4 short reviews
Beowulf Unknown 3.5 out of 5 stars I feel almost guilty for rating this classic of classics so poorly, but I think it's a book you either love, loathe, or feel lukewarm about. Pros : The historic setting, historic dialogue, underwater/cave battle, and Christian perspective. Added 1/2 star for Beowulf 's influence on Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings . Cons : Beowulf (the character) is much too flawless a fighter. He hardly seems human. A more interesting character is Wiglaf, the underling whose courage outweighs his inexperience. The Queen of Spades Alexander Pushkin 2 out of 5 stars A very weird, Edgar Allan Poe-esque story about gambling and ghosts. It's also super fast-paced, which doesn't help. Interesting concept, however. A Tangled Tale Lewis Carroll 5 out of 5 stars One of the best books I've read in the last year. This is a collection of math/logic puzzles, with continuing characters and storylines. The dialogue is wonderfully witty ...