Neil Gaiman, Anansi Boys

Amazing book!! Incredibly funny, and even better if you have already read American Gods (although its not necessary it helps you understand Mr Nancy and the concept of Gods as actual people). Not as good as American Gods but still very very good!! A real gem by Neil Gaiman.

Another reviewer rather wrote this off as a dull affair, citing the characters as somewhat uni-dimensional. I disagree. I fancy that allowing one's own imagination to flex its muscles helps the reader get the most out of this book. Neil Gaiman conjours up some very colourful situations and predicaments, not least for his hapless hero Charlie, and he is equally adept at providing some great scenes (and one-liners) to the mischievous and pardonably nasty Spider.

The supporting cast, including Rosie and family, Charlie's unpleasant boss et al are no more unbelievable than the plot of Anansi Boys itself, and add enough life and dimension to carry the whole thing jauntily along.

I'm not done with it yet, but it's holding my interest, which this genre tends not to manage for me normally. Not bad at all, and certainly worthy of more than 5 out of 10.

Anansi boys is Neil Gaiman's take on the African trickster hero Anansi. Fat Charlie is the son of embarrassing father, Mr A. Nancy, who humiliates him and forces him to run away to London from Florida.

When his father dies, Fat Charlie learns his father was Anansi, and that he had a previously undiscovered brother. Things get worse when the timid Charlie summons his brother, Spider, who promptly seduces Charlie's finacee Rosie, and causes him to be framed for embezzlement.

Gaiman might be better off telling his stories graphically. I was quite bored with Anansi Boys, as the main character, Fat Charlie, was insipid and unengaging. At times it felt I was reading a Tom Holt novel. The other characters are not that interesting either. There were some funny parts, mostly the parts repeating Anansi stories from African folklore.

Anansi Boys

Neil Gaiman

Morrow, Sep 2005, $26.95

ISBN: 006051518X

The West African spider-trickster god Anansi in an incarnation as Mr. Nancy has died and was buried in Florida. He left behind an adult son Fat Charlie in England. Ironically Charlie is not overweight but instead is a half god who lost part of himself due to a grudge and a curse. His other part is Charlie's unknown brother Spider.

Spider tricks Tiger and ends up gaining control of all the stories in the world as well as a deadly enemy who wants to kill him whether he is reincarnation of Anansi or just a demi God. Using animistic magic, Spider flees to England where he meets his sibling's fianc e Rosie and odious boss, Grahame. Being a trickster, this is not a joyful encounter as Spider steals Rosie from Fat Charlie and causes troubles for his brother with Grahame. Meanwhile Tiger is coming to regain the stories stolen from him and if killing two brothers and other innocent people will achieve his goal so be it.

Sort of a loose sequel to the AMERICAN GODS, ANANSI BOYS is a fine fantasy tale that combines myths from different cultures. The story line is much more complex than what is presented above, but Neil Gaiman keeps his subplots straight, ultimately tying back together in a final High Noon confrontation in which the power of story-telling is the real magic. Mr. Gaiman's fans from novels and comic books will take immense delight in his latest wild thriller.

Harriet Klausner