I had to read both this book, as well as the poem, Beowulf, for my English class, and I liked them about the same. They are both intellectually stimulating, and make you consider the world around you, and are both written beautifully, but there is something missing from each of them. Neither of them grabbed me and made me stay up late into the night reading. They just weren't entertaining enough for that. Grendel, in particular, could get redundant at times, and you really had to focus or else look track. Neither are easy reads, but there is value in reading both. ( )

some choice quotes I found:
"I create the whole universe, blink by blink." Chapter 2, pg. 22

"I clamped my palms to my ears and stretched up my lips and shrieked again: a stab at truth, a snatch at apocalyptic glee." Chapter 3, pg. 45

"If you think I created that wall that cracked my head, you're a fucking lunatic." Chapter 12, pg. 171

"Poor Grendel's had an accident. So may you all." Chapter 12, pg. 174 ( )

I've read it a couple of times - Beowulf from the monster's point of view. Excellent! ( )

My son has been enjoying his IB Theory of Knowledge class, and I have recommended that he read this with an essay for that class in mind. Interesting to read, but leaves me feeling blah about it now that I have finished. With all the philosophy being spouted by everyone, in the end there seems no meaning to anything. ( )

I read this long ago, but I still remember how good this book is. By reading Beowulf and Grendel together you will experience what is perhaps the best exploration of the nature of good and evil you will ever come across. ( )