When Fat Charlie's dad named something, it stuck. Like calling Fat Charlie "Fat Charlie." Even now, twenty years later, Charlie Nancy can't shake that name, one of the many embarrassing "gifts" his father bestowed — before he dropped dead on a karaoke stage and ruined Fat Charlie's life.
Mr. Nancy left Fat Charlie things. Things like the tall, good-looking stranger who appears on Charlie's doorstep, who appears to be the brother he never knew. A brother as different from Charlie as night is from day, a brother who's going to show Charlie how to lighten up and have a little fun ... just like Dear Old Dad. And all of a sudden, life starts getting very interesting for Fat Charlie.
Because, you see, Charlie's dad wasn't just any dad. He was Anansi, a trickster god, the spider-god. Anansi is the spirit of rebellion, able …
God is dead. Meet the kids.
When Fat Charlie's dad named something, it stuck. Like calling Fat Charlie "Fat Charlie." Even now, twenty years later, Charlie Nancy can't shake that name, one of the many embarrassing "gifts" his father bestowed — before he dropped dead on a karaoke stage and ruined Fat Charlie's life.
Mr. Nancy left Fat Charlie things. Things like the tall, good-looking stranger who appears on Charlie's doorstep, who appears to be the brother he never knew. A brother as different from Charlie as night is from day, a brother who's going to show Charlie how to lighten up and have a little fun ... just like Dear Old Dad. And all of a sudden, life starts getting very interesting for Fat Charlie.
Because, you see, Charlie's dad wasn't just any dad. He was Anansi, a trickster god, the spider-god. Anansi is the spirit of rebellion, able to overturn the social order, create wealth out of thin air, and baffle the devil. Some said he could cheat even Death himself.
Returning to the territory he so brilliantly explored in his masterful New York Times bestseller, American Gods, the incomparable Neil Gaiman offers up a work of dazzling ingenuity, a kaleidoscopic journey deep into myth that is at once startling, terrifying, exhilarating, and fiercely funny — a true wonder of a novel that confirms Stephen King's glowing assessment of the author as "a treasure-house of story, and we are lucky to have him."
Masterful. Being aware that this was tangentially linked to American Gods, I wasn't expecting the much lighter and even comedic tone that this novel has, but Neil Gaiman makes it work incredibly well. The story is a brilliant mix between comedic misadventures and the kind of reflections on the nature of Gods and beliefs and stories and songs that only Gaiman could pull off, with plenty of memorable quotes to go around. I think it's also, thanks to its length, a much tighter read than American Gods. I didn't expect any different from one of my favorite authors.
Anansi Boys is one of the most humorous and wonderfully crafted books I have read in ages. Neil Gaiman is in phenomenal form here and the book is like a dream combination of Robert Rankin's off-the-wall humor, Terry Pratchett's wit and Neil Gaiman's take on life, the universe and everything.
There is not a single moment that I was bored or zoned out while reading Anansi Boys. Every single page is dripping with character and every sentence drags you onwards without pausing for breath.
I can highly recommend this to anyone who is in any way in the slightest a Gaiman fan as well as anyone who is in search of a gripping, funny, serious, wonderful story of family, gods and fantastical stories.
This book was way better than I expected. My initial impression suffered from an unlikeable character and simplistic plot, but Gaiman is able to go with this and make you care and like it. By the end you love the characters and realize the plot was more intricate than you expected. There's also a lot of good humor throughout the book, so much so that I actually chuckled or laughed out loud several times. I don't remember too much from [b:American Gods|4407|American Gods|Neil Gaiman|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1258417001s/4407.jpg|1970226], which is set in the same universe, but I got a far better impression with this book.
This book took a long time to finish because the "hook" wasn't there until more than a quarter of the way in.
I felt this was a tamer version of Gaiman's "American Gods" but still very good standing on it's own. It occupies the same literary world where gods exist because of belief. In some ways I think the characters are a bit better than "American Gods", but still a little flat. There are multiple plot threads that inexorably come together at the end in ultimately a satisfying manner.
Again, Gaiman has a very Douglas Adams type flair in his humor (though that maybe just "British" humor), but it was fun all the same. I found the editing/intertwining of the plot threads too choppy and hard to develop a rhythm, but that may be entirely intentional.
Overall, if you enjoy Gaiman, you're sure to enjoy this. However, I definitely recommend …
This book took a long time to finish because the "hook" wasn't there until more than a quarter of the way in.
I felt this was a tamer version of Gaiman's "American Gods" but still very good standing on it's own. It occupies the same literary world where gods exist because of belief. In some ways I think the characters are a bit better than "American Gods", but still a little flat. There are multiple plot threads that inexorably come together at the end in ultimately a satisfying manner.
Again, Gaiman has a very Douglas Adams type flair in his humor (though that maybe just "British" humor), but it was fun all the same. I found the editing/intertwining of the plot threads too choppy and hard to develop a rhythm, but that may be entirely intentional.
Overall, if you enjoy Gaiman, you're sure to enjoy this. However, I definitely recommend working your way through "American Gods" before tackling this one.
I loved this book, but must warn you to be careful with it. It messes with reality so effectively that it gave me nightmares twice, and made me miss my bus stop when I was nearing the end of the story.
It is time to admit I am not going to finish this book. It sat next to my bed with the spine cracked open to chapter two for I don't know how many months without my even touching it. The reason why is very simple: I cannot stand the protagonist, Fat Charlie. He is an utter drip. He's winging, and useless, and sort of ill-willed about it.
I got far enough in to meet the second major character, Spider, who is incredibly obnoxious , at which point I put the book down for however many months it's been.
Well, I give up. You have defeated me, book. I'm sorry, I thought I would like you. You seemed promising. But I have to care about someone in the book to keep reading, and I don't.
My first Gaiman book, quite enjoyable. I read it in one stretch, which is generally a good sign. If you are into myths and folklore, you will probably find some interesting stories in this book. It was refreshing to read a book whose 'hero' was a down on his luck, normal kind of guy.
Let no one say that Neil Gaiman is not the king of urban fantasy. Certainly, Anansi Boys does nothing to bring his title under dispute; however, as a fan of American Gods, I found myself missing the darker, grittier tone of the latter. Anansi Boys is excellent, but will not meet the expectations of readers looking for American Gods redux.
