2009 Reading #42: Norse Code

Books 1-10.
Books 11-20.
Books 21-30.
Books 31-40.
41. Jade Tiger by Jenn Reese.

42. Norse Code by Greg van Eekhout. It appears that nowadays there are three sure-fire ways to vault to the top of my reading list with a new book.

I. Be Thomas Pynchon.
II. Be Naomi Novik.
III. Write a book about Ragnarok.

As I am a sucker for all things Norse, it's perhaps not a surprise that I really liked this book. But it helps that Greg has done his homework; he has Hugin and Munin argue about kennings, makes reference to Völuspá and other poems of the Elder Edda, and manages to treat the mythology with reverence while simultaneously turning it inside out. Set pieces like Sigyn and Loki's domestic squabble and a confrontation between a Valkyrie gone corporate and a couple of Thor's sons really work. Plus, unlike other books on Ragnarok, he doesn't end up pulling back at the last moment, which I appreciated. Good stuff.

2009 Reading #43: A Peculiar Imbalance

Books 1-10.
Books 11-20.
Books 21-30.
Books 31-40.
41. Jade Tiger by Jenn Reese.
42. Norse Code by Greg van Eekhout.

43. A Peculiar Imbalance: The Fall and Rise of Racial Equality in Early Minnesota by William D. Green. A short book focusing mostly on the fluidity of African-American social and economic identity and opportunity from pre-territory days through statehood and the passing of black suffrage and school desegregation here in 1869. Green's thesis is that blacks and other racial minorities had more or less equal opportunities while Minnesota was the frontier, but as territory and then statehood came in their rights were restricted, at least for a time. Some interesting accounts of new-to-me historical facts like the catering of the St. Anthony community to Southern slaveholding tourists, and incidents of threatened and actual violence between Irish laborers and newly freed blacks moving into the state during the Civil War. In addition to the Irish--who had political but not economic advantage over the early African-American settlers--Green contrasts the situation of the local Native Americans, particularly the Dakotas, who were offered full voting rights as incentive to "civilize" themselves while blacks were denied same.

About Dr. Tiller

I think you should all read Marguerite's post.