Norse Mythology

Really great modern retelling. It's interesting to read it alongside the Prose Edda and catch the small tonal differences and bit of artistic licence Gaiman takes in interpreting each tale.

The gods live, and they die, and they live again.
Have not read such a great book in a long, long time. Neil Gaiman's writing is absolutely refreshing. ( )

fast, easy read but also very enjoyable introduction to Norse mythology ( )

To be clear: my rating is on the Audible audio version of this book. I don't know if I would have rated it as high had I been reading it myself, because I would have likely gotten distracted by looking up the pronunciation of the various names. Having Mr. Gaiman read the names to me was much more enjoyable than struggling through them on my own. (Names like Thor and Odin would be no problem. It's the ones like Yggdrasil and Fjorgynn and einherjar which would have given me trouble.)

I do appreciate the way the information is presented here, too. It feels more similar to how the tales would have been told originally (especially when enjoyed in the audio book format), AKA verbally. It feels like stories that would be told around the fire at night before bed. It's not as dry as some mythology books are. (I have never understood how mythology tales can be made dull, but some authors have done just that.)

This is well worth the read if you're interested in Norse mythology. Just remember that, as in most mythology, that the classic gods are not as sanitized as we are often told about them now. Thor and Odin are not always "good" in the sense that we are used to thinking of "good". They do selfish things. Don't expect to see the Marvel version of Thor in this book, because what you get is a truer, more real Thor. ( )

Gaiman's engaging style reminds of oral storytelling, with all of its flash and flair. There's a bit of an info dump at the beginning, but past that the stories are quick and satisfying. All in all, it is a well-written, albeit unexceptional take on Norse folklore. ( )