Grendel (John Gardner)

Difficult to get into, but worthwhile in the end if somewhat predictable (especially if you've read Beowulf). Worth reading just for the conversation with the dragon.

Interesting take on the Beowulf legend with a few excellent chapters and a few chapters that were not so excellent. Overall I was left feeling a profound sympathy for poor old Grendel, a character outwith his own time.

Not quite as well accomplised as Gregory Maguire's "Wicked", which does the same thing for the wicked witch of the west but I think I liked the Grendel character better than I did Elphaba from that book.