I finished Anansi Boys last night, in two sessions. Now I am in that unhappy state of mind that is brought about upon the realisation that I would probably have to wait fo a long, long while before a new Neil Gaiman novel comes out.
Gaiman had already pointed out that the book was more humour than fantasy, and rightly so. There was the friendly Douglas Adamsy-PG Wodehousey narrator’s voice throughout the writing, and the observational gems that Gaiman indulges, the kind of opinions about everyday things that make you go – “Damn, now why didn’t I think of that?” I have been thinking of a way to write about the book without giving away any spoilers. Probably the best way to make you go and read it is to repeat the tagline – “God is dead. Meet the kids.” and to say that in the book, much like all other Gaiman books, Things are Not What They Seem, and Events Happen in Different Layers of Reality. I think it would also help if you read up on Kwaku Anansi, the trickster-spider-god character of African myth. I had bought a collection of Anansi stories off a sale sometime back, and could not but help smiling at the entertaining Gaiman spins on the myths.
It’s self-referentially humorous. I mean, just look at these lines:
Daisy made a noise. It was not a yes-noise and it was not a no-noise. It was a I-know-somebody-just-said-something-to-me-and-if-I-make-a-noise-maybe-they-will-go-away sort of noise.
Carol had heard that noise before.
“oy”, she said. “Big bum. Are you going to be much longer. I want to do my blog.”
Daisy processed the words. Two of them sank in. “Are you saying I’ve got a big bum?”
“No,”, said Carol. “I’m saying that it’s getting late, and I want to do me blog. I’m going to have him shagging a supermodel in the loo of an unidentified London nightspot.”
I must have spent three minutes, probably more, just laying back on the bed and laughing hard after reading these lines.
The version of the book I bought, the British trade paperback, has a deleted scene, a scanned excerpt from Gaiman’s diary ( which contains such entertaining information as an idea to begin every chapter in the book with a punchline of a popular joke, which was vetoed later) and an interview with the writer. On an aside: How much did I pay for it? Nothing at all. Bought it with the book coupons collected from KQA quizzes. Muhuhahahahaha.
Also picked up an Iomega 160 GB External Hard Drive yesterday. Looks really cool, but has an American 3-pin plug, so I need a converter for that, even though my spike-buster does have a socket that works with it. I need to work everywhere, that’s why.
i am here. you are here.
it will be a shame to miss the intersection.
post-tuesday beatzosan ? the good curvy mani saar keeps dropping your name oh-so-every-second-sentence one feels obliged ;-)
Better name-dropper than mane-dropper.
Hey, call me. 9880254682.
The novel also reminded me of Douglas Adams, especially the chapter titles. :)
Very true. :)
See? See?
Loved the review, man. Really need to order the book now, alongwith the Mirrormask book of course.
Also picked up an Iomega 160 GB External Hard Drive yesterday.
Which you will cram full of comics and bring to Delhi next month, yes? *grin*
Si, senor, si. :-D
Thanks for that.. now gimme the links online..
Its been awhile! :)
Strangely enough, it does not seem to be online. :-( I bought the book at a bookstore nearby.
I finished Anansi Boys last night, in two sessions
My turn.
And, I finished Molly Moon-I, yesterday. Your turn.
Re: I finished Anansi Boys last night, in two sessions
I finished Fight Club yesterday, in one sitting. Back to you.
Re: I finished Anansi Boys last night, in two sessions
I had pizza. Pepperoni, no less.
Couldn’t resist…
God is Dead.
-Nietzsche
Nietzsche is Dead.
-God
But Zombie Nietzsche rocks on!
-Zombie Nietzsche.
Re: Couldn’t resist…
I’ve always wondered about this. Would Hay-sooz qualify as Undead Divinity[or the Divinely Undead]? After all, He did rise from the grave after three days.
Anansi drew with ahardy boys?