Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman

It takes talent to translate old myths into amusing yet hard hitting stories and that is just what Neil Gaiman does. He takes the gods, trolls and giants of Scandinavian lore and gives them human characteristics with superhuman skills. I was watching "Vikings" at the same time I read this and it adds a new perspective. Legends and myths were told to protect, guide or strike fear in communities. If children were told that Loki would come and play tricks on them if they didn't mind the adults, then you had hopes of well behaved children. I love the author's sense of humor in translating these stories.