false 6113032 2 <p>If you’re like most folks, you probably feel guilty for never reading <i>War and Peace</i>, <i>Ulysses</i>, or <i>Moby-Dick</i>. Or maybe you read them in school, but you didn’t exactly enjoy them, right? Writer and professor Jack Murnighan says it’s not the books that put you off, it was the lifeless, uninspiring way they‘re usually taught. Now, with <i>Beowulf on the Beach</i>, you’ll discover not only why these classics deserve another chance, but how to read great books in general.<br><br>Balancing humor and expertise, Murnighan picks 50 of the most revered books of all time and explains what the professors never told you: that <i>Moby-Dick </i>is funny, Dante will make you cry, <i>Anna Karenina </i>is a beach read, and James Joyce is great, but only if he’s talking about drinking, sex, or organ meats. Plus you get the juicy tidbits on what you’re supposed to know, what you <i>need</i> to know, and what’s okay for you to skip without feeling guilt. From Homer and Proust to <i>Beloved </i>and the Bible, <i>Beowulf on the Beach </i>is a user-friendly guide through the imposing world of capital-L Literature. In no time at all, you’ll be revved up and ready to tackle Dickens or Woolf—only this time without the test.</p> 6291046 19 5 2009 Beowulf on the Beach: What to Love and What to Skip in Literature's 50 Greatest Hits total:89|5:14|4:40|3:23|2:11|1:1| 89 322 353 43 4 0 false false Sat Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Wed Sep 23 21:52:20 -0700 2009 Wed Sep 23 21:52:52 -0700 2009 "Let's give literature another look, but this time we'll enjoy ourselves. And I don't just mean above the ears; I want you to feel these books in your heart, in your soul, and maybe even below your waist. I myself am a recovering academic (it's a tough twelve-step program), but since the day I ...more...]]> 0 0 false false Sun May 24 07:01:55 -0700 2009 Mon May 25 09:46:45 -0700 2009 more...]]> 4 0 false false Sat Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Mon Sep 21 20:02:26 -0700 2009 Mon Sep 21 20:03:10 -0700 2009 more...]]> 4 1 false false Tue Jun 09 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Wed Jun 10 07:18:18 -0700 2009 Wed Jun 10 07:26:59 -0700 2009 more...]]> 2 0 false false Thu Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Tue Sep 15 16:10:57 -0700 2009 Sun Oct 11 07:07:46 -0700 2009
Let me make one thing clear: Jack is a GUY. He is looking for action in books. Plot. Fighting. Killing. Plunder. You know. That...more...]]> 2 0 false false Thu Jul 16 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Thu Jul 16 09:45:21 -0700 2009 Thu Jul 16 09:52:08 -0700 2009 more...]]> 5 0 false false Sun Sep 06 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Sun Sep 06 20:44:40 -0700 2009 Sun Sep 06 20:49:28 -0700 2009 If you are a book lover who likes tongue-in-cheek humor (he refers to Je...more...]]> 3 0 false false Wed Jul 15 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Fri Jul 31 09:28:47 -0700 2009 Fri Jul 31 09:35:04 -0700 2009 more...]]> 3 0 false false Mon Oct 05 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Thu Oct 08 03:43:57 -0700 2009 Thu Oct 08 04:28:32 -0700 2009 more...]]> 3 0 false false Mon Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Wed Jun 24 06:29:03 -0700 2009 Wed Jun 24 06:32:38 -0700 2009
...more...]]> 5 0 false false Fri Jan 30 05:32:02 -0800 2009 Sun Jan 18 17:16:06 -0800 2009 Fri Jan 30 05:32:02 -0800 2009 Remembrance of Things Past and The Man Without Qualities!

almost.

But, seriously, there are a few classics here I never thought I'd touch, that I plan to read this summer!more...]]> 1 2 false false Sun Aug 09 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Sun Jun 07 08:18:50 -0700 2009 Sun Aug 09 15:30:53 -0700 2009 more...]]> 5 0 false false Thu Sep 10 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Thu May 21 04:45:26 -0700 2009 Thu Sep 17 09:32:01 -0700 2009 Rating: A-

Summary: Dr. Smarty Pants (aka, the down-to-earth Jack Murnighan) gives you a low-down on 50 of the world's greatest books. He tells you what's sexy, what's skip-able, and why this book will rock your world if you'll just give it a chance. He aims to bring the lofty and esoteri...more...]]> 3 0 false false Mon Sep 21 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Wed Sep 30 08:57:40 -0700 2009 Wed Sep 30 08:59:55 -0700 2009 Ulysses a t...more...]]> 4 0 false false Sat Jul 18 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Tue Jul 21 22:39:40 -0700 2009 Mon Jul 27 11:41:58 -0700 2009 more...]]> 4 0 false false Wed Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Wed Jul 01 18:01:01 -0700 2009 Thu Aug 13 08:04:28 -0700 2009 more...]]> 0 0 false false Tue Oct 06 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Tue Oct 06 04:51:02 -0700 2009 Tue Oct 06 04:52:46 -0700 2009 1 more...]]> 0 0 false false Thu Aug 06 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Fri Aug 14 06:28:05 -0700 2009 Fri Aug 14 06:29:56 -0700 2009 more...]]> 0 0 false false Mon Sep 07 19:04:23 -0700 2009 Mon Sep 07 19:19:40 -0700 2009 more...]]> 5 0 false false Sat May 30 09:55:38 -0700 2009 Sat May 30 09:57:13 -0700 2009 more...]]>