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A review by eirenophile
D'Aulaires' Book of Norse Myths by Ingri d'Aulaire, Edgar Parin d'Aulaire
3.0
I grew up with [b:D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths|79626|D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths|Ingri D'Aulaire|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170970293s/79626.jpg|891861], but despite an interest in Norse mythology never picked this one up. It accomplishes much the same thing, generically speaking, as the former Greek version, in that I finish the book with a good sense of who the important gods were and what the important stories involve. For me, this is a crucial step in learning about new mythologies, because too much information too quickly can be alienating.
On the other hand, I don't think this is nearly as good a book as [b:D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths|79626|D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths|Ingri D'Aulaire|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170970293s/79626.jpg|891861]. The illustrations are not half as compelling, and many of the stories feel warmed over, if you know what I mean.
I doubt that there are any other books out there that provide the function this one does, but I still think I would rather start out my children with [b:Gods and Goddesses of the Ancient Norse|645575|Gods and Goddesses of the Ancient Norse|Leonard Everett Fisher|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1176692323s/645575.jpg|631735], just because the illustrations are so much more appealing.
(I feel I should also note that this is not a mythology I am super excited about introducing to my hypothetical children because of the gender dynamics of the pantheon and the myths. Not to mention the whole war=awesome mentality.)
On the other hand, I don't think this is nearly as good a book as [b:D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths|79626|D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths|Ingri D'Aulaire|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170970293s/79626.jpg|891861]. The illustrations are not half as compelling, and many of the stories feel warmed over, if you know what I mean.
I doubt that there are any other books out there that provide the function this one does, but I still think I would rather start out my children with [b:Gods and Goddesses of the Ancient Norse|645575|Gods and Goddesses of the Ancient Norse|Leonard Everett Fisher|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1176692323s/645575.jpg|631735], just because the illustrations are so much more appealing.
(I feel I should also note that this is not a mythology I am super excited about introducing to my hypothetical children because of the gender dynamics of the pantheon and the myths. Not to mention the whole war=awesome mentality.)