Book Review - Beowulf on the Beach

There is not much to dislike about Jack Murnighan’s guide to reading the classics, Beowulf on the Beach. Murnighan becomes a personal literature professor, giving readers all the hits and misses of literature's most acclaimed novels. He even offers hints on what really makes them great. It is a guide that will encourage you, make you laugh, and even get you excited to pick up a book. With the modern world progressing so fast, Murnighan reminds us that the past still has a lot to offer and classics still have a lot to say to modern readers.

What makes this book special is Murnighan’s voice, which can be found in every word. Once he got down to pen and paper, Murnighan did not hold back an ounce. He loves the classics, he’s excited to talk about them, and he wants you to be too. He coming at us with a new angle, he’s not just going to explain the books to us, he’s going to show us why they are so great and inspire us to give them a chance. Murnighan is also burtally honest, if a thought passed through his mind, you better believe it will be in print. That is what makes reading Beowulf on the Beach so enjoyable, it’s like you are talking with a good friend. However, Murnighan is an expert professor, complete with a PhD in literature, who really knows what he’s talking about. It is that talent and wit that really makes the book a good read.

Murnighan also has a considerably good style of writing. He draws the reader in, backing it up with examples and specific topics. He leaves no room for questioning, he is direct and insightful. His writing is also elegant, with metaphors and imagery in every line. He also has great timing and gives just enough room for comic effect. Murnighan put his heart and soul into trying to express his feelings, his love, for these books and their messages. “I want you to feel these books in your heart, in your soul,and maybe even below your waist.” He makes a great case for the classic and can easily sway the average reader into pull out at least once and giving it another try.

However, much of the credit must go to the classics themselves. They are called “literature’s greatest hits” because that is what they really are. They are books that have stood the test of time and conquer many hearts and minds. They are books that will inspire, teach, and change lives. None of the should be passed up.

Beowulf on the Beach was one of the most entertaining guides to literature I’ve ever had the pleasure to read. I laughed, I gasped, and I was excited. It’s good and the books it praises are even better. Learn from it and go read, and enjoy, a classic.