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rfiddlesticks's review against another edition
5.0
I read this while reading Connolly's The Fragility of Things. It is frightening how the two intertwine and amplify each other.
melissa_who_reads's review against another edition
4.0
Chewy. The myth of the end of the Norse Gods, intertwined with the understanding of "the thin child," evacuated to the English countryside during wartime, and her knowledge of the happenings of adults. Interesting for the words Byatt uses -- she loves the words of the descriptions of the gods and their world, the things they eat, the places they inhabit. Also for the thin child's comparison of the Norse myths versus the Christianity she is asked to believe in at church, and her refuge in the books of her mother.
Some nice insights into the benefits of war-time versus the return to peace: they move back to their home city, and the thin child with asthma suffers, as does her mother, who had thrived in war-time, teaching as the men were all off to war -and now in peacetime became a prisoner in her own house, a "housewife," and consequently suffers from depression and other ailments.
In many ways, a lovely little book.
Some nice insights into the benefits of war-time versus the return to peace: they move back to their home city, and the thin child with asthma suffers, as does her mother, who had thrived in war-time, teaching as the men were all off to war -and now in peacetime became a prisoner in her own house, a "housewife," and consequently suffers from depression and other ailments.
In many ways, a lovely little book.
hatto's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
jbrice's review against another edition
adventurous
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
desireerossoni's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
thebobsphere's review against another edition
2.0
A.S Byatt's take on Norse mythology is a mixed bag. It is clever, I liked the way she compared Norse mythology with Christian spirituality and integrated that with a girl living in Britain during the second world war and comparing WWII as a modern day Ragnarok. I also thought that Byatt managed to squeeze in a whole saga in 150 pages was admirable. There's also an afterword written by Byatt, which is fantastic.
However my problem with this is the stilted prose. At time it verges on the dry and boring, whereas Norse mythology is anything but. Generally Byatt's writing style has an elegant verve and that was missing. If you're beginner to the world of Norse myths, I suggest you try the D'aulaires volume of Scandinavian mythology, which is a delight.
However my problem with this is the stilted prose. At time it verges on the dry and boring, whereas Norse mythology is anything but. Generally Byatt's writing style has an elegant verve and that was missing. If you're beginner to the world of Norse myths, I suggest you try the D'aulaires volume of Scandinavian mythology, which is a delight.
patchworkbunny's review against another edition
5.0
Ragnarök is the latest edition to Canongate's excellent Myths series, all standalone novels by a variety of the world's finest writers. Written by A.S. Byatt of The Children's Book fame, it tells the Nordic story of the Judgement of the Gods or the end of the world.
Told through the eyes of a girl in wartime Britain, known only as the thin child, Ragnarök is a good introduction to Nordic myths. The thin child finds a book entitled Asgard and the Gods in the house she is evacuated to and she shares those myths with the reader. With her father fighting in the war, the thin girl is going through her very own Ragnarök, knowing that the end of her world must surely be coming.
The novel is not really about the thin girl though, it is more a collection of myths that lead up to Ragnarök. From the creation story of Yggdrasil, a great tree whose ecosystem was the world, to the tale of the great serpent Jörmungandr, who encircled the world. Like the thin child, Loki has always been my favourite player in the Nordic myths and this mischevious demi-god plays a big part in most of them.
Reading this, you will get the feeling of familiarity, even if you don't know the myths themselves. It really does emphasis that myths are borrowed and adapted throughout cultures. The Nordic Hel will have shaped the Christianity's Hell of eternal torment much more then the Greek underworld would have, where the Elysian fields were the reward of heroes.
The author's thoughts on myths are also included and are well worth a read. My copy had place markers for the illustrations so I can't comment on those but am excited the see how it is illustrated. The bibliography is full of interesting titles if you wish to read more.
Told through the eyes of a girl in wartime Britain, known only as the thin child, Ragnarök is a good introduction to Nordic myths. The thin child finds a book entitled Asgard and the Gods in the house she is evacuated to and she shares those myths with the reader. With her father fighting in the war, the thin girl is going through her very own Ragnarök, knowing that the end of her world must surely be coming.
The novel is not really about the thin girl though, it is more a collection of myths that lead up to Ragnarök. From the creation story of Yggdrasil, a great tree whose ecosystem was the world, to the tale of the great serpent Jörmungandr, who encircled the world. Like the thin child, Loki has always been my favourite player in the Nordic myths and this mischevious demi-god plays a big part in most of them.
Reading this, you will get the feeling of familiarity, even if you don't know the myths themselves. It really does emphasis that myths are borrowed and adapted throughout cultures. The Nordic Hel will have shaped the Christianity's Hell of eternal torment much more then the Greek underworld would have, where the Elysian fields were the reward of heroes.
The author's thoughts on myths are also included and are well worth a read. My copy had place markers for the illustrations so I can't comment on those but am excited the see how it is illustrated. The bibliography is full of interesting titles if you wish to read more.
flailingcactus's review against another edition
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
bluestarfish's review against another edition
5.0
The thin child is a war evacuee who is given 'Asgard and the Gods' by her mother and is drawn into the myths, lost and found in them, delighting in the beauty and gory. As I was reading this short novel. The "retelling" of the Norse myths is bound in the experience of this young girls reading of them and is deceptively simple. The lyrical telling is gorgeous and urgent. Ragnarok and the end of the world/gods is a myth that resonates with me right now in a deep, deep way. There is a helpful note at the back about myths too (unlike 'The Pilgrims Progress' they are not parables).
This was a recommendation from a colleague and I am very grateful for having had this book thrust in my hands.
This was a recommendation from a colleague and I am very grateful for having had this book thrust in my hands.