked down rings in widening rings around their central halls and blistered the land with peasant huts and pigeon fences till the forest looked like an old dog dying of mange. They thinned out game, killed birds for sport, and set accidental fires that would burn for days. Their sheep killed hedges, snipped valleys bare, and their pigs nosed up the very roots that might have grown.


He then goes on a bit and ends with...

I was filled with a wordless, obsurely, murderous unrest.





What book would you recommend as a MUST READ?



.
[Edited 4/3/08 11:01am]

what's with all the long posts lately from nearly evey orger???

that shit fills me with murderous unrest...

<-----read the post, but denying to be a skank

roodboi said:

I love you Jason

Thanks for not outright denying JustErin's blowjob comment.
It was a sweet gesture on your part that did not go unnoticed.

Perhaps Skanks wasn't the best choice of words for the literary minded.

AsianBomb777 said:

raveun2thejoyfantastic said:

I would have said 'FAM' but that shit NEVER goes off well in this forum.

AsianBomb777 said:

Protege said:

oh


My


FUCKING


GEEEEE!!!!!EEEEE!!!!!EEEEE!!!!
You're avatar!!!!!

AsianBomb777 said:

second reaction like that i've gotten so far

it's gonna drive a lot of people nuts but it was the only logical choice

Protege said:

Fuck Grendal.

That avatar is brillian! That's what's brilliant!!

AsianBomb777 said:

Protege said:

Where's the rest of the Orgwick crew?

AsianBomb777 said:

i imagine they're asleep

Wait If I read this does that make me a skank?




It does dosent it?

chillichocaholic said:

let's all embrace our skankiness

chillichocaholic said:

No , everybody but you honey
never you!

I'll pick this up. Thanks for the recommendations, Imago. Between this and the Orson Scott Card stuff, I'm not going to have to stand at Borders for 2 hours alternately scratching my head and my ass with a look of confusion while I try to find something to read. For a few weeks anyway.


I'm currently reading "Good Omens" by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. It's pretty good, and pretty funny.

AsianBomb777 said:

Why thank u

Is this the same Grendel that stars in that Angelina Jolie animated flick ?

One4All4Ever said:

I don't know

Raze said:

Read American Gods?

Raze said:

I'm officially a Neil Gaiman groupie. OK, not groupie as I've never seen him in person, but he lives in Mpls and a book store about 12 blocks from my house stocks all kinds of small press and rarities of his. I've certainly not read EVERYthing of his, but I've started amassing quite the collection. It's dangerous for me to go to that store.

CarrieMpls said:

This is worse than JustErin's drunk an lonely statements by far!

CarrieMpls said:

Ooh, what rarities?

Imago said:

I hate you.

HamsterHuey said:

Yes. I liked it very much. It's odd, considering how into comics I am that I've never actually read any of his comics work, though

CarrieMpls said:

I remember when I was there, when we went into that comic shop the last day, you picked up something by him

CarrieMpls said:

i didn't know neil gaiman lived in mpls!

Anxiety said:

He's not interested.