Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion

A book based on Norse mythology (connection: Vanadium is the 23rd element and was named for Vanadis aka Freya).

I have read many books based on Greek / Roman myths, but not so much from the other mythological worlds. So this is a great opportunity for me to diversify my reading. Or, I could just read a Thor comic.

Listopia here:
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

Okay. It looks as if I may read Joanne M. Harris's The Gospel of Loki. Why? Because this is the same writer of the Chocolat series which I adore. So I know I can trust her writing. And...it is just over 300 pages long, so no 400 or 500+ pages of "Norse" mythology to suffer throughread! If not for locating this one book, I don't know if I would bother with this prompt! LOL

And...that takes care of 2023 Popsugar prompt #5 A book with mythical creatures! YES!!

Huh. How about The Sea of Trolls by Nancy Farmer. Does that qualify as Norse mythology? 21 Goodreads members categorized it as such, but I'm uncertain since I am far from being an expert on mythology! :)

L Y N N wrote: "Huh. How about The Sea of Trolls by Nancy Farmer. Does that qualify as Norse mythology? 21 Goodreads members categorized it as such, but I'm uncertain since I am far from being an exp..."



This is a learning experience for me, too! It looks like Farmer's book does qualify. Add it to the list!!

From the GR blurb: " Jack finds himself on a dangerous quest to find the magical Mimir's Well in a far-off land" and when I look up Mimir's Well, according to Wikipedia: "In Norse mythology, Mímisbrunnr (Old Norse "Mímir's well") is a well associated with the being Mímir, located beneath the world tree Yggdrasil"

(Ivar the Boneless was a real person, though! ... so this would also work for "based on real life" if anyone has that category in a challenge this year.)

I went with The Witch's Heart, which is about a witch who falls in love with Loki.

I went with the manga Oh My Goddess. The characters and their computer system (Yggdrasil) is based in the names of the fates, the Norns. Bell-dandy = Verdande (“Present”), Urd = Urd (also spelled Urdr, or Weird, meaning “Past”), and Skuld (future) which I haven’t met yet.

Mandy wrote: "I went with the manga Oh My Goddess. The characters and their computer system (Yggdrasil) is based in the names of the fates, the Norns. Bell-dandy = Verdande (“Present”), Urd = Urd (also spelled U..."



Oh that's an interesting option!! adding that one to my list

I have listened to some audio books on You Tube on Norse Mythology.

The Absolute Book by Elizabeth Knox is an urban fantasy that draws on several mythologies, including Norse.

And a weird one - I recently read that Enid Blyton based her Magic Faraway Tree book on Yggdrasil. I read them as a child, so I don't remember enough details to know if she drew on any more Norse mythology in them or not.

Ended up using this: Trick of the Light by Rob Thurman.

Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman is a good one.

Also, The Iron Druid novels by Kevin Hearne (the first is Hounded) are based on a bunch of different mythologies. I know the later books are really heavy on the Norse gods and Ragnarok (and they go to Asgard in Hammered, which is book three). The first one focuses more on Celtic mythology but I'm pretty sure Thor is at least mentioned?

Bea wrote: "I went with The Witch's Heart, which is about a witch who falls in love with Loki."



I am reading this right now and really enjoying it. There are a few things I wish were different (why would a nearly immortal witch care about being naked??) and I can't help picturing Tom Hiddleston as Loki. I saw one review complaining that this book takes too many liberties with the story LOL I guess the reviewer thought this was an academic treatise and not a fantasy novel??


I must have you to thank for the recommendation!!

I read The Witch's Heart. 4 stars. I like mythology & didn't know much about Norse Mythology.

Sherri wrote: "I read The Witch's Heart. 4 stars. I like mythology & didn't know much about Norse Mythology."



I'm almost done with this one right now! I'm at 84%, and it feels so complete and finished, I just want it to end here. Why is there still more book? I'm afraid it's going to feel dragged out.

I've read a few books about Norse mythology and so I decided to treat this one as a bit of fun with a 'Choose Your Own Adventure' book:

Edge I Hero Legends Freya by Steve Barlow.

In fairness, it did cover some of the main characters in the myths. It also took me a few tries to achieve success, despite it being 'age appropriate for 6-8 year olds'. Oh well....

I readWhen We Were Vikings. The protagonist is trying to figure out how to be a modern day Viking.