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A review by thisotherbookaccount
Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman
2.0
I don't blame Neil Gaiman for this, since he's basically rewriting actual Norse mythology, but this book is just full of nonsensical farce. Every character — Thor, Odin, Loki — is a childish asshole with nothing better to do than drinking and eating all day. Every story is perpetuated by something stupid that Thor does, or something mischievous Loki does, and some other god has to go solve their problems.
Here is the basic premise of a story. Someone's special thing gets stolen, and someone is angry. He goes find it, and discovers that evil giant person has stolen the thing. Evil giant person said he has stolen the special thing, but will only give it back if the angry god person convinces a goddess to marry the evil giant person.
All the stories are these pointless, silly games that they are playing with one another.
That is not to say that none of the stories are interesting. There are some small little gems in here for sure. But overall, the real point of this book is really just to make Norse mythology somewhat more accessible to the general audience. Most of these stories, when you get down to the core of them, are just sort of mildly amusing.
If you enjoy a cast of childish dickheads playing god, this is the book for you. Gaiman said many of these stories are at risk of being forgotten. Maybe they are better off that way.
Here is the basic premise of a story. Someone's special thing gets stolen, and someone is angry. He goes find it, and discovers that evil giant person has stolen the thing. Evil giant person said he has stolen the special thing, but will only give it back if the angry god person convinces a goddess to marry the evil giant person.
All the stories are these pointless, silly games that they are playing with one another.
That is not to say that none of the stories are interesting. There are some small little gems in here for sure. But overall, the real point of this book is really just to make Norse mythology somewhat more accessible to the general audience. Most of these stories, when you get down to the core of them, are just sort of mildly amusing.
If you enjoy a cast of childish dickheads playing god, this is the book for you. Gaiman said many of these stories are at risk of being forgotten. Maybe they are better off that way.