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3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
A quick, fun fantasy read about a little boy named Odd who helps the Gods of Asgard to return to their home and their true forms.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was a nice winter read (though it would have been better enjoyed by a fire place than on the train). Oddly enough the story felt really familiar but I wouldn't know how I know it. The illustrations fit the story perfectly and really made it come to life in the greatest way.
Content Warnings
Minor: Ableism, Death of parent, Alcohol
La vera grandezza di Gaiman sta sempre nei piccoli racconti. L'ho pensato per Stardust e lo penso anche per Odd. Mi dispiace che a tratti la traduzione non fosse eccelsa - anche senza aver letto l'originale si vede benissimo lo scivolone su "Bless them" come "Beati loro" e la mancanza di una nota a piè di pagina per spiegare che Odd in inglese vuol dire strano, per questo ci si sofferma spesso a sottolineare il fatto che il ragazzo lo sia. Come con Stardust, Gaiman crea una saga concentrata nelle pagine e nella narrazione che però non perde la forza dei significati, dei personaggi e delle vicende. Il piccolo che sfida il gigante, l'astuzia che può sconfiggere la forza bruta, il potere dei sogni, della gentilezza, dell'altruismo. Tutto questo lo puoi leggere nelle poche pagine di Odd, che vorresti fossero il triplo, ma non necessitano di esserlo.
Oh, Neil! <3
Oh, Neil! <3
Pulled this off the library shelf on impulse and read it in about an hour and a half, and then pressed it into the hands of the nearest child. "Read this," I said, "you'll enjoy it. Start now. Trust me." (Luckily, the child was my own.) An excellent, compact tale of heroism, courage, and cleverness. Worth reading, and better for sharing.
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
informative
inspiring
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Charming little book in the vein of what Gaiman does best - drawing on Norse mythology while giving it its own twist. This is no grandiose drama, but the tale is well-told, and Odd, with his quirky habit of smiling infuriatingly at all times and his directness even in the face of unlikely narrative developments is a delight. Odin, Thor, and Loki, in their animal guises, are both recognizable and fleshed out, making it a lot of fun to read. I read it in one sitting. Recommended, especially to Norse mythology or history fans.
**2nd Read Update**
This was included in Nell's Torchlight curriculum this year and I still really like it. Honestly I like it even better with a better eye towards it being read by actual kids. Odd is interesting but made to hold a child's interest, to be a sort of childish everyman just ordinary enough to be relatable and just strange enough to exist in a story peopled by gods and giants. The Norse pantheon is wisely scraped to a bare-bones cast of Odin, Loki, and Thor, with Frigg making a brief appearance in Chapter 7. Because it's short and well-illustrated, it's easy to follow along with the story and it holds the interest. I kind of want to read it aloud to G.
**2nd Read Update**
This was included in Nell's Torchlight curriculum this year and I still really like it. Honestly I like it even better with a better eye towards it being read by actual kids. Odd is interesting but made to hold a child's interest, to be a sort of childish everyman just ordinary enough to be relatable and just strange enough to exist in a story peopled by gods and giants. The Norse pantheon is wisely scraped to a bare-bones cast of Odin, Loki, and Thor, with Frigg making a brief appearance in Chapter 7. Because it's short and well-illustrated, it's easy to follow along with the story and it holds the interest. I kind of want to read it aloud to G.