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4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
It was a good listen but not something I couldn't put down
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
Listening to this while reading along was a very enjoyable experience!
Already being quite familiar with Norse Mythology, I really liked this compilation of retold stories about characters I know and love.
I really love how modern and more characterised the stories were in Neil's writing style. His sense of humor came through in his writing style and is perfect for this! Neil is a wonderful narrator as well, and it felt like I was being told the stories around a cosy campfire. I recommend the audiobook for anyone if you're interested in stories from Norse Mythology!
Of course, this doesn't contain all that is to tell about the mythology of the Aesir and the Vanir and the nine realms. But even for someone who is new to them, this is a book they should check out. I feel like Neil really took the leading thread of stories about the most famous characters, symbolism and imagery. What also helps to make it a book to pick up once in a while, is that he refers to characters or situations of stories that have already been told before, as to remind you of what they were about. This could get a bit repetitive after a time, but I feel like he did it well.
Already being quite familiar with Norse Mythology, I really liked this compilation of retold stories about characters I know and love.
I really love how modern and more characterised the stories were in Neil's writing style. His sense of humor came through in his writing style and is perfect for this! Neil is a wonderful narrator as well, and it felt like I was being told the stories around a cosy campfire. I recommend the audiobook for anyone if you're interested in stories from Norse Mythology!
Of course, this doesn't contain all that is to tell about the mythology of the Aesir and the Vanir and the nine realms. But even for someone who is new to them, this is a book they should check out. I feel like Neil really took the leading thread of stories about the most famous characters, symbolism and imagery. What also helps to make it a book to pick up once in a while, is that he refers to characters or situations of stories that have already been told before, as to remind you of what they were about. This could get a bit repetitive after a time, but I feel like he did it well.
Call it 3.5 stars.
Usually I like Gaiman's voice and style of writing, but for some reason I didn't here. Maybe it's because these myths are written, at times, in a language that tries to be coy or playful, like one might expect from a fairy tale being told to children. But the material is darker than your (modern, Disneyfied) fairy tale in that murder, deceit, and revenge often play a starting role. Don't get me wrong--I know that the older versions of fairy tales (Anderson/Grimm) are truly dark cautionary tales for kids. I just don't like the application of a slightly pedagogical tone to this version of the Norse stories.
All that said, this book does an exemplary job bringing some usually obscure and somewhat inaccessible mythology (the original sources are written...uniquely) to the masses in an incredibly approachable way. If you've ever had interest in Norse mythology, start here. You can introduce the stories to kids if that's your desire--kids can handle more than adults often think. Just have a heads up that there are mature themes in the stories.
I took a few classes on various mythologies in college (thanks, liberal arts!), and the Norse blending of history and myth always captured me. Gaiman presents here a thorough overview of the mythic side (whereas the sagas skew historical, with mythical elements), and Gaiman's book stands alone well. So if you've ever wondered how Thor *really* got that hammer, dive in!
Usually I like Gaiman's voice and style of writing, but for some reason I didn't here. Maybe it's because these myths are written, at times, in a language that tries to be coy or playful, like one might expect from a fairy tale being told to children. But the material is darker than your (modern, Disneyfied) fairy tale in that murder, deceit, and revenge often play a starting role. Don't get me wrong--I know that the older versions of fairy tales (Anderson/Grimm) are truly dark cautionary tales for kids. I just don't like the application of a slightly pedagogical tone to this version of the Norse stories.
All that said, this book does an exemplary job bringing some usually obscure and somewhat inaccessible mythology (the original sources are written...uniquely) to the masses in an incredibly approachable way. If you've ever had interest in Norse mythology, start here. You can introduce the stories to kids if that's your desire--kids can handle more than adults often think. Just have a heads up that there are mature themes in the stories.
I took a few classes on various mythologies in college (thanks, liberal arts!), and the Norse blending of history and myth always captured me. Gaiman presents here a thorough overview of the mythic side (whereas the sagas skew historical, with mythical elements), and Gaiman's book stands alone well. So if you've ever wondered how Thor *really* got that hammer, dive in!
3.5-4 Entertaining but not one I felt compelled to listen to in every spare minute. I listened to the version narrated by the author and loved that! He was great to listen to.
Innanzitutto: ho trovato il libro molto piacevole. Consiglio assolutamente.
Ritengo che questa raccolta di miti norreni, riscritti da Neil Gaiman, sia perfetta per chi ha una conoscenza nulla o limitata di questo argomento e magari, con curiosità, vuole saperne di più. Sono miti riassunti e piacevolmente romanzati, con l’aggiunta dell’ironia in molte situazioni.
Ho detto che è adatto agli inesperti di mitologia norrena, ma ciò non vuol dire che questo libro non possa essere apprezzato anche da chi è già appassionato, visto che Neil Gaiman dovrebbe essere una garanzia.
Ritengo che questa raccolta di miti norreni, riscritti da Neil Gaiman, sia perfetta per chi ha una conoscenza nulla o limitata di questo argomento e magari, con curiosità, vuole saperne di più. Sono miti riassunti e piacevolmente romanzati, con l’aggiunta dell’ironia in molte situazioni.
Ho detto che è adatto agli inesperti di mitologia norrena, ma ciò non vuol dire che questo libro non possa essere apprezzato anche da chi è già appassionato, visto che Neil Gaiman dovrebbe essere una garanzia.
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
informative
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Моє знайомство із древніми богами почалося дуже давно, ще в дитинстві грецькі та єгипетські боги справили на мене сильне враження. Якщо ви думаєте, що це було в школі на уроках зарубіжної літератури, то боюся вас розчарувати. Тоді я грав у дві цікаві комп’ютерні ігри: Zeus: Master of Olympus та Pharaon + Cleopatra. Головною метою ігор було розвинути свою цивілізацію, де вагомий вплив мали природа та боги, яких потрібно задобрити різними пожертвами. Якщо Сет, Ра, Птах чи Осіріс були прихильні до твоєї цивілізації, то у водах Нілу було багато риби, припливи зрошували ваші поля, у шахтах були ресурси, а воїни могутні та сильні. У грі про Грецію було ще цікавіше, адже завдяки пожертвам та молитвам до богів, — Зевс, Афіна, Діоніс, Арес чи Гефест могли з’явитися біля свого храму та допомогти в тій чи іншій справі вашій цивілізації на певний період. Надіюся, ви розумієте мій захват, коли я стільки дізнався про богів завдяки іграм і зміг, нарешті, показати, що ігри слугують не тільки для дитячого безкорисливого задоволення.
Але про скандинавську міфологію, на жаль, я дізнався вже із фільмів та серіалів. Тому в моїй голові в першу чергу боги стали такими кумедними, веселими та моментами безвідповідальними через супергеройську серію фільмів про Тора від кіностудії Marvel. І вже серіал «Вікінги» трішки змінив уявлення про них, додаючи безжальності, жорстокості та могутності.
Далі у блозі.
Але про скандинавську міфологію, на жаль, я дізнався вже із фільмів та серіалів. Тому в моїй голові в першу чергу боги стали такими кумедними, веселими та моментами безвідповідальними через супергеройську серію фільмів про Тора від кіностудії Marvel. І вже серіал «Вікінги» трішки змінив уявлення про них, додаючи безжальності, жорстокості та могутності.
Далі у блозі.
informative
inspiring
reflective