Books by John C. Gardner
“Grendel is a retelling of the story from the monster’s point of view, and the monster is basically Jean-Paul Sartre. What makes this slim novel so brilliant is that Grendel is a philosopher, but he is also absolutely a monster. He lives in a cave with his blob of a mother and has all the instincts to kill, eat and survive. At the same time, he has a mind that ponders meaning — relentlessly searching for answers, he wants to know what it is all for.” Read more...
Five Timeless Books Rooted in Oral Storytelling
Tuva Kahrs, Five Books Editor
On Becoming a Novelist
by John C. Gardner
This is another of the classics. Gardner was a successful novelist in the States, but possibly an even more successful teacher of creative writing. There are two works by him. On Becoming a Novelist is the more succinct.
Interviews where books by John C. Gardner were recommended
The best books on Creative Writing, recommended by Andrew Cowan
The professor of creative writing at UEA says Joseph Conrad got it right when he said that the sitting down is all. He chooses five books to help aspiring writers.
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1
Grendel
by John C. Gardner -
2
Three Kingdoms: A Historical Novel
by Luo Guanzhong & Moss Roberts (translator) -
3
The Tale of Princess Fatima, Warrior Woman: The Arabic Epic of Dhat al-Himma
translated by Melanie Magidow -
4
Grettir's Saga
by translated by Jesse Byock -
5
The Kushnameh: The Persian Epic of Kush the Tusked
by Iranshah ibn Abu'l-Khayr & translated by Kaveh L. Hemmat
Five Timeless Books Rooted in Oral Storytelling, recommended by Tuva Kahrs
Five Timeless Books Rooted in Oral Storytelling, recommended by Tuva Kahrs
Long before we published books, tales were told around the campfire, or recited by a professional one episode at a time. So why not go straight to the wellspring of literature, and read stories so good they have been told and re-told for centuries? Here, Five Books contributing editor Tuva Kahrs recommends timeless books that began life in oral storytelling traditions from around the world, whose themes have resonated through the ages.
Novels Based on Mythological Retellings, recommended by Francesca Simon
Mythological retellings bring us stories with timeless resonance, viewed through the lens of modern concerns, explains Francesca Simon. The bestselling author tells us about her five favourite retellings, and introduces her first adult novel and the rich world of folklore and legend that inspires it.
