Norse Mythology

HarperAudio

Norse Mythology
Neil Gaiman
2017

The Summary
"Neil Gaiman has long been inspired by ancient mythology in creating the fantastical reams of his fiction.  Now he turns his attention back to the source, presenting a bravura rendition of the great northern tales.

"In Norse Mythology, Gaiman stays true to the myths in envisioning the major Norse pantheon:  Odin, the highest of the high, wise, daring and cunning; Thor, Odin's son, incredibly strong yet not the wisest of the gods; and Loki--son of a giant--blood brother to Odin and a trickster and unsurpassable manipulator.

"Gaiman fashions these primeval stories into a novelist arc that begins with the genesis of the legendary nine worlds and delves into the exploits of deities, dwarfs, and giants.  Through Gaiman's deft and witty prose emerge these gods with their fiercely competitive natures, their susceptibility to being duped and duping others, and their tendency to let passion ignite their actions, making these long-ago myths breathe pungent life again."

The Good
I listened to Norse Mythology as an audiobook and, personally, I think that's the only way to enjoy Neil Gaiman's latest book.  I absolutely adored Norse Mythology, and I loved listening to Neil Gaiman narrate it.  It has quickly become one of my favorite audiobooks, simply because Gaiman is a master storyteller whether he's using the written word or reciting it aloud.

There's something magical about Norse Mythology.  I mean, you can really tell that Norse myth means something to Gaiman.  He's poured his heart and soul into telling these stories and telling them well, and he's created something that's both familiar and wholly unique.

Moreover, I loved the way Gaiman told the story.  I'm not just talking about the language and cadence of the text; I'm talking about the way he spoke, the way he gave life to his characters by changing tones and inflections to give them depth, real meaning.

For instance, I could tell the difference between Loki and Thor with just a word, because Gaiman imbued them with such distinct personalities.  Likewise, I could envision the enormity and ferocity of Fenris just through his harsh, graveled tones; or the haughty elegance of Freya; or the cool, calculating intelligence of Loki.

Personally, I thought Norse Mythology was fantastic.  After reading The Gospel of Loki by Joanne Harris, I have found myself captivated by Norse myth more and more--and Norse Mythology only lifts these myths higher in my esteem.  Although I know all the stories, Norse Mythology is a wonderful addition to any collection and it's great for readers who are both familiar with the myths and those who are just starting.

The Bad
No complaints.

I absolutely loved every minute of Norse Mythology, all 389 of them.

The Ugly
I'll say the same thing that I said about Joanna Harris' novel:  the gods are cruel, brutal, violent, and licentious.  More often than not, they're terrible people.  I found it difficult to like any of them, plus it's best not to get attached.  If you know anything about Ragnarok, then you know how things are going to end for the gods.