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adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
okay i realize this book was written forever ago but it just really annoys me that as the descendants of cain, grendel and his mother were destined by fate to be evil, and thus had no shot at any redemption arc.
At no point in buying or reading anything anywhere on the book did it say "Hey, this is an excerpt" which leaves me at a really awkward point with an essay due tomorrow evening unable to fully reference the text. It even says on the back "a translation in full." Thanks Penguin.
Other than that it's a good, easy to read translation. Something inside me is sad that "Hwaet!" was translated directly to "Attend!" but otherwise great stuff.
Other than that it's a good, easy to read translation. Something inside me is sad that "Hwaet!" was translated directly to "Attend!" but otherwise great stuff.
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
-- since all reviews seem to be grouped together - this was for the "modern translation version" by Maria Dahvana Headley aka the "bro" version --
Had this recommended by a friend and it was a super cool experience! I had read Beowulf excerpts (in both old English and translations) during my English degree but was cool to read this more modern translation. The plot was fairly easy to follow, though I will say I was slightly disappointed by the audiobook narrator who I feel could have been more dynamic!
The introduction was very cool to hear about all the thought that goes into a translation! This translator had an interesting mix of old and new, keeping some of the old English-style compound words while also adding in an occasional #blessed
Do I think this is a magical translation that will get hip young teens into Beowulf? Probably not. But it does make it much more accessible and approachable, and was enjoyable for an English nerd like me!
Favourite phrases:
- "Bro, let me say how fucked they were"
- "Meanwhile, Beowulf gave zero shits"
- all father figures (and taking on fatherly/leadership roles) being described exclusively as "daddy"
- "And bro, no one changes God's mind"
Had this recommended by a friend and it was a super cool experience! I had read Beowulf excerpts (in both old English and translations) during my English degree but was cool to read this more modern translation. The plot was fairly easy to follow, though I will say I was slightly disappointed by the audiobook narrator who I feel could have been more dynamic!
The introduction was very cool to hear about all the thought that goes into a translation! This translator had an interesting mix of old and new, keeping some of the old English-style compound words while also adding in an occasional #blessed
Do I think this is a magical translation that will get hip young teens into Beowulf? Probably not. But it does make it much more accessible and approachable, and was enjoyable for an English nerd like me!
Favourite phrases:
- "Bro, let me say how fucked they were"
- "Meanwhile, Beowulf gave zero shits"
- all father figures (and taking on fatherly/leadership roles) being described exclusively as "daddy"
- "And bro, no one changes God's mind"
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Utterly captivating. Great translation keeping the relentless rhythms and stylistic nuances of our beautiful Anglo Saxon language. Stirring stuff!
TBH it was a little boring. This version was supposed to be the ‘poetic’ version but it was weird and man-splainy. Idk. A little disappointing, actually
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
mommy grendel.