Anansi Boys

Book:  Anansi Boys
Author: Neil Gaiman
Like/Don't Like:  It's Neil Gaiman.  Of course I'm going to like it.

Whenever I read Neil Gaiman I am reminded that there are people who tell good stories and then there are people who are good storytellers.  He fits into both categories but it's the second that I really care about.  I can't tell you how many times I have finished a book and said, "That was a good story but it was written by the wrong person."  Mostly, I want every story to be told by Neil Gaiman.  I saw him on a show a little while ago and he was asked to describe his genre and he said, "I like to think I'm just a writer," which made me love him even more. He gets what a lot of writers today don't, that the point isn't just to tell an interesting story, it's to tell an interesting story well, and when it's done well there is no need to categorize it into a specific genre.

Once again this has turned into a Neil Gaiman love-fest.  On to the gist.

Fat Charlie Nancy has just found out that 1.) his father has died in karaoke bar, and 2.) his father was a god, and 3.) he has a brother he didn't know about.  He finally meets his brother and trouble abounds.  The story had a great rhythm to it.  It flowed very nicely from one scene to the next and weaved in bits of old myths into a modern story with ease.  I got sucked right in and felt completely satisfied when it was done.  Yay.