Seduced by the cover and the promise of something a little different from her norm (having read ‘Possession’ and ‘The Children’s Book’), I picked this up in its beautiful hardback form and for once allowed the impulse a rare indulgence.
Part of The Myths series, which includes Margaret Atwood’s, ‘Penelopiad’, the publisher Canongate invited select writers to retell a myth in their own way and this is A.S. Byatt’s contribution.
Ragnörak is a Norse myth, the story of how things came to be and how they and world are destroyed after a series of conflicts, revenge takings, mutations and natural disasters. Byatt’s version is neither a short story or novel, more of an insight into the myth, the perspective of a thin young girl in wartime, an immersion into the created world and its end, concluding with the author’s thoughts on myths.
Coming to it without knowledge of the mythological background, I found myself immediately immersed in life forms that grew and transformed, creatures that came into existence, hunted, survived, wrapped their tentacles around and invaded trees, forests, lakes, streams, oceans and the planet.
Strange but alive, it is a kind of living nightmare; the young girl (who I immediately came to think of as the author as a young girl) tries to understand and make sense of the world around her, while rereading her ‘Asgard and the Gods’ stories that invade her imagination and develop her awareness and understanding of belief or disbelief as it turns out.
She did not believe the stories in ‘Asgard and the Gods’. But they were coiled like smoke in her skull, humming like dark bees in a hive.
The pages are infiltrated with images of nature in abundance, colours, textures, millions of living things and creatures, moving, sliding, digging, squirming, biting and gulping, with an omnipresent sense of foreboding. The Gods celebrate as they always do with fighting and shouting, self-destruction an ever threatening accomplice. Jörmungandr, the angry, sensuous, snake with an insatiable appetite is particularly haunting and memorable.
In her ‘Thoughts on Myths’ at the end, Byatt notes the difference between fairy tales and myths, the former giving the reader the pleasure of recognizing repeated variations on similar narrative patterns, while myths often torment, puzzling and haunting the mind who reaches into them.
We are reminded of the world we live in and the corruption, contamination, pollution and ultimate destruction of the living organism we inhabit and can only wonder if we too are destined for such a fiery end. For me, it was more of a beginning, another entry point into the mysterious and meaningful realm of ancient mythology.
Further Reading:
You do such a great job with reviews, Times, take notice!
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Thank you for your kind words, this was quite a challenge, such enormous depth and I dare to put my toe in the water. The plunge was rewarding.
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Mythology is always fascinating to me.
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I do believe I would like to test the depths of this book. Thank you for posting this review!
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You are the consummate reviewer. As noted in your review on Byatt’s last book I have not read anything new by her in a while. I am currently reading Sunshine – not something I typically read, but lately my reading choices are all over the place. I am not sure this particular book calls to me, but I do want to give Byatt another go. As ever, you always manage to entire the reader in me, thank you.
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Thanks Brenda, so many choices. Reading all over the place can be a good strategy too. I am considering looking back a little further and reading ‘Still Life’ this year as well, encouraged by another reviewer who mentioned giving more attention to dusty unopened volumes rather than only all the bright, shiny new things.
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I love the cover; I also would have been drawn to it. Myths fascinated me as a child – partly because of their haunting aspect and the wonderfully weird creatures in them. Thanks for the review.
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Thanks Nella, I too am intrigued by myths and legends, they stimulate the imagination and they are often an interesting insight into different cultures.
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This is so fascinating, Claire. I love the notion of myths being recast/retold, and was unaware of the series. My knowledge of Norse mythology, coupled with my appreciation of A.S. Byatt, makes me think this is a good match, indeed. It is a seductive cover, isn’t it? Of course, I now want to read the whole series.
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This sounds interesting. I don’t have much knowledge of any of the myths or such but have been interested in learning more. And that cover is just beautiful!
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I’m loving the illustration of Yggdrasil – anything with trees makes ultimate senses, IMO. Beautiful text inclusion, I’m now more likely to move Byatt up nearer the top of my reading list.
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Yes, the tree of life, fascinating imagery and logic. Thanks Beverly.
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Your life is magic. I loved reading these things about you. I really suck at commenting on your blog, but as soon as it comes into my email I usually read it.
I want pictures of the wedding, as well as the refugee husband. And the 30 countries…well…all of it.
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You’ll have to come to France for all of that my young adventurous friend 🙂
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