http://www.goodreads.com/photo/user/4...
happy noruz

Neil,

Not sure how often you read these, but worth a shot. I'm sure you've answered this question at some point but I've never come across it.

I, like many others, love the work you did on Sandman. And like anything people love, the question of "will there be more?" is asked. I think the book works great in its form and is complete and extensions aren't necessarily needed, and I know a lot of authors like to move on and not look back. However, with Endless Nights and the Sandman novel you wrote, it makes me wonder if you still kick Sandman ideas around. So regardless if there will be more, do you find yourself revisiting these characters and ideas?

wish I was living in a free and normal society. I wish I was born in a reach

culture with humanistic wisdom, instead of being tired with nonsense beliefs

and behaviors.



In all over the world people are living naturally even with some problems,

deprivation and disasters But they are living nearly free and normal. Are we

Middle Eastern people exception? Are we selected among people from

around the word to be the best?!! Why we should be the best people and

most theistic and innocent?! Because we will go to the heaven and become

permanently happy?! We are spending most of our energy one some

restrictions and false suppositions instead of enjoying life freely.



I’m tired with lots of bad habits in my society such as lies, backbites,

officiousness, limitations, superstitions, brutal behaviors, etc. Can I burn

again in a free, modern and reach country?! Maybe I can

wish I was living in a free and normal society. I wish I was born in a reach

culture with humanistic wisdom, instead of being tired with nonsense beliefs

and behaviors.



In all over the world people are living naturally even with some problems,

deprivation and disasters But they are living nearly free and normal. Are we

Middle Eastern people exception? Are we selected among people from

around the word to be the best?!! Why we should be the best people and

most theistic and innocent?! Because we will go to the heaven and become

permanently happy?! We are spending most of our energy one some

restrictions and false suppositions instead of enjoying life freely.



I’m tired with lots of bad habits in my society such as lies, backbites,

officiousness, limitations, superstitions, brutal behaviors, etc. Can I burn

again in a free, modern and reach country?! Maybe I can

Although dividing the life to separated parts seems to be irrational and

unscientific, to understand the problem I have to do this. We always are

experiencing two different state of life: living or understanding. In this

essay, I’m going to write about different degrees of tendency for living and

understanding.



As far as I concern, the most important purpose of living

things is surviving. During billions years, we developed different behaviors

for surviving, followed by mating and reproduction. These behaviors

including war, collecting or saving money or food, forming family, fear,

avoiding dangerous situations, etc warranty our survive and consequently

our eternal development and evolution. I call this process “living”.



Another important point is “Understanding” which means personal

development. Every living thing has a special purpose in life and has been

planning to reach them as well as some plans for improving or renovating

him/herself.



Since “Living” is almost reachable in our developed and secure world, I

suggest we should emphasize on the personal aspects of life or

“Understanding”. Life consists of different experiences from pleasure to pain

to sadness or happiness which all of them are transitory. But our knowledge

and understanding about our self and universe are more considerable and

powerful. Consequently, I always emphasize on the pleasure of

understanding through science and knowledge which is the most beautiful

pleasure. Moreover, if you look into statistics of quarrel and violence, family

problems, addictions, alcoholism, etc you will realize most of involved

people aren’t educated enough.



Overall I believe that science and knowledge make us more aware and

intelligent and consequently more strong and powerful .In addition, they

are the most important sources of understanding human existence, nature

and the universe instead of traditional lifestyle, efforts, beliefs or assumptions

It's not letting me put this in as a video, so I am linking to it here: I narrate the opening of James Thurber's 13 Clocks at http://vimeo.com/31299484

Happy belated birthday, Mr. Gaiman.

thank you very much for accepting my friend request :)

A Goodreads Apology: I had friended over 9000 people. The new Goodreads system unfriended 4000 of those people on my behalf. I hear on Twitter they're trying to fix that. I hope they do. I'd like the friends back.

The West Coast Tour. PORTLAND is already Sold Out.


October 31st
LOS ANGELES, CA
Wilshire Ebell Theatre
Tickets go on sale Friday, 9/16 at 10AM PDT at http://bit.ly/103111tix

(Costumes! It's Hallowe'en in Los Angeles. We'll suggest that people wear costumes.)
November 4th
SAN FRANCISCO, CA
Palace of Fine Arts
Tickets go on sale Sunday 9/18 at 10AM PDT.


November 6th
VANCOUVER, BC
Vogue Theatre
Tickets go on sale 9/16 at 10: 00 am at http://bit.ly/11611

November 8th
PORTLAND, OR
Aladdin Theatre
Tickets go on sale at http://bit.ly/11811tix on 9/16 at 11AM PDT…

November 9th SEATTLE, WA Moore Theatrehttp://purchase.tickets.com/bu...
Tickets go on sale at 9/16 at 10 AM PDT

Mr. Gaiman (or anyone who sees this and knows the answer),

I was wondering if you are going to be coming to New England anytime soon???

Thanks,

Shea

Thanks for accepting my friend request! I really enjoyed "The Graveyard Book" and plan on reading a lot more of your stuff!

Thanks for accepting my friend request! I've loved your books since I read "Neverwhere", your writing is awesome!

PS "Coraline" scared the hell out of me, but it was really creative all the same :)

Thanks so much for accepting my friend request, and for your fantastic Doctor Who episode! Love your work!

Thank you so much for the add! I am a huge fan of all your work, and thoroughly enjoyed your Doctor Who episode.

Thank you for accepting my friend request! You are a much respected author.

-Elaina

Hey,
Kudos on the Doctor Who episode, it was quite good.
Whats not to like when my favourite author and favourite t.v show are combined?

Keep up the fantastic work!

Hail Love, hail Love, because Love is divine
It is tender, it is beautiful and benign
What passion, what passion, we are burning like the sun
It is hidden and obscure, it is an obvious sign.
We’ve fallen, we’ve fallen, it is hard to rise up
We know not, we know not, this complex chaotic design.
زهی عشق، زهی عشق که ما راست خدایا
چه نغز است و چه خوب است و چه زیباست خدایا
چه گرمیم، چه گرمیم از این عشق چو خورشید
چه پنهان و چه پنهان و چه پیداست خدایا
فتادیم، فتادیم بدان سان که نخیزیم
ندانیم، ندانیم چه غوغاست خدایا
*********
Each breath is a song of love
From left and right, pass us by
We’ll return to the world above
Such fate no-one can defy.
We have come from the skies
Befriended angels in heaven
To the same place we will rise
To that city past skies seven.
We are above the skies
And angels we transcend
Why should we compromise?
The House of Songs is our end.
With good fortune may we live
Fate is contradictory,
Gladly our lives may we give
Worldly pride victory.
هر نفس آواز عشق می‌رسد از چپ و راست
ما به فلک می‌رویم عزم تماشا که راست
ما به فلک بوده‌ایم یار ملک بوده‌ایم
باز همان جا رویم جمله که آن شهر ماست
خود ز فلک برتریم وز ملک افزونتریم
زین دو چرا نگذریم منزل ما کبریاست
گوهر پاک از کجا عالم خاک از کجا
بر چه فرود آمدیت بار کنید این چه جاست
*******
Go to sleep
Leave me alone
At nights I leap
Up, on my own.
With waves of desire
Day and night, all alone
Compassion inspire
Else vengeful fits are thrown.
From me run away
Afflictions I’ve sown
For wholeness must pray
Else hardships are grown.
رو سر بنه ببــــالین تنهــــا مـــرا رهـــا کـــــن
ترک من خـــــراب شبگرد مبتـــــــــلا کــــــن
مایم و مــــوج ســودا شب تــــا بروز تنـــهــــا
خـــــواهی بیا ببخشاء خـــواهــی برو جفا کــن
از من گـــریــز تـــا تو هـــم در بــــلا نیفتــــی
بگزین ره سلامت تــــــرک ره بـــــلا کــــــــن
*********
I need a lover and a friend
All friendships you transcend
And impotent I remain
You are Noah and the Ark
You are the light and the dark
Behind the veil I remain
You are passion and are rage
You are the bird and the cage
Lost in flight I remain
You are the wine and the cup
You are the ocean and the drop
While afloat I remain
یار مرا غار مرا عشق جگرخوار مرا
یار تویی غار تویی خواجه نگهدار مرا
نوح تویی روح تویی فاتح و مفتوح تویی
سینه مشروح تویی بر در اسرار مرا
نور تویی سور تویی دولت منصور تویی
مرغ که طور تویی خسته به منقار مرا
قطره تویی بحر تویی لطف تویی قهر تویی
قند تویی زهر تویی بیش میازار مرا
*******
Upon which path did I tread
So I return, all else I dread;
From Beloved being apart
In the creed of Love is being misled.
If I find another in the whole town
Ain’t but a sign pointing to the Beloved.
I said this is no easy path
In each step a thousand traps spread
آن ره که من آمدم کدامست ای دل
تا باز روم که کار خامست ای دل
در هر گامی هزار دامست ای دل
نامردان را عشق حرامست ای دل
اندر همه شهر اگر کسی هست
والله که اشارتی تمامست
گفتم که مگر رهیست آسان
در هر قدمی هزار دامست
********
Alas that beautiful beloved where hence?
Alas that graceful Goddess where hence?
In our midst like a candle brightly shone
Where hence, alas, without us where hence?
Like a shivering leaf my heart constantly moan
Beloved left at midnight, where hence?
عجب آن دلبر زیبا کجا شد
عجب آن سرو خوش بالا کجا شد
میان ما چو شمعی نور می​داد
کجا شد ای عجب بی​ما کجا شد
دلم چون برگ می​لرزد همه روز
که دلبر نیم شب تنها کجا شد
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...

Thank you very much for the friendship on Goodreads, Mr. Gaiman. I was given Anansi's Boys to read by a friend a few years back and, since then, cannot get enough of your writing! I always look forward to the very next book that is released.

Growing up, I have always wrote fiction. For quite some time I did not pursue writing, thinking that it was a lost cause. Now, I know better.

Your work has inspired me to continue writing my dark fiction!

I do hope to meet you one day and shake your hand. It will surely be an honor!

As always at key moments in my developing life you seem to have incidentally inspired me...

I saw your talk with Audrey Niffenegger a few weeks ago, at the Harold Washington Library here in Chicago. I left with my head full of bells & chimeras, like it hasn't been in ages. Immediately went home, joined Goodreads, and began blogging again, something I haven't done for many years. It feels really, really good. Thanks Neil.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP HERE ON GR ;-)
IF YOU CHECK MY FAV QUOTES, I HAVE MANY , MANY OF YOURS ;-) .I loveeeee them !!!;-)



This is truly a great read for anyone who enjoys cheering for the underdog.

HAPPY WRITING &READING!!!

Hello! Thanks for accepting the friend request. Absolutely adore Coraline, and I loved your Doctor Who episode!

I was able to attend your Wednesday reading last week in Chicago, and it was delightful. I particularly enjoyed your comment about not knowing whether you should be classified as an "American author". As an English teacher, I participate in a lot of conversations in the classroom and beyond about the importance of exposing students to a wide range of cultures through literature, but your comment raised a question for me, which I'm still thinking through - Is "cultural" literature as important for readers as "good" literature? Who is writing the definitions of what those words mean anyway? If a student who has never enjoyed reading picks up a book, gets hooked, and can't put it down again, perhaps that's what really matters...

At any rate, I very much enjoyed getting to hear you read, and I look forward to the next time you're in Chicago for an event.

thanks for the add! love your books esp. American Gods and Good Omens! keep up the great work!

Thanks for the add! Love your work! My 9 year old son LOVED Coraline!

Thank you for turning me on to reading again :)

You are one of my favorite authors! Thanks for the friend acceptance. I love American Gods.

Your imagination is something I envy! Thank you for adding me back. I hope one day I can have the honour of meeting you. ^^

I just started reading The Sandman series for the first time (I hear way too many good things about it). Love it so far.

Thank you all! I see that is nominated for Best Picture Book... http://www.goodreads.com/award/choice...

Happy birthday, Mister Gaiman! My best regards to you and Amanda :)

I'm in the middle of my third reading (well, actually listening on CD) of Good Omens. So, you might say, I like it.

Thank you for wrestling with the blank page and computer screen. My life is richer because of you.

And thank you for Graveyard Book, Neverwhere, Stardust, Coraline (loved the movie btw) and Blueberry Girl, too.

I wanted to point everybody at http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1221698.Neil_Gaiman/blog/729811-a-modest-proposal-that-doesn-t-actually-involve-eating-anyone which is my suggestion for something that we can all do this Hallowe'en season...

Thank you for the add! I've been going through all of your books; my favorite is still American Gods, which I reread recently. I was still thinking about it over the next couple of days. I've been gearing up to do Nanowrimo, so reading your books has helped inspire me and get me in the mood to write like the wind. :)

Thank you for adding me to your friends list. You are not only one of my favorite authors, you are one of my favorite people!

OK, so when are you going to convince the Tolkien estate to let you do a graphic novel version of 'The Silmarillion?' If you decide to give it a go, I'll set up the facebook lobbying page ;). (Only half-joking)

Best, Neil!

Currently reading the good omens :) surely brighten up my day.. :D Looking forward to read more of your works ;) Tk care ^^

Thank you so much for the add. It is an honor to be your friend on Goodreads

Thank you for adding me

Hello my dear neil
I am very proud
This is my pleasure
Thank you for add me as your friends.
It`s my honor to be in your friends list.
Best regard

I just read the comment that you did a Doctor Who episode...I can't believe I didn't know this. Doctor Who is my favourite show EVER.

Yay! I'm glad to be your friend. Hope to meet you IRL someday. Thank you for all you've written, esp "The Sandman" and "American Gods". I look forward to watching your Doctor Who episode!

If you're in New York this week, try and see Amanda Palmer, Jason Webley, Sxip Shirey and, of course, Evelyn Evelyn at the Lucille Lortel Theatre on Christopher Street. It's a wonderful evening (I got to see the proto-show in Europe, and the finished one in Minneapolis last week).

www.sohorep.org for details
Amanda Palmer

I just learned that Instructions is in its Fifth week on the New York Times Bestseller list, and wanted to say thank you to everyone on GoodReads who got it for themselves or as a gift...

Here's the video, if you haven't seen it, showing Charles Vess art going from pencil to paints, and me reading over it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWRvqO...

Barley noticed you added me as a friend. I'd like to say thanks, and that I look forward to reading more of your works!

What my media teacher wrote in my yearbook:

"All hail Neil Gaiman!"

Hear, hear! Hooray for the teacher who leant me American Gods, and hooray for Neil Gaiman!

-Kat

Neil,
So I admit, not all of your books have been my favourite, but I'm completely in love with Fragile Things and Good Omens, so I'm going to give more of your stuff a try this summer. You're an incredibly unique writer, and I love that. I thought you should know that I got tired of checking out Good Omens from the library and went ahead and bought my own copy...it's already bent and well-read.
Keep it up, Neil!

Love,
Morgan

I wrote a piece about Ray Bradbury, who will be 90 this year, in the Times: http://entertainment.timesonline.co.u...

Hi Neil,

I'll be frank and admit that I haven't read any of your books (yet). I added you as a friend when I learnt that you'd be writing for Series 6 of Doctor Who. I'd heard of you before this, but as a big fan of DW, I'm now more determined than ever to read some of your work. So far I've been impressed that you take the time to chat to your fans. Really looking forward to see what you write for Doctor Who.

All the best,

Lilly.