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dozylocal's review against another edition
3.0
This is a short little book weaving together myths from Viking times (I've been watching the Vikings TV series and spotted some sources). I'm not sure if one would call it a summary? There is a lot of imagery and I liked the way the author threaded the myths into the context of a little British girl reading the tales during WW II.
jwsg's review against another edition
3.0
I love myths and legends and one of my favourite books is Edith Hamilton's Mythology. I was therefore thrilled when I learned that AS Byatt had written a book based on Norse saga on Ragnarok, the end of the world. But Ragnarok isn't quite your usual collection of myths. As Byatt explains in the epilogue, Canongate had invited her to write a myth and Byatt immediately knew it had to be Ragnarok. She writes that she tried once or twice to write the myth in the traditional way, of "telling the myth that preserved its distance and difference", but finally realised that she was writing the myth in the way that she had understood and interpreted the myth as a child, when she read a copy of Asgard and the Gods given to her by her mother. As a result, Ragnarok is not just a story of Norse gods like Odin and Loki, but also of a thin child in the wartime who reads about these gods, is mesmerised by them, thinks about them, relates to them.
This somewhat unusual narrative style threw me off in the beginning; that the first few chapters are less plot-driven narratives than descriptions of a cast of characters and creatures - Yggdrasil the World Ash; Randrasill the Sea Tree, for instance - also made me question whether Ragnarok would be the first collection of myths I'd fail to like.
In the end though, it all comes together. The part of me that loves old-fashioned tales of powerful gods, tricky gods, brash gods, mischievous gods was satisfied by stories of Loki, his children Jorgmungandr, Fenris-Wolf and Hel, of the god Baldur and his mother Frigg. And the story of the thin child in the wartime started to weave itself more tightly, more seamlessly, more comfortably with the Norse tales. The weaving together of the world of the thin child and that of Asgard was, at times, reminiscent of the Neverending Story, when Michael Ende jumps between the worlds of Bastian and that contained within the book that he is so greedily devouring (such that eventually, the two worlds collide in the case of the Neverending Story). A slim and satisfying read.
This somewhat unusual narrative style threw me off in the beginning; that the first few chapters are less plot-driven narratives than descriptions of a cast of characters and creatures - Yggdrasil the World Ash; Randrasill the Sea Tree, for instance - also made me question whether Ragnarok would be the first collection of myths I'd fail to like.
In the end though, it all comes together. The part of me that loves old-fashioned tales of powerful gods, tricky gods, brash gods, mischievous gods was satisfied by stories of Loki, his children Jorgmungandr, Fenris-Wolf and Hel, of the god Baldur and his mother Frigg. And the story of the thin child in the wartime started to weave itself more tightly, more seamlessly, more comfortably with the Norse tales. The weaving together of the world of the thin child and that of Asgard was, at times, reminiscent of the Neverending Story, when Michael Ende jumps between the worlds of Bastian and that contained within the book that he is so greedily devouring (such that eventually, the two worlds collide in the case of the Neverending Story). A slim and satisfying read.
smitchy's review against another edition
3.0
This small book is quite a comprehensive look at the mythology of the Norse gods from beginning to end, framed within the story of a young girl experiencing the very really threat of war. While the book itself is quite small, the myths are well fleshed out with lots of descriptive detail.
The stories within the unnamed girl's book of mythology contain both an escape from the realities around her, and acceptance of the realities that adults don't discuss - death happens and even the gods can't avoid it.
The girl is based on Byatt's own life as a young child living in the English countryside during WWII (though I'm struggling to believe such a young child (3 at the time war broke out) tackled Mythology and Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress - but maybe she was simply more literate than any kids I know - maybe she mixed those experiences with later reading?). Either way the narrative framing certainly works well - the child's wonder at the stories and the mixing in of references to fairytales and christian mythology are bound to make you think about the parallels between the different story forms. I can't remember who recommended Ragnarok for my 2018 reading challenge but it was a great pick and I'm happy they did.
This is a great introduction to the Norse Myths if you have never read them before and it is suitable for younger readers too (mostly - there are mentions of sexual acts and some violence in the myths). I'd classify it as a YA title rather than adult. Anyone adult who has spent a bit of time reading mythology might find Ragnarok a bit dull.
The stories within the unnamed girl's book of mythology contain both an escape from the realities around her, and acceptance of the realities that adults don't discuss - death happens and even the gods can't avoid it.
The girl is based on Byatt's own life as a young child living in the English countryside during WWII (though I'm struggling to believe such a young child (3 at the time war broke out) tackled Mythology and Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress - but maybe she was simply more literate than any kids I know - maybe she mixed those experiences with later reading?). Either way the narrative framing certainly works well - the child's wonder at the stories and the mixing in of references to fairytales and christian mythology are bound to make you think about the parallels between the different story forms. I can't remember who recommended Ragnarok for my 2018 reading challenge but it was a great pick and I'm happy they did.
This is a great introduction to the Norse Myths if you have never read them before and it is suitable for younger readers too (mostly - there are mentions of sexual acts and some violence in the myths). I'd classify it as a YA title rather than adult. Anyone adult who has spent a bit of time reading mythology might find Ragnarok a bit dull.
scarletohhara's review against another edition
3.0
I picked this book up because I got interested in the Canongate Myth series and had put all those books on hold at my local library.
I struggled to get a flow of the prose, the narration was alright, though.
I struggled to get a flow of the prose, the narration was alright, though.
moonpie's review against another edition
3.0
The Canongate Myth Series is something I've been fangirling without experiencing for years. FINALLY I was able to read one of the books in the series. Byatt's Ragnarok is based on Norse mythology and is actually the last book that was published for the series, back in 2011.
I liked Byatt's writing, her word choices and the flow of descriptive passages, but I think Ragnarok wasn't the best introduction to the series or her writing. While most of the books in the series, from what I've seen, involve retellings of myths, this one is just a flat-out TELLING, through the eyes of a young book-nerdy girl in wartime. I found myself enjoying the story's rhythms but getting lost every now and then, since there was no single thread to follow within the mythology and I had a hard time keeping track of names.
It was a good way to get to know the bones of Norse mythology, though, since I'm much more familiar with Greek and Roman mythology. My previous learnings were mostly gleaned from Thor. Also, a burst of cleansing synchronicity: I finished this book the day before Ragnarok was supposed to happen, according to some Viking center of something or other.
I liked Byatt's writing, her word choices and the flow of descriptive passages, but I think Ragnarok wasn't the best introduction to the series or her writing. While most of the books in the series, from what I've seen, involve retellings of myths, this one is just a flat-out TELLING, through the eyes of a young book-nerdy girl in wartime. I found myself enjoying the story's rhythms but getting lost every now and then, since there was no single thread to follow within the mythology and I had a hard time keeping track of names.
It was a good way to get to know the bones of Norse mythology, though, since I'm much more familiar with Greek and Roman mythology. My previous learnings were mostly gleaned from Thor. Also, a burst of cleansing synchronicity: I finished this book the day before Ragnarok was supposed to happen, according to some Viking center of something or other.
kate66's review against another edition
4.0
This book was almost perfect for me. I'm fascinated by myths and legends of different cultures and how similar they are so a child's view is about right for a first foray into Norse myth.
AS Byatt is a wonderful writer and manages to conjure pictures in my head despite the Marvel movies attempting to get there first. I especially like the epilogue which gave me lot more reading material to try.
Interesting, descriptive, not too taxing. If you want a nice easy to follow look at the Norse mythology then this is definitely a must read. If nothing else it might lead you to other books and other mythologies.
AS Byatt is a wonderful writer and manages to conjure pictures in my head despite the Marvel movies attempting to get there first. I especially like the epilogue which gave me lot more reading material to try.
Interesting, descriptive, not too taxing. If you want a nice easy to follow look at the Norse mythology then this is definitely a must read. If nothing else it might lead you to other books and other mythologies.
elaineruss's review against another edition
4.0
It's no secret that A.S. Byatt is one of my favourite authors. Her writing takes my breath away and Ragnarok is no exception. Part of the Canongate Myth's series, Byatt takes the ancient Norse legend about the end of the world and makes it current.
It's no surprise that Byatt would be part of this project. Almost all Byatt's novels are infused with myths and history. In fact in her most famous novel, Possession, Byatt's fictional poet, Randolph Henry Ash writes a poem titled "Ragnarok".
Another interesting and rather emotive decision by Byatt was to tell the story from the point of view of herself, as a child, in the Second World War. A move that makes the tale intensely close to home.
More fascinating than the tale however is Byatt's afterword. Byatt seizes this opportunity to draw parallels between the tale and our own battle with climate change. To steal a line from my friend's blog post:
"It is an excellent piece of writing, and she drew an interesting exegetical point from it - that the gods knew Ragnarok was coming, but they didn't have the imagination to avoid it. The parallel between our current culture's collision course with catastrophic climate change is thought-provoking."
As a side note, the hard back version of this book has been very beautifully published. Canongate really should be given credit for such a fabulous series of books and the care that has been put into them.
It's no surprise that Byatt would be part of this project. Almost all Byatt's novels are infused with myths and history. In fact in her most famous novel, Possession, Byatt's fictional poet, Randolph Henry Ash writes a poem titled "Ragnarok".
Another interesting and rather emotive decision by Byatt was to tell the story from the point of view of herself, as a child, in the Second World War. A move that makes the tale intensely close to home.
More fascinating than the tale however is Byatt's afterword. Byatt seizes this opportunity to draw parallels between the tale and our own battle with climate change. To steal a line from my friend's blog post:
"It is an excellent piece of writing, and she drew an interesting exegetical point from it - that the gods knew Ragnarok was coming, but they didn't have the imagination to avoid it. The parallel between our current culture's collision course with catastrophic climate change is thought-provoking."
As a side note, the hard back version of this book has been very beautifully published. Canongate really should be given credit for such a fabulous series of books and the care that has been put into them.
cat_thecatlady's review
3.0
a bit underwhelming but a good read. I don't know much about the myths themselves but it was interesting to read this retelling. especially like Loki and Frigg's stories. the "allegory" or "metaphor" spread a little thin tho.
camilleisreading24's review against another edition
4.0
Very strange but good book. Read it in about a day. It is a novel in some ways, a myth in others, but with historical realism as well. Framed as stories read by a thin young girl living in WWII England and seeking an escape from the harsh reality of the air raids, Byatt provides a collection of Norse myths. I was familiar with some, others were new to me. I got the feeling that the tale was semi-autobiographical which made it more compelling.