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4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
More lighthearted than many of Neil Gaiman's novels, but the tone complements the myths he retells very well. As per usual, his dry sense of humor and his unconventional descriptions bring his characters to life. I have never enjoyed a book of myths this much.
adventurous
Going into this book having no clue about Norse Gods (except from what I got from Marvel movies) was the best way to read this gem. Gaiman has put together a re-telling of Norse Mythological stories in the most accessible way possible which is equal parts hilarious and awe-inspiring.
The stories of the Gods - chiefly, Odin, Thor, Loki - and the monsters that surround Midgard (who are all invariably children of Loki) are short and informative and provide more than a cursory understanding of the body of myths of the North Germanic peoples.
How Thor got Mjolnir, his hammer; Odin his Mead of Poetry, his wisdom; Loki his vengeance - there's a lot that kept me entertained. These Norse stories, though in no way describe their impact on the religion, do have definitive moral angles (and metaphysical inklings). The most readily intelligible, at least for me, was how Odin's own wisdom and far-sight, his fear of what's to come became his own undoing and those of other Gods at Ragnarok, spurred on in no small part by Loki's natural mischief.
Quick, 1-2 day read (for slow readers like myself).
The stories of the Gods - chiefly, Odin, Thor, Loki - and the monsters that surround Midgard (who are all invariably children of Loki) are short and informative and provide more than a cursory understanding of the body of myths of the North Germanic peoples.
How Thor got Mjolnir, his hammer; Odin his Mead of Poetry, his wisdom; Loki his vengeance - there's a lot that kept me entertained. These Norse stories, though in no way describe their impact on the religion, do have definitive moral angles (and metaphysical inklings). The most readily intelligible, at least for me, was how Odin's own wisdom and far-sight, his fear of what's to come became his own undoing and those of other Gods at Ragnarok, spurred on in no small part by Loki's natural mischief.
Quick, 1-2 day read (for slow readers like myself).
Read during hospital stay, on second attempt. I lose @neilhimself, he is brilliant in both writing style and his narration. Highly recommended.
I'm not at liberty to say whether these were truthful adaptations of the ancient myths, but they were certainly fun to read and had that certain gods-being-dicks flair and ritualistic feeling I often get from myths and legends, so I liked it for sure.
Listening to Gaiman telling stories about stupid and smart gods with there cruel and kind judgments, about how annoyingly smart Loki is and how enormously stupid Thor is yet how the gods almost always depends on them
And explaining why the sky is blue or why there's bad poetry in the world according to the norse myth is honestly the most magical experience that you can ever ask for.
And explaining why the sky is blue or why there's bad poetry in the world according to the norse myth is honestly the most magical experience that you can ever ask for.
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
A comprehensive and entertaining collection of stories from Norse Mythology. It has an explanation in the beginning for the origins of most things, and then goes on to tell snippets of the history of the gods. While some of the names and places can get long and confusing, Gaiman does an excellent job of captivating his audience and making mythology fun and entertaining.
fast-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
adventurous
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes