jsmithborne 's review for:

Ragnarok by A.S. Byatt

4.0

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This is another fantastic book from Canongate's Myths Series, which also includes Jeanette Winterson's Weight (about Atlas) and Margaret Atwood's Penelopiad (about Odysseus' wife, Penelope). As a long-time fan of Norse mythology, I really loved the depth of description here. Jomungandr's growth from a little ocean snake to a world-encircling monster, Frigga's asking everything on the planet not to harm Baldur--so vivid and compelling. I wasn't in love with "the thin girl"--I guess the author was going for a mythical feeling to the modern frame part of the story, but it just felt affected and false for me. At any rate, I need to read deeper into this series--so many great authors telling so many great stories!