Norse Mythology Review

Title: Norse Mythology
Author: Neil Gaiman
Series: Not Applicable
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication Date: 06 March 2018
Source: Jonathan Ball Publishers
Format: Paperback
Pages: 304
Rating: 4 Stars
Reading Timeline: 25 July 2018 - 26 July 2018

Goodreads Synopsis:

Introducing an instant classic—master storyteller Neil Gaiman presents a dazzling version of the great Norse myths.
Neil Gaiman has long been inspired by ancient mythology in creating the fantastical realms 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 fashions primeval stories into a novelistic arc that begins with the genesis of the legendary nine worlds; delves into the exploits of the deities, dwarves, and giants; and culminates in Ragnarok, the twilight of the gods and the rebirth of a new time and people. Gaiman stays true to the myths while vividly reincarnating Odin, the highest of the high, wise, daring, and cunning; Thor, Odin’s son, incredibly strong yet not the wisest of gods; and Loki, the son of giants, a trickster and unsurpassable manipulator. From Gaiman’s deft and witty prose emerges the gods with their fiercely competitive natures, their susceptibility to being duped and to dupe others, and their tendency to let passion ignite their actions, making these long-ago myths breathe pungent life again

Book Review:
Pre-reading Thoughts:

I have heard amazing things about Neil Gaiman. He is the author of Coraline and I loved the movie so much. I am really interested to see his spin on Norse mythology. 

Thank you so much to Jonathan Ball Publishers for providing me with a copy of this book to review. Just a small disclaimer for those reading this review. I have received this book for free. Please note that this does not affect my opinion in any way. All thoughts are my own.

Writing Thoughts:

I really enjoyed the writing. It made the content seem lighter than what it was. It also had a really good pace. It allowed the reader to cruise through the book. It wasn't a style of writing that I typically enjoy but it was fun. Gaiman really made somewhat academic information into a story that is easy to digest and connect to.

Plot Thoughts: (Essentially the content in this case)

In Gaiman's introduction, he states that he chose certain stories to create a linear timeline and he did a really good job of this. We got to see the creation of the Norse mythology world which included the birth of the universe and the gods we sort of know today. It was interesting to see the mythology that the Norse people created as the belief system. It allowed people to learn more about a subject that has been "tainted" by the Marvel universe. I thoroughly enjoyed how everything seemed to fits almost perfectly together.

Final Thoughts:

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I definitely think that you could use this as a resource to some extent seeing as it is based on Gaiman's own research. It is something that just about anyone can read with the intent of enjoyment and research. The writing was like a cruise boat. I just seemed to progress through the book quite easily. The content was rich and enlightening whilst still being a lot of fun. I think that Gaiman has done a fantastic job with this book and I can't wait to read more. Thank you so much to Jonathan Ball Publishers for providing me with a copy of this book!

Yours in Reading,

Melleny
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