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3.46 AVERAGE
3.46 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Personally, the parts that shone the most were Loki's passages (particularly his capture), the thin child's contemporary experiences with war (and her own war of attrition that she fights between reality and her imagination), and 'Homo Homini Lupis Est'. In those parts, the prose flowed beautifully and felt especially vivid, with the insinuation of man replacing Fenrir's role as "swallowers of the earth" being a particular high point.
Unfortunately, I feel like this work falls victim to it's own abundance; it tries to do too many things at once. It's an allegory of our role in climate change, of war and peace, and a manifesto on the machinations of myth. All brilliant ideas, especially when tied to the story of Ragnarök, but it just felt like too much on one plate. It's a shame because if one of those elements had been taken out, it would have been much easier to digest and thus a 5-star read.
As always, A.S. Byatt's writing is beautifully visceral.
Unfortunately, I feel like this work falls victim to it's own abundance; it tries to do too many things at once. It's an allegory of our role in climate change, of war and peace, and a manifesto on the machinations of myth. All brilliant ideas, especially when tied to the story of Ragnarök, but it just felt like too much on one plate. It's a shame because if one of those elements had been taken out, it would have been much easier to digest and thus a 5-star read.
As always, A.S. Byatt's writing is beautifully visceral.
"The thin child believed in the eternal recurrence of growing things, and in weather." p. 167
Review soon. Lots of time spent in transit, little time at home not spent doing schoolwork or housework these days.
My opinion has improved upon finishing the book, but I still think my expectations were too high. The wartime experience of the child should have gotten more page time, as it had potential to be more interesting than a faithful retelling of some Norse myths.
challenging
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
sad
slow-paced
3.5 Stars.
I'm still looking for a Norse mythology retelling that really takes my breath away, and while Byatt's Ragnarok was not quite that, it was still a diverting read. I did enjoy how she included her own first encounters with the stories of Odin, Loki, Thor and Co. in this novella, her own experiences and interpretations of the characters and tales.
I'm still looking for a Norse mythology retelling that really takes my breath away, and while Byatt's Ragnarok was not quite that, it was still a diverting read. I did enjoy how she included her own first encounters with the stories of Odin, Loki, Thor and Co. in this novella, her own experiences and interpretations of the characters and tales.
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I read this for my March 2021 challenge of only reading books by women writers for Women's History month! You can read more about my experience here!
In part a meditation on the nature of myth and religion. My enjoyment of this, overall, came less from the story and much more from Byatt's absolutely lovely writing.
And also how much I love Loki.
I really love Loki.
In part a meditation on the nature of myth and religion. My enjoyment of this, overall, came less from the story and much more from Byatt's absolutely lovely writing.
And also how much I love Loki.
I really love Loki.