Ragnarok

Yes, the apocalypse of the Norse mythology. But also: no, not that Ragnarok. I this case, I am referring to the book by A.S. Byatt. This book, however, is named after the apocalypse of the Norse mythology. But it is set in WWII Britain. My sister liked the writer, and knows I like Nordic mythology, so she figured it would be a great birthday present. And it was!

One imagines the book to be partly autobiographical. The protagonist is a child that is evacuated during the war, and when it ends, goes back to Sheffield, where she came from. That seems to match with the life of the writer. And this child loves to read. That also seems to match with the life of the writer. And this girl reads a translation of the Norse story of the end of the world. Even though it isn't, really. It's a bit of a biblical flood kind of story; everything that was gets destroyed, but afterwards there is a new start.

The protagonist isn't keen on that new start. Is she keen on returning to Sheffield? Not necessarily.

I like to reading the thoughts of this child. She is quite pensive for her age. And does ponder function of myths, and contrasts paganism with christianity. And think about the critical notes in her own Ragnarok book, where the translator comments on that not all parts might be of the same age, and might have been created in effectively different worlds.

I'm burning through books this week! They say you should start as you intend to go on. I don't think I'll keep this up! But I'll try to not slow down too much…