Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
This is the third Gaiman book my boys and I have read together. He is a delightful storyteller and I hope he continues to write tales that children and adults can enjoy together. Reader suggestion: it would be beneficial to have a basic grounding in Norse Mythology to get the most enjoyment out of this novella.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Another excellent piece of fiction from Gaiman, who is my favorite children's/young adult author out there right now (not counting Rowling who is done with that genre at least for the time being). This one is quite short, and it ended up fitting nicely with the Sea of Trolls trilogy which I had just read as well. Norse mythology has come into our own culture, often without us knowing it, so it is interesting to notice parallels with things like Lord of the Rings for example.
For anyone who has read the Graveyard Book, did you find it a bit odd that the name of the main character boy is Odd in this book and was Bod in the GB? What is the next protagonist going to be named, Cod?
I also listened to this one on audiobook, and Gaiman could seriously read audiobooks for his primary living. Other times that I have listened to authors reading their own work it has been absolutely dreadful (for example Anne Lamott--just too burnt out on drugs to be a good reader despite her writing being so good).
Anyway, I highly recommend this one, and I won't give away any of the story here.
For anyone who has read the Graveyard Book, did you find it a bit odd that the name of the main character boy is Odd in this book and was Bod in the GB? What is the next protagonist going to be named, Cod?
I also listened to this one on audiobook, and Gaiman could seriously read audiobooks for his primary living. Other times that I have listened to authors reading their own work it has been absolutely dreadful (for example Anne Lamott--just too burnt out on drugs to be a good reader despite her writing being so good).
Anyway, I highly recommend this one, and I won't give away any of the story here.
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Winter hung in there, like an invalid refusing to die. Day after grey day the ice stayed hard; the world remained unfriendly and cold.
This book is a gem of children's literature. A short story based in Norse mythology and taking place in Norway (well, for the first half) it lends a surprising eye to what life was like for the people we now call the Vikings. Those who have the slightest interest in the old tales will appreciate it, no matter how old they are. (Particularly if you like [b:How to Train Your Dragon|352262|How to Train Your Dragon (How to Train Your Dragon, #1)|Cressida Cowell|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1431930187s/352262.jpg|1484561].)
The story follows Odd - a cheerful boy with awful luck - as he loses his father, endures the shattering of his leg beneath a falling tree, and encounters three rather different beings in the woods who inspire him to undertake a quest for the good of those creatures, and to bring about the end of the winter before his village dies of cold, starvation, or just plain ill-temper. I loved the sunniness of Odd's personality, his quiet, pensive way, and his compassion for others who were not like himself. As a story that shows a young boy discovering his identity, this book stands on its own; add jotuns (frost giants) and it's even better.
Also, the art is amazing.
This book is a gem of children's literature. A short story based in Norse mythology and taking place in Norway (well, for the first half) it lends a surprising eye to what life was like for the people we now call the Vikings. Those who have the slightest interest in the old tales will appreciate it, no matter how old they are. (Particularly if you like [b:How to Train Your Dragon|352262|How to Train Your Dragon (How to Train Your Dragon, #1)|Cressida Cowell|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1431930187s/352262.jpg|1484561].)
The story follows Odd - a cheerful boy with awful luck - as he loses his father, endures the shattering of his leg beneath a falling tree, and encounters three rather different beings in the woods who inspire him to undertake a quest for the good of those creatures, and to bring about the end of the winter before his village dies of cold, starvation, or just plain ill-temper. I loved the sunniness of Odd's personality, his quiet, pensive way, and his compassion for others who were not like himself. As a story that shows a young boy discovering his identity, this book stands on its own; add jotuns (frost giants) and it's even better.
Also, the art is amazing.
A fun fairy tale using Norse Mythology as the framework.