RJ - Slayer of Trolls’s Comments

RJ - Slayer of Trolls’s comments from the 2025 Reading Challenge group.

Note: RJ - Slayer of Trolls is not currently a member of this group.

I finished last week. I'd give the book 3 stars which is to say I liked it but wasn't bowled over. Gaiman's writing is always entertaining - he has a knack for writing interesting characters and he often has an amusing turn of phrase, particularly with dialogue.

The myths themselves were familiar at times, or some of them were anyway. I wonder if I read a book about them in my elementary school years? As some readers have already noted, the myths themselves have been simplified and modernized a bit for a mass audience, which probably renders the book much less interesting to scholars of the subject.

Still, Gaiman is an easy read and enjoyable. I'd probably read his grocery list if he published it.

How's everyone doing on the read? Almost finished? What did you think?

I finished three more this week, leaving me only one away from my goal!

#37 - Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman - Gaiman's re-telling of the Norse myths is readable, but not quite as entertaining as most of his books - still, I liked it and gave it 3 stars - you can read my review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

#38 - Lord Of Light by Roger Zelazny - Zelazny's classic novel features deities from Buddhism and Hinduism but is a bit dry at times - I respected it more than I enjoyed it and gave it 3 stars - you can read my review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

#39 - The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins - I didn't know what to expect going into this one but found my favorite read of the year - I gave it 5 stars and you can read my review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

To replace those, I added these to my Currently Reading pile:

- Shards of Honour by Lois McMaster Bujold - also known as the first half of Cordelia's Honor - for a group read in two of my GR book clubs

- Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman - for a group read and also in anticipation of upcoming TV series

- Personal Injuries by Scott Turow - because I've read the first four of his Kindle County books and this is the fifth one

And of course I'm still working on:
- The City & the City by China Miéville
- Ringworld by Larry Niven
- Helliconia Spring by Brian W. Aldiss
- Go Girl!: Raising Healthy, Confident and Successful Girls Through Sports by Hannah Storm and Mark Jenkins
- Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang
- Rama II by Arthur C. Clarke
- The Best American Mystery Stories 2015 edited by James Patterson
- A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin
- Too Big to Fail: The Inside Story of How Wall Street and Washington Fought to Save the Financial System from Crisis — and Themselves by Andrew Ross Sorkin
- Fragile Things: Short Fictions and Wonders by Neil Gaiman

I've got two more stories to go, but now I see what Gaiman was talking about in the Introduction, where he hinted that all the stories were part of a larger story arc.

I'm over halfway through and I have to agree that the stories do seem a bit basic as others have noted above. Do you think that's because Gaiman is trying to make these myths appealing to a mass audience?

Simon wrote: "I liked "Thor's Journey to the Land of the Giants" the most and appreciated the meaning in Skrymir's illusions and Thialfi's earlier actions in part one of the story."

That was my favorite story so far also. Reading these myths brings back memories of reading the Brothers' Grimm fairy tales or the The Arabian Nights stories.

We're about halfway through. How's everyone liking it so far?

The chapter numbers aren't marked so I was surprised to see that I had finished the first 4 chapters! They aren't very long. There was a lot of introductory material in the first 3 chapters, but chapter 4 was more of a "story" and I suspect the rest of the book will be the same way.

What does everyone think of the book so far? Meeting expectations? Exceeding? Falling short?

Alicia wrote: "My nomination is Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie."

I'll second it.

I started yesterday and so far I've read the introduction and the chapter that introduces the characters Odin, Thor and Loki. Like most Gaiman books it's easy to read and interesting.

Emily wrote: "This is my first experience reading Gaiman and it's very readable."

I couldn't agree more. I'd probably enjoy reading Gaiman's grocery list.

How's everyone else enjoying the book so far?

I read in the introduction that Gaiman's introduction to Norse mythology came via the Marvel Comics "Thor" comic book series. I laughed out loud when I read that because I'm pretty sure that was my introduction to these characters also.

How did everyone else first become acquainted with Odin, Thor and Loki?

I finished #36 - Brave New World by Aldous Huxley - this was a re-read for me although I had forgotten a lot after 31 years - I liked it a lot and gave it 4 stars - you can read my full review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Replacing it in my Currently Reading pile is Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman as part of a group read for this group, for which I will be the moderator! I hope you join in. This will be the sixth Gaiman book I have read, and the fourth Gaiman book I have read in 2017.

I'm also going to be picking away at Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang - I read the short story "Story of Your Life" which was the basis for the movie "Arrival" and decided to read the rest - I had not realized it but author Chiang has only written a total of 15 short stories over 25 years, and no novels

And of course I'm still working on:
- Lord Of Light by Roger Zelazny
- The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins
- The City & the City by China Miéville
- Ringworld by Larry Niven
- The Best American Mystery Stories 2015 edited by James Patterson
- Rama II by Arthur C. Clarke
- Helliconia Spring by Brian W. Aldiss
- A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin
- Too Big to Fail: The Inside Story of How Wall Street and Washington Fought to Save the Financial System from Crisis — and Themselves by Andrew Ross Sorkin
- Go Girl!: Raising Healthy, Confident and Successful Girls Through Sports by Hannah Storm and Mark Jenkins
- Fragile Things: Short Fictions and Wonders by Neil Gaiman

John's fate is not too surprising. Huxley seems to be pointing out that the future world has no room for those who don't conform.

My copy of Norse Mythology arrived a couple days ago, and I just finished Brave New World so I'll be starting this one tonight.

Lenina was clearly in love with "the Savage" but when he told her he loved her she was horrified and pulled away. Lenina's nature had seemed to be slightly out of step with society - she had dated only one man almost exclusively for a long time prior to accepting an invitation from Bernard, she was willing to go to New Mexico to see the "savage" reservation - but when confronted with the opportunity to take a further step away from societal norms she reacted with fear.

Bernard on the other hand always appeared to be repulsed by society, but when his association with the Savage allowed him to become popular and desirable to others we find that all along he has just been craving acceptance.

Hi everyone! I'm excited to lead the discussion. My dead tree copy of the book is on its way to me and I should have it next week.

Is everyone excited to read Neil Gaiman's latest? Have you read anything by Gaiman before? If so, what have you read and which of his books is your favorite?

Nik wrote: "Oh ho! The story has picked up quite a bit, and chapter 10 ends on a really interesting note. I'm still not sure, though, why this book is read in so many American high schools. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯"

There are definitely some mature issues presented with regards towards sex - children exploring sex, orgies, promiscuity - that would make a lot of parents uncomfortable. The strange thing is that I first read this book in high school (I think I was a senior) but none of those things are what stuck in my mind over time. I remember Soma, the deification of Ford, and the Feelies.

I finished three more books since my last entry:

#33 - The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester - this was a re-read of one of my all-time favorites for a GR group read for the SciFi and Fantasy book club - I still enjoyed it a lot and gave it 5 stars although it wasn't as fresh and new to me on this re-read - you can read my review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

#34 - Redshirts by John Scalzi - I read this Star Trek parody for a group read for the Dragons and Jetpacks book club - I thought it was OK and gave it 2 stars - you can read my review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

#35 - Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames - I read this rock-n-roll inspired fantasy for a group read for the Dragons and Jetpacks book club - I thought it was good and gave it 3 stars - you can read my review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Also, I kicked (stopped reading) The Rook by Daniel O'Malley because it was unbearably boring - also because of the italics - you can read my thoughts here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Replacing them in my Currently Reading pile are:

- The City & the City by China Miéville - this is my first by Mieville, an author I've wanted to read for a while - I'm reading this for a group read for the Evolution of Science Fiction book club

- Lord Of Light by Roger Zelazny - I enjoyed Zelazny's Amber series (the first one anyway - I never got around to the second one) so I'm hoping to enjoy this as well - also a group read for the SciFi and Heroic Fantasy book club

- The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins - hopefully a good one for October - I'm reading it for a group read for the SciFi and Heroic Fantasy book club

- Helliconia Spring by Brian W. Aldiss - author Aldiss passed away which makes this a perfect time to read his most noted work - also a group read for the Sword and Laser book club

And of course I'm still working on:
- Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
- Ringworld by Larry Niven
- The Best American Mystery Stories 2015 edited by James Patterson
- Rama II by Arthur C. Clarke
- A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin
- Too Big to Fail: The Inside Story of How Wall Street and Washington Fought to Save the Financial System from Crisis — and Themselves by Andrew Ross Sorkin
- Go Girl!: Raising Healthy, Confident and Successful Girls Through Sports by Hannah Storm and Mark Jenkins
- Fragile Things: Short Fictions and Wonders by Neil Gaiman

I finished the first 4 chapters. The pace picked up a little once there were some characters to follow. The first two chapters were a little dull.

I really enjoyed this one - looking forward to reading the group discussion!