AMERICAN GODS, Neil Gaiman

More and more I’m becoming a fan of Neil Gaiman’s work, but in all honesty, my first attempt to read American Gods came to a crunching halt in the first chapter. I was in late high school at the time, so my literary palate still needed refining. Or I just needed to develop a deeper appreciation for Norse mythology. Whichever of these won out, I returned to and completed, with relish, this urban fantasy about ancient pantheons, sneaky mythological symbolism, and coin tricks. So many coin tricks.

Having a broader grasp of various mythologies from cultures around the world, especially that of the Norse religion, helped me progress through this book without running into prolonged periods of confusion. Some people, however, may enjoy the sheer mystery that our hero Shadow encounters on his unexpected journey. Actually, the parallels between American Gods and The Hobbit is not a little startling.

THE RUMPELSTILTSKIN PROBLEM, Vivian Vande Velde

Yes, I know I said my review of Out of the Past would follow Shadow of the Queen. Unfortunately the holidays, illness and some writer’s block intervened. So, instead, you’re getting another book that inflicts much less strain on my brain’s logic centers (thanks, Vasquez and Bechko). Funnily enough, the title of this short-story collection could be an alternate to that of Once Upon A Time—The Rumpelstiltskin Problem. 

This imp doth protest!

Anyone watching OUAT understands the Rumplestiltskin problem all too well (one that I continue to consider the best part of the show—is my bias showing yet?). But Vande Velde is addressing something else. In her preface, she highlights some details from the fairytale “Rumpelstiltskin” that are, let's say, fairly questionable.