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withlivjones's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-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
There were definitely some interesting lines scattered throughout this book, but overall it was a very dull, slow-paced retelling. The juxtaposition of Norse mythology and World War Two didn’t really work for me. I think the author’s note was my favourite part of the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and War
pixiegael's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
tarrowood's review against another edition
4.0
Without Byatt’s summation at the end, this book is a three. It’s a beautiful depiction of the world-ending myth, but there are intrusions on the myth that didn’t make sense until the very last chapter.
nadine_booklover's review against another edition
4.0
Well, what can I say? I have never been much of a big review writer and I think I will never be. I try to express how books make me feel and if I could not bear a break whilst reading.
This book is so much different from those I have read, rated and commented over the last years.
I am not sure if I'll do something wrong if I give this 2 stars. That was my first impression just because I found it boring to read. There where no characters for me to fall in love with. No grabbing story which made me wanting more and more.
Now you might wonder why I read this book in the first place. Well, I was interested in the world of gods and the story about Ragnarok. It got me right with the "Iron Druid Chronicles" and I thought it might be interesting to read another book about theses gods.
But it was so not what I expected. For me it was like reading a plot for a movie. No deepening in the characters, just listing facts. I stopped reading for a short time, just because I could. And just because the story did not want me to finish the book right away.
For all these facts I thought this book was not worth more than 2 stars.
But if I step back a little and try to get the whole view, I have to say that this is a wonderful book which describes the world of the gods with so many deep details that you don't need much imagination to create this world right before your inner eye. The writing might not be the style I am used to and this one is much more impressive than I could imagine.
I say THANK YOU to A. S. Byatt for bringing this world to me like no other author did before.
For all this I think this book is worth at least 4 stars... ;-)
This book is so much different from those I have read, rated and commented over the last years.
I am not sure if I'll do something wrong if I give this 2 stars. That was my first impression just because I found it boring to read. There where no characters for me to fall in love with. No grabbing story which made me wanting more and more.
Now you might wonder why I read this book in the first place. Well, I was interested in the world of gods and the story about Ragnarok. It got me right with the "Iron Druid Chronicles" and I thought it might be interesting to read another book about theses gods.
But it was so not what I expected. For me it was like reading a plot for a movie. No deepening in the characters, just listing facts. I stopped reading for a short time, just because I could. And just because the story did not want me to finish the book right away.
For all these facts I thought this book was not worth more than 2 stars.
But if I step back a little and try to get the whole view, I have to say that this is a wonderful book which describes the world of the gods with so many deep details that you don't need much imagination to create this world right before your inner eye. The writing might not be the style I am used to and this one is much more impressive than I could imagine.
I say THANK YOU to A. S. Byatt for bringing this world to me like no other author did before.
For all this I think this book is worth at least 4 stars... ;-)
rfiddlesticks's review against another edition
5.0
I read this while reading Connolly's The Fragility of Things. It is frightening how the two intertwine and amplify each other.
melissa_who_reads's review against another edition
4.0
Chewy. The myth of the end of the Norse Gods, intertwined with the understanding of "the thin child," evacuated to the English countryside during wartime, and her knowledge of the happenings of adults. Interesting for the words Byatt uses -- she loves the words of the descriptions of the gods and their world, the things they eat, the places they inhabit. Also for the thin child's comparison of the Norse myths versus the Christianity she is asked to believe in at church, and her refuge in the books of her mother.
Some nice insights into the benefits of war-time versus the return to peace: they move back to their home city, and the thin child with asthma suffers, as does her mother, who had thrived in war-time, teaching as the men were all off to war -and now in peacetime became a prisoner in her own house, a "housewife," and consequently suffers from depression and other ailments.
In many ways, a lovely little book.
Some nice insights into the benefits of war-time versus the return to peace: they move back to their home city, and the thin child with asthma suffers, as does her mother, who had thrived in war-time, teaching as the men were all off to war -and now in peacetime became a prisoner in her own house, a "housewife," and consequently suffers from depression and other ailments.
In many ways, a lovely little book.
hatto's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
jbrice's review against another edition
adventurous
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
desireerossoni's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0