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3.46 AVERAGE
3.46 AVERAGE
If only I had this book when I took my myth class. This book was beautiful. The language just flows over everything, good, bad and ugly. I also love that set over the myth was "the thin child's" struggles, thoughts and imagination. Beautiful.
This time of year makes me think of poetry and Norse mythology and after seeing "Thor: Ragnarok," I decided to reread this book (and leave a review this time!)
It's a very poetic experience with a lot of list-style description that somehow doesn't seem boring even though it repeats. It really grounds you in the world while simultaneously keeping you in this dream-like state. The book doesn't cover all of the Norse myths, just the ones necessary to relate to Ragnarok with some very interesting characters sketches, especially of Loki. Yes, Loki is a big reason why I reread this. As I child I'd never liked or understood Loki's character, but now as an adult, I'm seeing a lot more nuance and complexity and purpose that simply went over my head. I was not nearly as precocious as "the thin child in wartime" whom we read along with.
So if you like Norse myths, lyrical literature, or just want to see a different portrait of our favorite mischief-maker, I definitely recommend "Ragnarok: The End of the Gods."
It's a very poetic experience with a lot of list-style description that somehow doesn't seem boring even though it repeats. It really grounds you in the world while simultaneously keeping you in this dream-like state. The book doesn't cover all of the Norse myths, just the ones necessary to relate to Ragnarok with some very interesting characters sketches, especially of Loki. Yes, Loki is a big reason why I reread this. As I child I'd never liked or understood Loki's character, but now as an adult, I'm seeing a lot more nuance and complexity and purpose that simply went over my head. I was not nearly as precocious as "the thin child in wartime" whom we read along with.
So if you like Norse myths, lyrical literature, or just want to see a different portrait of our favorite mischief-maker, I definitely recommend "Ragnarok: The End of the Gods."
Not a good pick for listening on audio. It was like listening to a college professor rambling on and on. I couldn't keep track of what was going on and with whom. Not recommended!
I love A S Byatt but really struggled with following the myths. Beautiful language. Probably worth a re-read.
I got half-way through and that was it. In theory, I should have liked it: a merging of the Norse mythology with the story of a young girl during the bombing of Britain. But it just didn't hold my attention, and I found the story forgettable. Which is never how I've found Byatt. I liked all 700 (900?) pages of the Children's Book, but this little Ragnarok was too dense (or too dull) for me.
challenging
dark
sad
medium-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Beautifully written, very bravely told metaphor in true A. S. Byatt fashion. Ever so slightly clunky at times but still worth the read.
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A nice enough retelling of the Norse myths, interspersed with descriptions of how they are impacting a young girl's worldview. Nothing very new. But the nature descriptions, lists (a very Norse motif) of kinds of fish, kinds of plants, are lovely and poetic.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Death
Minor: War
Well told tale as myth for the new millennium. Disturbing, likely prescient depiction. Descriptive, elaborate, rich writing.
From the Afterword:
"We are a species of animal which is bringing about the end of the world we were born into. Not out of evil or malice, or not mainly, but because of a lopsided mixture of extraordinary cleverness, extraordinary greed, extraordinary proliferation of our kind, and a biologically built in short-sightedness."
From the Afterword:
"We are a species of animal which is bringing about the end of the world we were born into. Not out of evil or malice, or not mainly, but because of a lopsided mixture of extraordinary cleverness, extraordinary greed, extraordinary proliferation of our kind, and a biologically built in short-sightedness."
None of her novels has quite rivaled my first favorite, Possession, but this was very close!