The Barnes & Noble Review
In the introduction to Neil Gaiman's short story collection -- a wildly diverse assortment of horror, sci-fi, d... read full description
In the introduction to Neil Gaiman's short story collection -- a wildly diverse assortment of horror, sci-fi, d... read full description
reviews
Jan 30, 2012
s.penkevich
rated it: 
’We owe it to each other to tell stories’
For years I’ve heard the name Neil Gaiman passed about, weighted with heavy praise, and have always promised myself to read him. Earlier this fall, after hearing him speak on NPR, I sat down with a copy of Coraline, and hungrily read it in one sitting. Despite the novel being intended for an audience much greener than I, I couldn’t help but be hypnotized by the charismatic voice and magical delivery and I renewed my promise to return to this author More...
For years I’ve heard the name Neil Gaiman passed about, weighted with heavy praise, and have always promised myself to read him. Earlier this fall, after hearing him speak on NPR, I sat down with a copy of Coraline, and hungrily read it in one sitting. Despite the novel being intended for an audience much greener than I, I couldn’t help but be hypnotized by the charismatic voice and magical delivery and I renewed my promise to return to this author More...
21 comments
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(17 people liked it)
Aug 06, 2011
Monique
rated it: 
I love Neil Gaiman. He is brilliant, imaginative, and abso-friggin-lutely weird, and I love him for it. And this book of short stories and prose, Fragile Things, is by far my most favorite compendium of his.
Fragile Things is a collection of oddities, retellings, poetry, spin-offs, and queer creations of Neil Gaiman's colorful imagination. Some of the stories have been published elsewhere, like Sunbird and October In The Chair, which were included in his M Is For Magic compilation, a More...
Fragile Things is a collection of oddities, retellings, poetry, spin-offs, and queer creations of Neil Gaiman's colorful imagination. Some of the stories have been published elsewhere, like Sunbird and October In The Chair, which were included in his M Is For Magic compilation, a More...
11 comments
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(11 people liked it)
Aug 20, 2010
Whitaker
rated it: 
The two stars was a compromise. This book is a mixed bag of short stories and poems. In the Harry Potter books, there is a kind of sweet called Bertie Potts Every Flavour Jelly Beans. Sometimes you get something yummy like Raspberry Cream Chocolate or Honey Lemon Lime with a hint of Ginger or Vodka Tonic with Mentholated Cigarette Chaser. Other times you get Snot or Cat's Vomit. This book was like that. Unfortunately, this assortment contained more of the Warthog's Spyhillated Rectum or Seal Poo
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12 comments
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(20 people liked it)
Jan 19, 2009
Sandi
rated it: 
I finished "Fragile Things" by Neil Gaiman while I was waiting for the anesthesiologist at UCLA Medical Center. Two days later, while visiting me in the hospital, my daughter announced that she "stole" the book from me. So, I don't have it to refer back to while doing this review.
For me, the highlight of this collection of short stories and poems was the novella "Monarch of the Glen" that featured Shadow from "American Gods" re-interpreting More...
For me, the highlight of this collection of short stories and poems was the novella "Monarch of the Glen" that featured Shadow from "American Gods" re-interpreting More...
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(8 people liked it)
Mar 06, 2009
W.B.
rated it:
I'm digging this book.
Because it is an book of incidentals as well as short fiction, it's rather uneven.
But I still give it five stars, because I love updatings of the fairy tale, and Gaiman is clearly one of the most gifted writers on the planet when it comes to doing this.
I also loved The End of the World by Kate Atkinson for the same reason--and reviewed that at length on my blog. Okay, hers were more updatings of Greek and Roman myths, but you get the idea More...
Because it is an book of incidentals as well as short fiction, it's rather uneven.
But I still give it five stars, because I love updatings of the fairy tale, and Gaiman is clearly one of the most gifted writers on the planet when it comes to doing this.
I also loved The End of the World by Kate Atkinson for the same reason--and reviewed that at length on my blog. Okay, hers were more updatings of Greek and Roman myths, but you get the idea More...
4 comments
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(3 people liked it)
Jul 23, 2010
Infinite Playlist
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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10 comments
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(2 people liked it)
Dec 01, 2008
Kerfe
rated it:
I have not read Neil Gaiman's novels but I've heard good things about them. This collection is obviously not a good place to start reading his work. First off, the intro was irritating. The self-satisfied aren't-I-wonderful? name dropping tone was kind of overbearing, and probably put me in an extra-critical mood.
The short story is unforgiving; you don't have time for slow bits, or parts that sound like you've read them already somewhere before. And paying homage is tricky too-- More...
The short story is unforgiving; you don't have time for slow bits, or parts that sound like you've read them already somewhere before. And paying homage is tricky too-- More...
4 comments
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(8 people liked it)
Feb 26, 2011
Anadeathduarte
rated it:
{spoiler-free review}
I don't need to say that I love pratically 99% of this book. Only one short story did not make my heart beat faster. Neil Gaiman > God!
First of all, the Brazilian edition is different from the American one, starting with the fact that it was divided into 2, and I have to check that, but I've heard that there are different stories/poems in them as well.
From the start. I liked the Brazilian translation a lot, and not only because I am a t More...
I don't need to say that I love pratically 99% of this book. Only one short story did not make my heart beat faster. Neil Gaiman > God!
First of all, the Brazilian edition is different from the American one, starting with the fact that it was divided into 2, and I have to check that, but I've heard that there are different stories/poems in them as well.
From the start. I liked the Brazilian translation a lot, and not only because I am a t More...
Oct 19, 2011
Levi
rated it:
This was my first Gaiman experience, and it was a worthwhile one. The collection is composed of short stories, poems, and a long story/novella at the end. There are spooks and creeps and cranks and, every once in a while, a hero, or at least someone who at the end of the story is not a monster. A few highlights are: Sunbird, a tale of Epicureans on a quest to eat a phoenix; How to Talk to Girls at Parties, which outlines just that considering how the girls are a little, um, alien; Goliath, a tri
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(2 people liked it)
Jan 23, 2009
Jean
rated it:
Three stars for this one because I really liked some of the stories, I really disliked others, and while the prose is well-written, I just don't think Gaiman is a poet.
I'd rather not dwell on the negatives, so briefly, here are the stories I didn't like: "Other People" and "The Problem of Susan." "Other People" is a sickening description of one man's hell--literally hell, as in the afterlife. Of course, a description of hell should be sickening and distu More...
I'd rather not dwell on the negatives, so briefly, here are the stories I didn't like: "Other People" and "The Problem of Susan." "Other People" is a sickening description of one man's hell--literally hell, as in the afterlife. Of course, a description of hell should be sickening and distu More...
3 comments
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(4 people liked it)
Apr 24, 2008
Kristen
rated it:
I owe Neil Gaiman a huge debt.
Not only for his exceptional contribution to literature, and the arts in general, over the last few years.
But for this reason: Reading "Fragile Things" has confirmed one of my greatest fears.
I don't like short story compilations.
It all started with Alice Munroe's "Hateship Loveship Friendship Courtship" or whatever it's called. I could not get through that book no matter how hard I tried. And I tried. Ever More...
Not only for his exceptional contribution to literature, and the arts in general, over the last few years.
But for this reason: Reading "Fragile Things" has confirmed one of my greatest fears.
I don't like short story compilations.
It all started with Alice Munroe's "Hateship Loveship Friendship Courtship" or whatever it's called. I could not get through that book no matter how hard I tried. And I tried. Ever More...
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(3 people liked it)
Feb 02, 2009
Ryk
rated it:
Well, of course it's good- it's Gaiman. Although some of the stories are not his greatest, still, his throw-aways are better than many writer's best.
"October in the Chair" is downright spooky, with one of the most unnerving endings, ever. And of course, "The Monarch of the Glens" ( a story featuring the character Shadow from "American Gods") is a welcome "next chapter" of that novel. I hope there will be more of him from Gaiman in the futu
"October in the Chair" is downright spooky, with one of the most unnerving endings, ever. And of course, "The Monarch of the Glens" ( a story featuring the character Shadow from "American Gods") is a welcome "next chapter" of that novel. I hope there will be more of him from Gaiman in the futu
Oct 14, 2007
Dave-O
rated it:
There are original flights of the imagination in this collection as in "Sunbird" in which an eccentric eater's club meets their match or "A Study in Emerald" which re-imagines Sherlock Holmes and Watson's meeting. One story "The Problem of Susan" is downright tragic as it argues against the act of sanitizing children's literature. In it, Susan from the C.S. Lewis Narnia series is alive as an accomplished elderly professor who is forced by an interviewer to think abo
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(2 people liked it)
Aug 18, 2011
Sheherazahde
rated it:
This is a collection of short stories and poems by Neil Gaiman. Mr Gaiman has mentioned that he does not like to write novel length horror stories because he does not want to live anywhere that dark for the length of time it would be necessary to write a novel. Reading all these stories at once is bit like living in a very dark place for much too long. So I recommend reading them slowly over time. They are too good to pass up altogether. [return][return]"A Study in Emerald" is a
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Aug 05, 2011
This is one of the hardest books to review that I've come across. A few of these stories are really good, examples being October in the Chair and Sunbird. However, there are several that are just not very well thought out, and several that disturbed me enough to make me wonder if I want to read any more of Gaiman's work. If you believe that God is evil, then you will love The Problem of Susan. If you don't, then this story will seriously make you nauseous--it's one of the most truly perverte
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(1 person liked it)
Feb 11, 2011
Klytia
rated it:
Come per Smoke and Mirrors, anche in questa raccolta di racconti non manca nulla: favole, fantasy, orrore, gotico, fantascienza e un pizzico di sesso.
Molti dei racconti hanno ricevuto premi e il più famoso è sicuramente A Study in Emerald, vincitore del premio Hugo come miglior racconto breve. A Study in Emerald, come dice Gaiman, è una storia in cui i personaggi di Conan Doyle incontrano le creazioni da incubo di Lovecraft. Oltre al racconto sono molto bizzarre le introduzioni ai vari capitoli, More...
Molti dei racconti hanno ricevuto premi e il più famoso è sicuramente A Study in Emerald, vincitore del premio Hugo come miglior racconto breve. A Study in Emerald, come dice Gaiman, è una storia in cui i personaggi di Conan Doyle incontrano le creazioni da incubo di Lovecraft. Oltre al racconto sono molto bizzarre le introduzioni ai vari capitoli, More...
Jul 22, 2010
Benjamin
rated it:
Another satisfying read from Mr. Gaiman. The man never fails to impress and I was very happy when my book club voted to read this wonderful collection of poems, short stories, and novellas for our October selection. All the stories in this collection were enjoyable and none of them were disappointing to me. There were a few that stood out to me though:[return][return]A Study in Emerald: I have never read Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, but I have read some Lovecraft. This mixture of the two had me laugh
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Apr 16, 2010
GaryandRuth
rated it:
A collection of widely varied short stories, the first of which is a superb alternate universe version of Sherlock Holmes involved in a Cthulhu Mythos murder case - brilliantly written. The Runt's story is powerful and hidden amongst stories from months of the year.
Some stories are wistful and fantastic, some contain dark shades of horror and the occasional poem, such as the Fairy Reel, are very clever and beautiful breaks. 'Going Wodwo' is a beautiful poem about returning to nature. The coffee More...
Some stories are wistful and fantastic, some contain dark shades of horror and the occasional poem, such as the Fairy Reel, are very clever and beautiful breaks. 'Going Wodwo' is a beautiful poem about returning to nature. The coffee More...
Mar 21, 2009
Robert
rated it:
Fragile things is yet another compilation of Neil Gaiman’s short stories and poetry. Most of these stories have seen life in other publications, but I suppose if you don’t subscribe to every short story magazine, nor buy every short story anthology, chances are you haven’t seen many, if any, of these stories before.
Once again, reading these, it just comes back that Gaiman is our own modern myth maker. When Gaiman does a full length novel, you can feel the myth and magic simmering along More...
Once again, reading these, it just comes back that Gaiman is our own modern myth maker. When Gaiman does a full length novel, you can feel the myth and magic simmering along More...
Dec 05, 2011
Ms. Library
rated it:
Mr. Gaiman doesn’t disappoint: I have decided that Mr. Gaiman must actually be magical, because there is no other explanation for the kind of aura he gives his stories. You know you are in a Neil Gaiman story, because you suddenly have the same feeling of wide-eyed-wonder (or fear of monsters), as you did when you were a child. This is not a bad thing; its a wonderful thing. When I read a Gaiman story, I am transported to some of the best experiences of childhood, and some of the best readin
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Sep 29, 2011
Sandino
rated it:
По принцип много харесвам Нийл Геймън и съм му чел всичко освен Anansi Boys. Тоя сборник обаче ми залежаваше по рафтовете от доста време, защото като изключим Шекли и Кинг, с малки изключения не си подам особено по късата форма. За съжаление и тази книга не ми промени мнението. Хич не ми хареса. Има увод в който Геймън пише по няколко думи за всеки от разказите. От там се разбира, че повечето ги е писал по поръчка, по конкретен повод, с точно зададена тема- разни списания, тематични антологии, д
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Jul 27, 2011
Jenny Sparrow
rated it:
"Хрупкие вещи" Нила Геймана - сборник рассказов, стихов и повестей автора, написанных им для разных конкурсов и по просьбе друзей, знакомых и даже дочерей (этакий подарок ко дню рождения). Написанных блестяще и в лучших нилгеймановских традициях - мрачные, готичные постмодернистские истории с обязательной долей мистики, неразрывно связанные, однако, с нашей повседневной современной реальностью. Тут и вампиры, и герои мифов и народных сказаний (в одной из повестей мы снова встретимся с
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Jul 06, 2011
Susan
rated it:
I was totally captivated by the stories in this compilation. Many of them are a type I wouldn't normally choose: at the end, it is still not possible to figure out logically exactly who (or what) everyone was, and often it's not even clear exactly what happened. Too, several of them verged a bit more into horror than I prefer. But there's something about the way Gaiman tells a story that simply wouldn't let me stop listening. And it was terrific that Gaiman himself was reading them.
I d More...
I d More...
Jun 02, 2011
Sarah
rated it:
It's pretty much heresy to say this in the SF community, but I don't really like Neil Gaiman. He's a perfectly competent re-worker of myth, but there's just not that much in his stuff for me. There are other writers who really know how to craft an old story so that it sings in a living voice, and for me, he's just not one of them. There's no there there, as the lady said. It's like watching a mediocre episode of Star Trek NG. Some tepid drama, a little moralizing, some fancy sets, and you're don
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(2 people liked it)
May 19, 2011
Dish
rated it:
I picked up this book while preparing to embark on a flight from Heathrow to Hong Kong, with the thought of twelve hours of aching bones and uncomfortable chairs looming ahead. I was not, at the time, familiar with Neil Gaiman beyond having seen his name tossed around on various book blogs. As a fan of Tori Amos, I had some idea of his genre, but no clear perspective of what I was getting into.
All this to say that my journey through Fragile things was a long and meandering one. I mana More...
All this to say that my journey through Fragile things was a long and meandering one. I mana More...
May 04, 2011
Ryan
rated it:
Darker than I expected - some was pretty dark, even for me, but I appreciate Gaiman's darkness perhaps because he sees the dark so differently. I enjoyed the Study in Emerald - an exception to the general rule that its tough to use familiar characters. October in the Chair reminded me of the fairy tale about the 12 Seasons and the young girl whose stepmother sent her out for strawberries in the dead of winter though it was nothing like that. Keepsakes and Treasures was one of the distressing one
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Feb 15, 2011
Jamie
rated it:
I like short story compilations. I like being able to pick up a book and read a story on my lunchbreak or by the pool on a nice day and then put it away until I'm between books, waiting for a shipment from Amazon or simply in the mood.
"Forbidden Brides of the Faceless Slaves in the Secret House of the Night of Dread Desire" (what a title) was my favorite story. Mostly because I'd just finished reading The Castle of Otranto, this is the first Gaiman story that made me LO More...
"Forbidden Brides of the Faceless Slaves in the Secret House of the Night of Dread Desire" (what a title) was my favorite story. Mostly because I'd just finished reading The Castle of Otranto, this is the first Gaiman story that made me LO More...
Jan 29, 2011
Tancredi
rated it:
"Stories, like people and butterflies and songbirds' eggs and human hearts and dream, are also fragile things, made up of nothing stronger or more lasting than twenty-six letters and a handful of punctuation marks.
(...)
... but some stories have outlasted all the people who told them, and some of them have outlasted the lands in wich they were created."
[dall'Introduzione]
(...)
... but some stories have outlasted all the people who told them, and some of them have outlasted the lands in wich they were created."
[dall'Introduzione]
Sia sempre lode a Neil Gaiman.
Fragile Things è una bella raccolta di racconti, in cui c'è di tutto, proprio di
Jun 28, 2010
Ian
rated it:
Collections are difficult beasts to handle, especially when they bring together material that ranges from the very short to the novella, touching different genres and subgenres, often out of the original context they were written for.
It is easy, when rating such a book on the whole, to base yourself on the parts you didn't like rather than the bits you liked - and there are some stories and snippets I felt fell flat, or didn't really add anything to the book. I also think that the bits wr More...
It is easy, when rating such a book on the whole, to base yourself on the parts you didn't like rather than the bits you liked - and there are some stories and snippets I felt fell flat, or didn't really add anything to the book. I also think that the bits wr More...
Mar 05, 2010
Nic
rated it:
Note to self: when hoping to familiarize oneself with the form of the short story, do not choose book of short stories by Neil Gaiman.
I liked the writing, and there were a few stories that I enjoyed: "A Study in Emerald," "Forbidden Brides of the Nameless Slaves in the Secret House of the Night of Dread Desire," and "Goliath." Mostly, though, I just didn't like the stories. I found a number of the characters and scenes totally repugnant, and was kind More...
I liked the writing, and there were a few stories that I enjoyed: "A Study in Emerald," "Forbidden Brides of the Nameless Slaves in the Secret House of the Night of Dread Desire," and "Goliath." Mostly, though, I just didn't like the stories. I found a number of the characters and scenes totally repugnant, and was kind More...
