Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman

 

304 pages

Reviewed by... Owen Powell

You can buy Norse Mythology...Here

You can find out more about Neil Gaiman...Here

The Blurb...

The great Norse myths, which have inspired so much of modern fiction, are dazzlingly retold by Neil Gaiman. Tales of dwarfs and frost giants, of treasure and magic, and of Asgard, home to the gods: Odin the all-father, highest and oldest of the Aesir; his mighty son Thor, whose hammer Mjollnir makes the mountain giants tremble; Loki, wily and handsome, reliably unreliable in his lusts; and Freya, more beautiful than the sun or the moon, who spurns those who seek to control her.

From the dawn of the world to the twilight of the gods, this is a thrilling, vivid retelling of the Norse myths from the award-winning, bestselling Neil Gaiman.

My Review...

We’re all aware of the old saying ‘Never judge a book by it’s cover’ but in the case of Norse Mythology, I’d say it’s pretty safe to assume what you’ll be getting out of this one. Norse Mythology is a collection of tales and myths from (You guessed it) Norse mythology, regaled in a novelistic format by acclaimed author Neil Gaiman. As someone with a soft spot for all types of fantasy (Mythology included) and as a Gaiman virgin (Stop it) I was quite excited to delve right into this book.

Prior to reading this book, I was rather familiar with the topic of Norse mythology already, due to having seen the Marvel movies and played the brilliant God of War videogame. Unsurprisingly, all the characters I knew and loved were featured in this book. The Mighty Thor who wields the hammer Mjolnir, his dastardly and deceitful brother Loki, and the Allfather Odin all have significant parts to play in these tales. The collection of tales themselves are brief but each one is just as interesting and amusing as the last, ranging from the humorous to the grotesque. All the myths and legends within these pages convene in the climactic final chapter regarding Ragnarok- the end of the world. 

But the first thing that struck me in this book was the pacing, which was considerably quicker than what I’m used to. One minute you’re reading about one story, then in a few more pages you’re onto the next (I’m exaggerating here of course, but not by much) Normally I would count this as a negative aspect, but honestly the quick pacing does compliment this book as a whole. I’d liken it to a children’s book of nursery rhymes or fables but for an older audience. Instead of reading about Humpty Dumpty falling off a wall, you’re reading about Surtr and his flaming sword of death which burns so brightly that no mortal can look upon it. This type of pacing makes Norse Mythology an extremely light and easy read. There are no arduous details and not much lore to get your head around, you are given only what you need to know. Unlike other conventional books that we’re more accustomed to, you don’t have to completely submerge yourself into the world of this one. The writing is accessible to almost anyone - Simply pick up, read and enjoy. This, to me, was one of the biggest strengths of Norse Mythology, while also being the biggest detriment. Confusing, I know.

Here’s the thing; I like immersion in my stories. I like to build connections with the characters and live in the same world they do. I like being fully ensnared by intriguing plots and dialogues. Having read the blurb, I assumed that’s what this book was going to be like. I’d have thought the mystical land of Asgard and all the drama between it’s Gods would have lent itself quite well to that immersive format (I guess you can’t judge a book by it’s cover after all) Although Norse Mythology wasn’t entirely what I had hoped it to be, I wasn’t really disappointed in it either. I still had an engaging, educational and enjoyable time reading these stories. The stories themselves, although brief, will have you debating whether it’s time for you to go to bed or whether there’s time for just one more chapter.

Essentially, I’m torn on this one. I did enjoy Norse Mythology for what it was, a rapid retelling of the exploits of the Norse Gods. However, I can’t help thinking whether or not this book would have benefited from a slower pace and a little more immersion.

Selected Quotes...

"Because,” said Thor, “when something goes wrong, the first thing I always think is, it is Loki’s fault. It saves a lot of time."

"He said nothing: seldom do those who are silent make mistakes."

"That was the thing about Loki. You resented him even when you were at your most grateful, and you were grateful to him even when you hated him the most."

"The Norse myths are the myths of a chilly place, with long, long winter nights and endless summer days, myths of a people who did not entirely trust or even like their gods, although they respected and feared them."

If you like this, then you may like this

• Sea of Trolls by Nancy Farmer
• Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman
• The Gospel of Loki by Joanne M Harris

About the author...

Neil Gaiman is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than twenty books, including Norse Mythology, Neverwhere, and The Graveyard Book. Among his numerous literary awards are the Newbery and Carnegie medals, and the Hugo, Nebula, World Fantasy, and Will Eisner awards. He is a Professor in the Arts at Bard College.