Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman

I've always loved mythology. The different deities and tales of heroes, horrifying monsters and epic battles all coming together to explain how the world works and why things are as they are...*sigh* I just love it! While I was pretty well versed in Greek mythology in my younger days, Norse mythology was always a little more difficult for me to get into. But nowadays with the Marvel version of Thor smack dab in the public eye and it's latest installment, Thor: Ragnarok, being one of last year's biggest box-office hits, Norse mythology is steadily coming back into the public eye. Therefore, I decided to brush up on these ancient Norse tales and, thankfully, we had this new book by Neil Gaiman to guide me along the way.

In this book, Gaiman brings us the Nordic tales of Odin, the All-Father, and all the gods of the Norse pantheon and their many tales. We learn how the world came to be, how all the worlds are connected by Yggdrasil, the World Tree, and the various heroic feats of Thor, Loki, the twins Frey and Freya, Heimdall, Baldr, and many more. Battles with fiendish frost giants and also cunning schemes of trickery all coming together tell us how valleys are forged, why the seasons change, all coming together until the final battle in which nothing shall remain and all of time will end.

Something I always thought was pretty interesting about Norse mythology is that it included the end of times. It spoke of a future in which all these almighty, worshiped deities would some day meet their end along with all of humanity.  As the tales found in the mythology span from the beginning of times to the end of times, Gaiman is able to tell an almost cohesive story with a beginning, middle, and end. Most books about mythology are just a cluster of stories and bios about the gods and heroes described in them. While Odin, Thor, and Loki do get bios at the beginning of the book, it's just so what we know they're the key players in these stories. It's meant to read more like a normal story, not just a textbook. Thankfully, it succeeds. Because of the linear set-up, the short stories of heroic deeds and origins come together to form a story that is easily followed and enjoyed.

Gaiman has such a way with telling these classic tales. He gives each character their own voice and tells the stories with an added flair all his own. For example, in the beginning of the book, as it tells the tale of how Odin lost his eye, it would have been easy to simply say "Odin gave up his eye in exchange for wisdom". Instead, Gaiman writes how Odin was told he'd have to give up his eye in exchange for the knowledge he desires and responds with "Give me a knife." Isn't that just the coolest thing you've ever heard? It gives Odin character and gives us an insight into who he is. He's not just a thing to be talked about. The book describes him as a man who is determined and a serious warrior who kicks butt and lets nothing stand in his way. He breathes life into these legendary characters and I just loved it.

Final Verdict
I had a blast catching up on my Norse mythology. It brought back that young kid in me who just loves learning about gods and heroes and if anyone wants to either learn or re-learn about Norse mythology, this is the book to do it with. Great language, great prose, and a great addition to the Shelf of Recommendation.

Have you read the book? What did you think? Comment below and share your thoughts. Please make sure to Follow Midnight Readings for instant updates. Have a book you'd like me to read or would like to make a recommendation? Contact me on goodreads at https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/65448711-michelle-beer

If you would like to read my book, Powerless, you can find it at:

Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/Powerless-Shelley-Miller/dp/1543482546/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1519062043&sr=8-1&keywords=powerless+by+shelley+miller

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Next Time: The secret is in the slipper....