Reviews

Eaters of the Dead by Michael Crichton

ladyethyme's review

2.0

I almost never say this but….the movie was much, much better. Had humour, better storytelling, better pacing.
This book was basically a bored, dry scholar’s recount of an interesting story….
And frankly if I have to hear the word ‘verily’ or ‘I saw with my own eyes’ ONE MORE TIME I’m going to VERILY KILL SOMEONE WITH MY OWN HANDS myself. THREE TIMES in two paragraphs….and it goes on like this through the entire book.
And the constant references to slave girls being banged wherever/whenever the men pleased got gross real fast. A whole ‘village’ where the men kept nothing but sex slaves? Critchton seems fine with this and delightedly refers to it over and over and over…

thomasr417's review

adventurous mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

schuster_s's review

3.0

Not my usual choice of Crichton book, but not horrible. I had to look up if it was real or not because it is so well sourced. Overall pretty good, but I won’t read it again anytime soon. To the shelf to join the Crichton collection!

bpc's review

adventurous informative lighthearted sad tense medium-paced

3.25

gatun's review

5.0

The first thing you need to know about The Eaters of the Dead is what it is not. It is not The 13th Warrior. Now that is out of the way, The Eaters of the Dead is a retelling of Beowulf. The afterward of the book explains how Michael Crichton decided to write it and how he wrote it. Simon Vance's smooth voice leads the listener from Bagdad to the Viking homelands far in the north. If you enjoy Beowulf, the literary version not the movie or animated versions, you will enjoy The Eaters of the Dead. If you have not encountered Beowulf yet, The Eaters of the Dead may be a rough start.

gggreggg's review

3.0

Not what I was expecting from a book by Michael Crichton. Good though. Enjoyed it. Quite engaging.

meghang500's review against another edition

adventurous informative inspiring mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

adent92's review against another edition

adventurous dark inspiring mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

msmillar's review

adventurous emotional informative mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

h3dakota's review

4.0

Beowulf retold - what's not to like? I really liked the pondering if Neanderthal man had lived on & was actually the "wendol" (Grendel) at the end, along with the numerous footnotes. :)