eeriemusick's review
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
bibliophilelinda's review
5.0
Epic adventure highlighting the importance of wisdom obtained by the journey itself, not the attainment of the journey's goal. Having been a brutal tyrant to his people, the Gods seek to tame King Gilgamesh by the introduction of his opposite. After a testosterone fueled introduction, they quickly become best friends and inseparable. Unfortunately, they anger the Gods and his best friend, Enkidu, is condemned to die. After Enkidu death Gilgamesh is fueled by grief and embarks on a journey to seek immortality. He learns that immortality is not the key to overcoming saddness but appreciating that which you already have is the key to happiness. A wonderful and rather short poem that pre-dates "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey". The best part of this book is not necessarily in the poem, but in the 80 pages of notes supplementing the text. Excellent historical and mythological information help to enrich the experience of reading Gilgamesh's adventure.
diary_of_a_hobbit's review
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
I think this is the first book in a long while that I've read that didn't make me feel any particular emotion. It was interesting enough, but it didn't leave a mark on me.
ducky1996's review
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
afoga's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
kjboldon's review against another edition
3.0
Readable translation, but I question some of Mitchell's commentary in the intro--how he imagines Shamhat going calmly to he the bait for a wild man? What an idiotic thing to say, and something in ng that betrays little empathy or imagination. Better question: why does it sootheMitchell to think that?
mirtlifthewise's review
adventurous
challenging
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
bestpartofafire's review against another edition
3.0
This version was quite nice and easy to read, even as a modern reader reading a 4000-year-old text! Rather sexually graphic in one spot, though, so be warned.
nickfourtimes's review against another edition
3.0
1) ''Go ahead, Enkidu. This is food,
we humans eat and drink this.'' Warily
he tasted the bread. Then he ate a piece,
he ate a whole loaf, then ate another,
he ate until he was full, drank seven
pitchers of the beer, his heart grew light,
his face glowed, and he sang out with joy.''
2) [Gilgamesh to Ishtar, goddess of love]
''You loved the gardener Ishullanu,
who would bring you baskets of fresh-picked dates,
every day, to brighten your table,
you lusted for him, you drew close and said,
'Sweet Ishullanu, let me suck your rod,
touch my vagina, caress my jewel.'''
3) ''There was singing and feasting in the palace that night.
Later, when the warriors were stretched out asleep,
Enkidu had a terrifying dream.
When he woke up, he said to Gilgamesh,
'Dear friend, why are the great gods assembled?'''
we humans eat and drink this.'' Warily
he tasted the bread. Then he ate a piece,
he ate a whole loaf, then ate another,
he ate until he was full, drank seven
pitchers of the beer, his heart grew light,
his face glowed, and he sang out with joy.''
2) [Gilgamesh to Ishtar, goddess of love]
''You loved the gardener Ishullanu,
who would bring you baskets of fresh-picked dates,
every day, to brighten your table,
you lusted for him, you drew close and said,
'Sweet Ishullanu, let me suck your rod,
touch my vagina, caress my jewel.'''
3) ''There was singing and feasting in the palace that night.
Later, when the warriors were stretched out asleep,
Enkidu had a terrifying dream.
When he woke up, he said to Gilgamesh,
'Dear friend, why are the great gods assembled?'''
pingin505's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting because it's one of the oldest works of literature, and it's told in a very oral style. You can imagine a traveling story teller recounting this tale. But still, I was not overly fond of the plot or characters. All the same, I'm glad I read it, and the similarities to some of the stories from the Bible, even though it was written earlier, are very interesting.