A retelling of the Norse mythology. I'm not really into fantasy but was interested in this book for two reasons, I thought Norse myths might be interesting and I like A.S. Byatt.
Was it a good enough reason to pick up the book? Not really, the stories were not interesting enough for me to really get engaged.
The best part of the book were the author's "Thoughts on Myth" at the end of the stories where she explains where certain words come from and why she was re-writing something that has been written already a hundred times before.
Still, the author has a great way of telling any story, I guess. That's why I still enjoyed reading the book.
From the back cover:
"The gods have abandoned the earth. A great battle is afoot that could destroy everything. The time of Ragnarok has begun...
Into her account of the end of the gods, the Booker Prize-winning author A. S. Byatt weaves the story of a young girl evacuated to the British countryside during the Second World War. Struggling to make sense of her life, she is given a book of Norse myth, and her inner and outer worlds are transformed."
I have also read "Possession" by A.S. Byatt. It is one of my favourite books.
I like A.S. Byatt so much and was excited to read this one too, but I didn't like it at all. I couldn't even finish it, so disappointed.
ReplyDeleteI have just added that Possession" is one of my favourite books. I did finish this one but I do understand your disappointment very well. Which of her other novels would you recommend? I am a little weary of trying another one now. :(
DeleteHave a good day,
Marianne
With the exception of The Shadow of the Sun, on my list for this year, and Morpho Euginia I have read them all. Possession was my first and I fell in love with her writing. It's a good place to start.
ReplyDeleteThank you for that, Janet, I will look out for the other ones.
DeleteWhat are you reading at the moment?
Have a good week,
Marianne
Among other things I reading Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver and Wild by Cheryl Srtayed
ReplyDeleteThank you, Janet,
DeleteI have not heard about "Wild" but loved "Prodigal Summer". I'm a big Barbara Kingsolver fan. Have you read any of her other novels?
Have a good day,
Marianne