Anansi Boys

Anansi Boys is a sequel of sorts to American Gods. It shares the premise that the Gods of ancient religions are still on Earth, indistinguishable from regular humans to the unobservant. They are portrayed as having magical powers but usually limiting their use to just getting by without actually having to hold down a job. Anansi is a trickster spider god of the Yoruba people, but ubiquitous amongst peoples both in Africa and from Africa, who has all the stories worth telling in his repertoire. He appears in American Gods as Mr. Nancy, or Anansi, an intriguing character but part of the supporting cast. Anansi Boys is better written than American Gods, more polished, much funnier, but lacking the enlightened darker edge that sets its predecessor apart from most other fiction in the magical realism genre. As with American Gods, Anansi Boys is peopled with well-drawn characters, that keep the story believable even when the author is having them perform unbelievable feats. Anansi Boy's plot is more carefully constructed than AG's with fewer blind alleys and strings that fade out and are never explained. The plot of American Gods had several mismatched elements grafted together with coarse stitches. Also, Fat Charlie Nancy, Mr. Anansi's son, is better drawn than Shadow, AG's main character, but both men struggle and largely fail to be as interesting as the characters in the supporting casts, though both redeem themselves by the end. Fat Charlie's redemption is more gradual and therefore easier for the reader to buy into than Shadow's. So are they worth your time? The answer is a wholehearted Yes! No other writer of fiction understands the workings of Archaic religion and its offspring, world mythology, as well as Gaiman, who clearly perceives how those ancient nature-based beliefs still animate our lives and affect our values, our judgement, and help with our frustrating amnesia about a world beyond the veil of rational material reality. Re-reading this, I sound overly critical. That's what happens when a writer flirts with greatness. Both books become obsessions until the last page is turned and leave the reader craving Gaiman's next creation.

I personally absolutely love all of Gaiman's work I have read thus far, but i have heard valid criticism of his subject matter and execution that makes me understand he is not for everyone. For example, some of the concepts he explores are very ethereal and ambiguous. He tends to go into detail about things that don't matter, and he tends to take tabs from magical realism by exploring magic without giving it exact logic. I enjoy this immensely, but like I said, I also understand why others wouldn't. Anansi Boys, unlike its predecessor American Gods, does not do any of the aforementioned things that could be problematic for some readers. It had enough Gaiman to satisfy niche avid fans like me while also being universally appealing to the point where I can see it being adapted to a Disney film or Netflix series and gaining mainstream success. That being said, you shouldn't fret if you have an indie or cult attitude to your love of Neil Gaiman. I think its differences from other books like American Gods or The Ocean at the End of the Lane are in no way disappointing, but rather demonstrate how multi talented an author he is. Anansi Boys proves he can enjoy himself immensely, not taking himself so seriously, and above all it proves he is funny as hell. This book had me laughing from the start to the finish, because the main character Fat Charlie is hilariously relateable, and the plot was so full of ridiculous and silly situations. All of the characters are charming and loveable, even the villainous ones, and the transformations they undergo and relationships they develop are beautifully executed. It gets progress points for centering almost entirely around characters of color whose race and culture are explored and acknowledged in a way that is celebratory without being alienating. I gave it four stars for being lovely and enjoyable and perfectly crafted with the right dash of Gaiman-esque darkness. It didn't change my life or blow my mind like some of his other works did but I certainly had fun reading it and would recommend it to anyone, including people who I don't think would like his other books. I would absolutely love to see a film adaption of it because of its farce elements and action-driven plot. And the two characters at its center are one of my favorite platonic/family pairings I've ever read about. All that for a couple dollars was so worth it.

Tudo em condições. Entrega perfeita e em excelente estado.

No debemos olvidar que Gaiman tiene otras geniales historias como Dioses Americanos o Neverwhere, sin embargo, esta no se queda atrás. Su forma de tratar temas surreales de forma tan natural es remarcable. Sin duda alguna, esta novela es de lo mejor de él como escritor.

This book is one of the best comedy books that I have read, and can easily be compared to the Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy, which is quite an achievement.

Great book! Read it before American Gods. But I think it would be nicer to read after. Anyway, great book!

Neil Gamon has found his stride again! Quite unlike the 'American Gods' debacle (see review) this time the author is able to mix fantasy and reality into a highly delightful tale and is also able to introduce us back to the realm of 'gods'. This time, however it is done in a manner that is both believable and well defined. Mr. Gamon fully develops all of characters and shows the quirkiness that each possesses. His tale is well defined and procedes along a logical path through to its conclusion. Because he omits some of the sexual innuendos that is present in some of his other writings, this book can be enjoyed by all family members. While this may be classified as being 'another happily ever after tale', maybe we, as readers need a temporary escape from our own less predictable worlds of reality. Except for the forementioned publication, I have always been a Goman fan and can proudly add this one to my collection.