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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
thebobsphere's review against another edition
2.0
A.S Byatt's take on Norse mythology is a mixed bag. It is clever, I liked the way she compared Norse mythology with Christian spirituality and integrated that with a girl living in Britain during the second world war and comparing WWII as a modern day Ragnarok. I also thought that Byatt managed to squeeze in a whole saga in 150 pages was admirable. There's also an afterword written by Byatt, which is fantastic.
However my problem with this is the stilted prose. At time it verges on the dry and boring, whereas Norse mythology is anything but. Generally Byatt's writing style has an elegant verve and that was missing. If you're beginner to the world of Norse myths, I suggest you try the D'aulaires volume of Scandinavian mythology, which is a delight.
However my problem with this is the stilted prose. At time it verges on the dry and boring, whereas Norse mythology is anything but. Generally Byatt's writing style has an elegant verve and that was missing. If you're beginner to the world of Norse myths, I suggest you try the D'aulaires volume of Scandinavian mythology, which is a delight.
patchworkbunny's review against another edition
5.0
Ragnarök is the latest edition to Canongate's excellent Myths series, all standalone novels by a variety of the world's finest writers. Written by A.S. Byatt of The Children's Book fame, it tells the Nordic story of the Judgement of the Gods or the end of the world.
Told through the eyes of a girl in wartime Britain, known only as the thin child, Ragnarök is a good introduction to Nordic myths. The thin child finds a book entitled Asgard and the Gods in the house she is evacuated to and she shares those myths with the reader. With her father fighting in the war, the thin girl is going through her very own Ragnarök, knowing that the end of her world must surely be coming.
The novel is not really about the thin girl though, it is more a collection of myths that lead up to Ragnarök. From the creation story of Yggdrasil, a great tree whose ecosystem was the world, to the tale of the great serpent Jörmungandr, who encircled the world. Like the thin child, Loki has always been my favourite player in the Nordic myths and this mischevious demi-god plays a big part in most of them.
Reading this, you will get the feeling of familiarity, even if you don't know the myths themselves. It really does emphasis that myths are borrowed and adapted throughout cultures. The Nordic Hel will have shaped the Christianity's Hell of eternal torment much more then the Greek underworld would have, where the Elysian fields were the reward of heroes.
The author's thoughts on myths are also included and are well worth a read. My copy had place markers for the illustrations so I can't comment on those but am excited the see how it is illustrated. The bibliography is full of interesting titles if you wish to read more.
Told through the eyes of a girl in wartime Britain, known only as the thin child, Ragnarök is a good introduction to Nordic myths. The thin child finds a book entitled Asgard and the Gods in the house she is evacuated to and she shares those myths with the reader. With her father fighting in the war, the thin girl is going through her very own Ragnarök, knowing that the end of her world must surely be coming.
The novel is not really about the thin girl though, it is more a collection of myths that lead up to Ragnarök. From the creation story of Yggdrasil, a great tree whose ecosystem was the world, to the tale of the great serpent Jörmungandr, who encircled the world. Like the thin child, Loki has always been my favourite player in the Nordic myths and this mischevious demi-god plays a big part in most of them.
Reading this, you will get the feeling of familiarity, even if you don't know the myths themselves. It really does emphasis that myths are borrowed and adapted throughout cultures. The Nordic Hel will have shaped the Christianity's Hell of eternal torment much more then the Greek underworld would have, where the Elysian fields were the reward of heroes.
The author's thoughts on myths are also included and are well worth a read. My copy had place markers for the illustrations so I can't comment on those but am excited the see how it is illustrated. The bibliography is full of interesting titles if you wish to read more.
matthewptaylor's review against another edition
challenging
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? Yes
3.0
bluestarfish's review against another edition
5.0
The thin child is a war evacuee who is given 'Asgard and the Gods' by her mother and is drawn into the myths, lost and found in them, delighting in the beauty and gory. As I was reading this short novel. The "retelling" of the Norse myths is bound in the experience of this young girls reading of them and is deceptively simple. The lyrical telling is gorgeous and urgent. Ragnarok and the end of the world/gods is a myth that resonates with me right now in a deep, deep way. There is a helpful note at the back about myths too (unlike 'The Pilgrims Progress' they are not parables).
This was a recommendation from a colleague and I am very grateful for having had this book thrust in my hands.
This was a recommendation from a colleague and I am very grateful for having had this book thrust in my hands.
_persephone19_'s review against another edition
4.0
Niente è indistruttibile, ed anche gli Asi crollarono.
Narrazione di miti fatta in modo incredibile. Una prosa che a volte non risulta del tutto semplice da comprendere. Sono poche pagine, ma è tutto dettagliatamente spiegato
Narrazione di miti fatta in modo incredibile. Una prosa che a volte non risulta del tutto semplice da comprendere. Sono poche pagine, ma è tutto dettagliatamente spiegato
beccakate89's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Byatt states that she doesn't want to artificially complicate the characters of the myth, and she achieved her aim, with her rich and meditative description focusing on environment and landscape rather than character. However I personally would have found it easier to anchor my understanding of the ragnarok tale, with a longer, more developed interpretation.