If you’re like me, Fangirls, you may have a love for ancient mythologies. I’m a history nerd, I went to school for history, and ancient mythologies are my favorite subject. Sadly, they’re not often shown in the dark and dirty way they’re meant to be told. And that’s understandable but frustrating. Well fear no more. I’m here to tell you about a book called Zeus Grants Stupid Wishes; A No Bullshit Guide to World Mythology by Cory O’Brien.
In Zeus Grants Stupid Wishes, we see not only Greek myths, but myths from so many more cultures including Norse, Egyptian, Native American, Chinese, African, and several more. No Roman though, their myths were just stolen from the Greeks and had name changes. And these aren’t just the same myths told as they have been many times. These myths are told in modern language and with all the grittiness, swearing, sex, and death that they were originally told with. There’s no holding back with this book.
The best part of it, to me, is the writing style. Yes, he uses modern languages. Yes, this means a lot of four letter words. But he includes humor and his personality in this book, and it’s wonderful. Take this passage for example, one regarding the Norse word Ginnungagap, “But the best part is that in between Muspell and Niflheim there is a big-ass trench called Ginnungagap which is empirically proven to be the number one funniest thing to say. Go ahead and say it. I’ll wait.” He then proceeds to use Ginnugagap five more times in about twice as many lines. Things like this are strewn throughout the book, and it’s hilarious. (But really, say Ginnungagap out loud and try not to at least smile.)
Zeus Grants Stupid Wishes is self-described as telling these “rude, crude, totally sacred texts told the way they were meant to be told:loudly and with lots of four-letter words.” It’s a fun, and educational, read. Even if you’re not the biggest fan of mythology like I am, pick this up and enjoy it.
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