BOTM - Anansi Boys

[Brianna]

Our second mythic fantasy group read for March is:

Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman

This book is second in the American Gods series by Neil Gaiman.

Summary Provided by GoodReads:

Fat Charlie Nancy's normal life ended the moment his father dropped dead on a Florida karaoke stage. Charlie didn't know his dad was a god. And he never knew he had a brother.

Now brother Spider's on his doorstep -- about to make Fat Charlie's life more interesting... and a lot more dangerous.

Questions:

Have you read the first book in the series, American Gods? If so, did it entice you to want the read Anansi Boys?

Has anyone read this book already? If so, do you plan on rereading it?

What thoughts do have about the book? Do you think you'll like it? Or is it something you just can't see yourself reading?

[Shomeret]

I have read both American Gods and Anansi Boys. Anansi Boys is a much lighter story than American Gods. Anansi is an African trickster deity like the Scandinavian Loki. They both play tricks on humans and can't be trusted. I thought Anansi Boys was readable and entertaining. It's not in the league of American Gods which I thought was awesome because it caused me to think about its concept.

[Len]

I'm still reading it (I'm like 30% through it, although I expect to finish it next week). I will tell some of my first impressions.

So far, I'm liking it more than I liked American Gods. Maybe it's because the mythology of this book is right from the beginning one that is unknown to me. I had never read about african deities, and I'm still wondering what their powers exactly are or what motivates them.

The other reason I'm liking this book is that I sympathize with Fat Charlie TOO MUCH. I feel so sorry for him that I physically cringe each time that something embarrasing happens to him. (view spoiler)[ I've just read when Spider puts "a penny in the jar" of Charlie's fiancée... Poor him! (hide spoiler)]

[Brianna]

I plan on starting it this afternoon. I have Scribd, which I pay $8.99 for every month, and they have the audiobook version on there. So, I plan to listen to that while adding and getting things ready for this group to keep going since April is almost here.

@Elena I've never read a book about African deities either, so this sounds very interesting to me. I'm glad that you are liking the book.

[[deleted user]]

Shomeret wrote: "I have read both American Gods and Anansi Boys. Anansi Boys is a much lighter story than American Gods. Anansi is an African trickster deity like the Scandinavian Loki. They both play tricks on h..."


Shomeret, do you think reading American Gods first would be best, or can these books be read in any order?

[Shomeret]

Talia wrote: "Shomeret wrote: "I have read both American Gods and Anansi Boys. Anansi Boys is a much lighter story than American Gods. Anansi is an African trickster deity like the Scandinavian Loki. They both..."

Talia, American Gods and Anansi Boys are actually both standalones. They don't share any characters and the tone of the two books is very different. I think it's the publisher that's marketing them as a duology. Don't worry about the order in which you read them.

[[deleted user]]

Shomeret wrote: "Talia wrote: "Shomeret wrote: "I have read both American Gods and Anansi Boys. Anansi Boys is a much lighter story than American Gods. Anansi is an African trickster deity like the Scandinavian Lo..."


Good to know - thanks! I'm going to try to squeeze in Anansi Boys this month.

[Brianna]

I'm loving this book so far. I find it so amusing that they always refer to the main character as Fat Charlie instead of just Charlie. Every time they say Fat Charlie I keep imagining a kid or teenager instead of a grown man. I'm 34% in and I feel so bad for Fat Charlie. I would never want to have a brother like that (well in my case a sister like that). (view spoiler)[ his brother Spider is sleeping with his wife and has him being investigated by the police (hide spoiler)] I have second thoughts about ever wishing I had a twin. On the other hand though I think it would be interesting to find out that (view spoiler)[ my dad is a God (hide spoiler)]

I feel the same way Elena does about Fat Charlie. I keep sitting here wishing that Fat Charlie is just having a very horrible nightmare.

@Talia I had the same concern you did about thinking I'd be reading this book out of order because it is shown as the second book in the American Gods series. I've never read American Gods, but from the style of this book I think I'll have to give it a try. Hope you can squeeze the book in this month.

[Len]

I finished the book (and in time!). I think that it is the funniest book that I have read of mister Gaiman. It has really surprised me: I had only read of him Sandman, which is fairly serious, and I don't remember such a light tone in American Gods.

"Nothing happened. Nothing continued to happen. More Nothing. The Return of Nothing. Son of Nothing. Nothing Rides Again. Nothing and Abbott and Costello meet the Wolfman..."

A thing that I have loved is the little sense of divinity that we get from the book. I think that the author puts a lot of effort in creating purely human characters, as is Fat Charlie or his father. The divine stuff is expressed in purely human traits like songs and metaphors, not in purely magic stuff such as thunderbolts smiting the evil... It seemed to me as if being a god is just a matter of trying, that all human beings had inside them this capacity of being gods. Which is a great message. :D

[Brianna]

@Elena, I'm glad you enjoyed the book. It was pretty funny to me, but I wouldn't be able to compare to other Gaiman novels being that this is the first book I've read (well listened to) by Neil Gaiman. I must say that I expected some unworldly power that they would have, but like you said there was nothing like that. The gods in this book just knew how to make the people around them feel good and happy. I agree that it is a great message.

I finished the book about two days ago, but I've been pretty busy with finishing up some other books I forgot to come post my thoughts of the book. I mean I do have a reminder set to do it on my phone, but I like for the book too still be pretty fresh in my mind.

I must say though that at some points I was a little confused especially with the whole birds thing.