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chambre1055's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
3.0
Bro 1: Close your eyes, Bro.
*Bro 2 closes his eyes
Bro 1: Now what do you see, Bro?
Bro 2: Nothing, Bro. Suddenly, it all went dark.
Bro 1: Thats how quickly internet language gets outdated, Bro. Hate to break it to you like this, Bro.
💁🏽
*Bro 2 closes his eyes
Bro 1: Now what do you see, Bro?
Bro 2: Nothing, Bro. Suddenly, it all went dark.
Bro 1: Thats how quickly internet language gets outdated, Bro. Hate to break it to you like this, Bro.
💁🏽
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Classic, Old English,jbelang85's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
3.0
So this is for the Headly translation. I thought the Seamus Heaney version was better, though it has been over a decade. I remember longer fight scenes in that one.
I was interested in this version as it was described as a more modern update. But what it really seemed to be was the author inserting modern language in some areas of the book, but kept a lot of the older language. I found that a little disorienting and not as enjoyable.
Still, pretty good and might recommend it to somewhat too concerned about the ease of understanding older versions.
I was interested in this version as it was described as a more modern update. But what it really seemed to be was the author inserting modern language in some areas of the book, but kept a lot of the older language. I found that a little disorienting and not as enjoyable.
Still, pretty good and might recommend it to somewhat too concerned about the ease of understanding older versions.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
emmagreenwood's review against another edition
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Murder, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
evaphoenix's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Mental illness, Violence, Grief, and War
Minor: Rape and Slavery
cerandor's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
A rollicking translation of the classic Old English poem, this starts with a “Bro!” and continues with gusto. A few lines scan awkwardly, but only a few out of more than three thousand is no mean feat.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Yes, the violence is described in loving, anatomical detail, but it’s very much true to the heroic theme of the poem. It shouldn’t be a problem for most.pacifickat's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
This epic poem is the forefather of much of Western high fantasy and lore. I enjoy seeing parallels to works like those of Tolkien, Gaiman, and Sanderson: lords, warriors, great halls, named swords, lengthy descriptions of shields and armor, sworn fealty, rings and ring givers, codes for good kingship, swift horses, dragons, treasure hordes, and monsters lurking in the darkness out of stories of old.
It is also intersting to hear how these ancient Scandinavians / Anglo-Saxons overlayed and combined Christian elements with their own cultural values and older pagan religious myths and practices. Syncretism is a near universal human tendancy, and it's fascinating to see such an old example as a new belief system was sweeping across pre-modern Europe.
This was an enjoyable and approachable translation to hear in audiobook format.
It is also intersting to hear how these ancient Scandinavians / Anglo-Saxons overlayed and combined Christian elements with their own cultural values and older pagan religious myths and practices. Syncretism is a near universal human tendancy, and it's fascinating to see such an old example as a new belief system was sweeping across pre-modern Europe.
This was an enjoyable and approachable translation to hear in audiobook format.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Alcohol
xkrille's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
I read it for university, and it was fine. I did not hate it, but at the same time, it was not for me. It was interesting enough, and I can somewhat see why it's a classic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, and Violence
Moderate: Blood, Grief, and War
godraed's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Heaney's heroic translation
proves the poet
a master of the medium
Heaney's translation does a wonderful job of capturing the spirit of the original poem. He created a modern masterpiece from the Old English original.
Adventure, grim oaths, monsters, and a window into the worldview of another time.
Gath a wyrd swa hio scel.
proves the poet
a master of the medium
Heaney's translation does a wonderful job of capturing the spirit of the original poem. He created a modern masterpiece from the Old English original.
Adventure, grim oaths, monsters, and a window into the worldview of another time.
Gath a wyrd swa hio scel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and War
Moderate: Death, Gore, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Minor: Fire/Fire injury and Injury/Injury detail
12dejamoo's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This translation of Beowulf is really something else. It's so so readable. It reads like a story told in a mead hall, and I think something in the telling really puts the reader into that mental space. I struggled to get through Beowulf last time I read it, but with this translation, it flowed and pulled you along to the next scene. This is the translation to start with and to really get a grasp on the story.
I'll leave this review with these ending lines (3174-3182), so spoiler alert:
They did all this grieving the way men do,
but, bro, no man knows, not me, not you,
how to get to goodbye. His guys tried.
They remembered the right words. Our king!
Lonely ring-wielder! Inheritor of everything!
He was our man, but every man dies.
Here he is now! Here our best boy lies!
He rode hard! He stayed thirsty! He was the man!
He was the man.
I'll leave this review with these ending lines (3174-3182), so spoiler alert:
but, bro, no man knows, not me, not you,
how to get to goodbye. His guys tried.
They remembered the right words. Our king!
Lonely ring-wielder! Inheritor of everything!
He was our man, but every man dies.
Here he is now! Here our best boy lies!
He rode hard! He stayed thirsty! He was the man!
He was the man.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Violence, and Blood
Minor: War
rachelwierick's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Violence