spider songs

[maribou]

Anansi Boys, by Neil Gaiman
This is my most favorite Neil Gaiman book ever, including any of his comics. Which is saying rather a lot. Also, you know who it reminds me of? Roald Dahl. Like, Matilda-type Roald Dahl. For grown-ups. Which is probably another one of my weird noone-else-sees-it slantwise associations, since everyone is all 'blah blah Douglas Adams blah blah Wodehouse" (okay, where everyone = Susanna Clarke, but whatever). Still, I couldn't get the likeness out of my head.
SO SO SO GOOD. And refreshing to be able to say that after what feels like rather a slew of enh in the fantasy department of late.
(208/200)

Comments

[shadowblue.livejournal.com]

Does "any of his comics" imply you've read Sandman?

Because if it's his best including that, I'm... dubious, but I'll definitely have to read it.

[maribou]

It does imply that, yes. And I'm not arguing best, just 'my most favorite'. But read it anyway. Just see what you think. It shouldn't take long.

[eeyorerin]

I see it! No, I do. I just read Matilda so that might be why.

[maribou]

Yay! I'm not crazy...

An inarticulate statement of agreement with no real spoilers.

[gement.livejournal.com]

There's a lot of Dahl going on, particularly in the dynamics with the villain and the dead person and Rose's horrible old mum... I hadn't thought of it that way, but yeah, wow, yeah.

I had to think about it real real hard to figure out where the hell they were getting Wodehouse after I read it... but that's because all the Wodehouse is in the first half. The Results of The Ill-Considered Night Out, and all that. All Wodehouse flavor is lost when Charlie has to stagger on and sort out his own problems.

As far as Adams, comparing any of the Holy Three Modern BritGeeks to each other is just gratuitous at this point, however accurate it is. They have some very similar stylistic elements or we wouldn't lump them together, so why belabor it? The afterlife bits do seem very Adams in retrospect, as does the attack in Spider's bedroom (you know the one), but it didn't even occur to me to compare at the time.

I will have to let it age and think more about how I liked it. My first impression was "too fluffy," but damn it, that's the POINT of a comedy. So I just need to get my brain to shift gears from Sandman and American Gods, in which death is a large and depressing thing, rather than something irritating that messes with your cell reception.

My only objection was that there were points that foreshadowing was dropped in like a brick, and I wish he wouldn't because it's distracting. I'd rather catch the bit with him enjoying watching the bird singing on the second read and go, "Oh Gaiman, you BASTARD."

Re: An inarticulate statement of agreement with no real spoilers.

[maribou]

Very interesting points...
I am afraid I can't really get into discussing them because I will not be able to resist the urge to spoil like mad.

I kind of liked the foreshadowing though. I know it's clunky but I like the ominous shadows of doom coming through on the first read.

Oscar Wilde says, "Kneel, gamin"

[raisinbottom.livejournal.com]

I know that you know that I'm a pessimist and an idealist. Most British authors tend to have a certain kind of voice that's noticable with Chesterton to James to Gaiman. Most times it feels like I'm reading a pastiche of one seminal novel that swept the Empire back in the 19th century. Sometimes it feels like a wink and a nod to the reader rather than actually telling a story, like Randy Orton mugging for the camera during an intense match.

Now everyone's beloved Gaiman, the Joss Whedon of the literary set, so desperately wants to come across as erudite by bringing up mythological trivia that would put Bulfinch to shame. Part of the magic is that the fans put the book down, hit Google or the library and discover that it was really true. Let's not forget Lindee's most despised condemnation of Gaiman, "All his books read like comic books." I swear while reading American Gods I was imagining Shadow drawn by the Artiste du Jour working for scale at Vertigo before they're tossed into the void like so many of Ming the Merciless's concubines.

If only Gaiman would start playing with his own toys rather than the long forgotten and mouldering presents that his grandfather cast aside upon entering finishing school. He could take a point or two from Pratchett and I'm not even a fan of Pratchett.

Re: Oscar Wilde says, "Kneel, gamin"

[maribou]

"All his books read like comic books."
I've said that myself. But this one doesn't. Part of its appeal for me I think.

And I don't think knowing where we come from and caring about it equates to trying too hard.