i enjoyed this book and have already recommended this title to a co-worker at the library who enjoys mythology and folklore. Neil Gaiman is a tricky author for, by all accounts he should be my favorite author and I keep picking up his books because I'm sure I haven't found the right one yet. While I enjoyed this book, I'm still on the hunt for a Neil Gaiman book that grabs my attention and doesn't let go.

I was not able to read this prior to the release date however I have purchased the book and audio for my library. I am looking forward to listening to the audio version very soon.

Norse Mythology is a new favorite. Neil Gaiman is a master story teller.

Neil Gaiman is one of the most dearly loved fantasy authors
of the last half century.
His books have always held an almost mythic quality
to them. It is not unfair to he fashions modern myths.
When he turns his considerable talent actual myths
the result was destined to be amazing.
That Gaiman has loved these tales entire life is blazingly obvious.
His re telling here is a wonderful tribute to these stories
of Gods and monsters that still enthrall us even after all this time.

I enjoyed this book. Gaiman had a nice writing style. I had just finished a book on Norse mythology by Kevin Crossley-Holland and the difference was readily apparent. Gaiman's version was much lighter, and with a sense of humor while Crossley-Holland's was in a more formal, academic style.

Neil Gaiman has chosen to retell the stories of the Norse myths - about Odin and Thor and Loki and others and has managed the collection in a nearly chronological order. These tales have been passed down through the ages and he has done an excellent job of researching the source materials and creating and enjoyable reading experience. Often these stories are not the romanticized Hollywood versions we are familiar with but the harsh cold true viking versions. This is an enjoyable read for the Norse novice and those who are more familiar with the stories. This is an excellent collection of Norse Mythology.

Honestly I don't know a whole lot about Norse Mythology. But being a huge Gaiman fan and a fan of his novel American Gods I was very interested to learn more . the stories are witty and entertaining. I loved reading about this world. I quite liked reading about Loki and his shenanigans. All in all a very enjoyable fast read

In this book Neil Gaiman does exactly what I count on Neil Gaiman to do, which is to remind me why I love reading so much. He can sweep you right into a story and that is exactly what happened to me while reading the retelling of these myths. Very enjoyable reading.

This book was written by Neil Gaiman, it was awesome.

Neil Gaiman is my favorite modern writer. This book is an outstanding example of why he is so beloved. He turns Norse mythology into an enjoyable foray into adventure and the human psyche. I especially loved the way he portrayed characters. Thor was my favorite. Gaiman struck the perfect chord and the result was hilarious. Thank you, Mr. Gaiman, for giving us this book.

I received this as an ARC from Netgalley.

When I first heard of this book, I thought Gaiman was going to do something similar to American Gods--doing his own versions and twists of the Norse myths in a modern world. I was slightly disappointed to know that it was Gaiman's voice to the actual Norse mythos.

Don't get me wrong, I love Gaiman and it was still beautiful to read, but when I started reading the book, it surprised me and I think that's why I wasn't enraptured as I probably would have been if I'd known.

However, I would still highly recommend the book. Neil Gaiman definitely knows his stuff about Norse folk. And his retelling (revision?) of the myths is beautiful, entertaining, and interesting.

If you don't know anything of Norse mythology, it may seem super weird. After all, Loki turns into a mare and births an eight-legged horse. Thor dresses up as a woman to trick a giant who wants to marry Freya--the most beautiful goddess. And there's multiple beer runs where shenanigans ensue. But, this is legit Norse mythos. Their gods had flaws; like Tyr, who had one hand, and Hod was blind. They also had some serious personality flaws too, but that is way too complicated to sum up in a simple review.

I loved reading what was basically a modernized version of the Eddas, the literary works of old Norse, but it just fell a bit short for me when compared to other works of his--and I've read a lot of Gaiman.

Neil Gaiman is a beloved and award-winning author who has a new book called NORSE MYTHOLOGY. In it, he provides a retelling of numerous myths, explaining the Norse Gods and sharing their stories, whether it be about Thor's hammer, Loki's mischievousness or Odin's ravens. Gaiman clearly loves his subject and the characters involved, encouraging his readers to "read the stories in this book, then make them your own."

And, in case you missed it, here is Gaiman's talk about books, reading and libraries which was delivered in 2013 for The Reading Agency, a British charity encouraging reading and literacy:

Video embedded https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=5&v=yNIUWv9_ZH0

Gaiman says, "Words are more important than they ever were.... People who cannot understand each other cannot exchange ideas." For more reflection on his talk, visit Maria Popova's "Brain Pickings" blog. She highlights Gaiman's comment: "Truth is not in what happens but in what it tells us about who we are. Fiction is the lie that tells the truth, after all." NORSE MYTHOLOGY received starred reviews from both Booklist and Kirkus.

Link to Maria Popova's post: https://www.brainpickings.org/2016/08/03/neil-gaiman-view-from-the-cheap-seats-reading/

The first time I picked this up I had trouble settling into it. I was shocked… this is my favorite author bar none and I just couldn’t find my stride. So I set it down and waited a bit.
Yesterday I picked up again and read it straight thorough… with a grin. I love mythology of all kinds—one of the major draws to Gaiman’s work and with Norse Mythology he neatly retold stories I have heard before in a voice and style I really enjoyed and a sense of humor that had me grinning. This was fun and I highly recommend it.

Neil Gaiman + any sort of mythology is an auto read for me, so I was really excited to dive into this one, and it didn't disappoint. I've taken history classes on Norse mythology, and the whole pantheon of Norse gods can be so confusing, but Gaiman made it easy to understand what was going on, and his own interpretations gave the stories more weight and depth. Highly recommended!

Gaiman has put together a lovely little introduction to Norse mythology in this collection of cleanly written tales. The narrative voice is one that you could imagine belonging to a storyteller, sharing stories. Some of my favorite myths are found in these pages, and several I had not yet read. Overall the selection reads like a continuing story, rather than simply a collection of individual stories. An enjoyable read for both those new to and familiar with Norse mythology.

The much anticipated Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman brings new life to many of the traditional Norse myths, ranging from the creation of the world to the inevitable Ragnarok. Gaiman says in his introduction that he was first introduced to Norse mythology in a way that would be familiar to many today: Marvel comics. The success of the current movies with Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston probably has as much to do with interest in the book as the original Mighty Thor Marvel comics had for Gaiman. Gaiman's introduction gives readers a taste of the research that must have gone into the writing of this book, original sources and theories, connecting the myths to the geography of the people who told them. However, it is done in an approachable way that will not scare off young readers or those not sure about the book.

The book itself is a collection of traditional myths, mostly focusing around some of the most familiar of the Norse gods: Odin, Thor, and Loki. We learn how Thor got his hammer, Mjollnir; how Odin sacrificed himself on the world-tree Yggdrasil to gain knowledge; and how Loki tricked a giant into building the walls of Asgard without being paid. There are stories of dwarfs and giants, monsters and magic, Fenrir the wolf who will eat the sun during the final battle and the Midgard serpent Thor will battle. We learn the Norse explanation for earthquakes and why salmon are shaped as they are. We watch with a sense of inevitable doom as the gods make poor choices and alienate those who could have been their allies but will instead fight against them in Ragnarok. Deception and betrayal, love, greed, intrigue, and complicated family life show us not only the world of Asgard but give us hints of the world of the Norsemen who first told these tales.

The most striking feature of Norse Mythology is Gaiman's beautiful writing. Gaiman surpasses his reputation as a brilliant story-teller with tales that manage to both retain their original, epic, flavor and blend a subtle modern feel that will ensure they appeal to today's readers- young and old. The gentle cadence of each story nearly demands they be read aloud (whether you have an audience or not). Adventure and emotion infuse each tale and by the last stories "The Last Days of Loki" and "Ragnarok: The Final Destiny of the Gods" I was moved to tears by battles both grand and individual. But Gaiman ends on a gentle note of hope- Ragnarok may be an end, but it is also a beginning. You close the book wondering what happens next. The answer Gaiman hints at is that all things are possible and what comes next is what we make of it.

Neil Gaiman brings to life the tales of the ancient Norse sagas with every bit as much talent, wit, and emotion as any of the fictional novels he is so well known for. Fans of any age, of American Gods and Marvel alike, will love the new life Gaiman infuses into these classic stories and be left hoping for more.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

As expected, Gaiman's retelling of Norse myths is just lovely. Will be adding this to my collection posthaste.

Neil Gaiman does it again! I love his writing! This book takes up where he left off in his children's book, Odd and the Frost Giants and in his adult book, American Gods. His knowledge of Norse Mythology is comprehensive and I appreciated its depth.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an eARC of this book.
Neil Gaiman, perhaps not at his best, but good enough for 3.5 stars.
This is a collection of Norse myths, not a novel. Each one builds on the ones before which, for me, make for slow reading for the first part of the book. By the end, I was fully engaged and sorry it was over. I was not really familiar with Norse mythology except for the basics. I loved learning more about the gods and goddesses and their interactions and intrigue.