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3.46 AVERAGE
3.46 AVERAGE
Ragnarok is the end of the world of Gods. The dreadful endgame that wipes of the old gods, the ice giants, and everything around them burns as the great fire demon Surtr is released from his prison so that he can wield his fiery sword and burn the glorious world of Gods down to ashes.
The second world war has been broken lose. Its mayhem and pandemonium all around. Fathers have left their children to serve their respective countries in the raging war. Those who have been left behind are also not safe from the wrath of the war as the enemies invade the mainland's and slowly advance towards the countryside.
The story of ragnarok ends in a very melancholic note. Where only two divine children remains. One among them is searching for Thor's mighty hammer, and the other is searching for Odin's magical chess set. With the help.of those two relics, the children would be able to recreate the world anew.
A small thin girl, whose father has left for the war to serve Britain in the ongoing rampage. She is moved to the countryside along with her relatives. She also has a book with her to accompany her in the solitude, Asgard and the Gods. She reads and sees the world around her changing, always living under uncertainty and hoping for the darkness to cease.
Set in the backdrop of the second world war, this intertwined story of the girl's reading experience and the story of ragnarok portrays the development of a character and builds a world that is as magical as it is real. It takes you on a journey to the war clad countryside of England and then swipes you away to the great halls of Valhalla in a jiffy. A truly magnificent book that has been my favorite since the time it was released. On world book day, remembering A. S. Byatt's Ragnarok, the end of the Gods.
The second world war has been broken lose. Its mayhem and pandemonium all around. Fathers have left their children to serve their respective countries in the raging war. Those who have been left behind are also not safe from the wrath of the war as the enemies invade the mainland's and slowly advance towards the countryside.
The story of ragnarok ends in a very melancholic note. Where only two divine children remains. One among them is searching for Thor's mighty hammer, and the other is searching for Odin's magical chess set. With the help.of those two relics, the children would be able to recreate the world anew.
A small thin girl, whose father has left for the war to serve Britain in the ongoing rampage. She is moved to the countryside along with her relatives. She also has a book with her to accompany her in the solitude, Asgard and the Gods. She reads and sees the world around her changing, always living under uncertainty and hoping for the darkness to cease.
Set in the backdrop of the second world war, this intertwined story of the girl's reading experience and the story of ragnarok portrays the development of a character and builds a world that is as magical as it is real. It takes you on a journey to the war clad countryside of England and then swipes you away to the great halls of Valhalla in a jiffy. A truly magnificent book that has been my favorite since the time it was released. On world book day, remembering A. S. Byatt's Ragnarok, the end of the Gods.
This is a very image rich novella. It doesn't really have a linear story but it is a recount of a girl reading myths during the Blitz. It's an interesting retelling of these myths.
Was wondering why there were so many typos and weird layouts to this book until I realised the copy I had was an uncorrected proof rather than the final product. Otherwise, I really liked this short and sweet exploration of Norse mythology and Ragnarok as they relate to other world religions/mythologies. Maybe some day in the future I'll get my hands on a finished, published version and change my score!
Note: Advance Reader Copy provided by Netgalley.
Byatt has not so much retold the Norse myths as provided an updated emotional context for the stories. She presents us with a loosely woven semi-autobiographical narrative about the "Thin Child" whose father has gone away to war. The Thin Child in turn recounts her experiences with the Norse mythology in relation to her apprehensions about the war, her father's absence, and her illness. The narrative may not provide quite enough plot for those interested in a linear and cohesive story, but the lyricism Byatt adds to the mythology is well worth the read for those unfamiliar with the stories or those looking for a more poetic version. While some parts of the narrative and myth become muddled, it works to reflect the confusion that the Thin Child must be living through, which is in turn mirrored by the general destruction and chaos of Ragnarok.
Byatt has not so much retold the Norse myths as provided an updated emotional context for the stories. She presents us with a loosely woven semi-autobiographical narrative about the "Thin Child" whose father has gone away to war. The Thin Child in turn recounts her experiences with the Norse mythology in relation to her apprehensions about the war, her father's absence, and her illness. The narrative may not provide quite enough plot for those interested in a linear and cohesive story, but the lyricism Byatt adds to the mythology is well worth the read for those unfamiliar with the stories or those looking for a more poetic version. While some parts of the narrative and myth become muddled, it works to reflect the confusion that the Thin Child must be living through, which is in turn mirrored by the general destruction and chaos of Ragnarok.
why can I not give this book 328525 stars, this is a problem!!
A S Byatt uses a girl's obsession with Norse mythology to explore our actions that are destroying Earth. She retells the myths with an eye to the god' self- destructive behaviour
informative
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
What a marvellous work! Byatt brings her story-telling skills to the task of retelling the myth of Ragnarok - the downfall of the gods - in the context of both WWII and the current ecological crisis.
She represents the Norse gods as very human - interested in fighting and fucking, fully aware of their own impending destruction, but without the imagination or intelligence to do anything about it. Loki is a metaphor for amoral science - curiosity, sharp intelligence, fascinated by the order in chaos and the chaos in order, but refusing to use that knowledge for any specific end.
Highly recommend this quick easy read - and don't forget to read Byatt's explanatory postscript.
She represents the Norse gods as very human - interested in fighting and fucking, fully aware of their own impending destruction, but without the imagination or intelligence to do anything about it. Loki is a metaphor for amoral science - curiosity, sharp intelligence, fascinated by the order in chaos and the chaos in order, but refusing to use that knowledge for any specific end.
Highly recommend this quick easy read - and don't forget to read Byatt's explanatory postscript.
Oh I really enjoyed this one! I enjoyed the way that the myth of Rangarök was interwoven with the story of the young girl living through and trying to make sense of the war raging around her.
I’ve always been fascinated with the myth of Ragnarök and with the Norse myths in general, so I’m always on the hunt for new retellings and I am so pleased that I found this one from my local library.
Byatt’s retelling of the myths leading up to Ragnarök are very easy and accessible for anyone who may not have had any background in the myths before, which just helps to draw you in and keep you invested. Even though they are interspersed with the perspective of the thin, young girl you never lose sight of the Norse stories that are the basis of the retelling.
Highly recommended.
I’ve always been fascinated with the myth of Ragnarök and with the Norse myths in general, so I’m always on the hunt for new retellings and I am so pleased that I found this one from my local library.
Byatt’s retelling of the myths leading up to Ragnarök are very easy and accessible for anyone who may not have had any background in the myths before, which just helps to draw you in and keep you invested. Even though they are interspersed with the perspective of the thin, young girl you never lose sight of the Norse stories that are the basis of the retelling.
Highly recommended.
informative
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot