Kirkus-Style Review: Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman

Neil Gaiman’s story begins with “Fat Charlie” Nancy, an employee at a travel agency and an impending marriage to the love of his life, his fiancé. Charlie gets the news that his Father has passed away. As Charlie mourns the loss of his father, and deals reconciles their troubled relationship with himself, his past begins to unravel.  In dealing with the loss of his father Fat Charlie learns that he may not have known his father as well as he that he had. As he digs into the past Fat Charlie learns of the existence of his brother, Spider. Further does Charlie’s life goes awry as he adjusts to living with his brother’s charming personality.

Gaiman’s narration weaves a tale reminiscent of age-old folk tales and urban fantasy as Charlie faces the reality of Gods and magic while trying to maintain his normal everyday London life. The story is light and whimsical as Gaiman builds this alternate reality where Gods walk among humans and their mischief and power disrupts daily life. The novel still holds an edge of excitement and anticipation as the reader hangs on to the decisions and whim of Charlie’s brother Spider, unpredictable in nature and magically mischievous. The reader aligns with Charlie and we learn together about who his father was, his past, and how to reconcile with each of these things in order to put his present back together.

The novel is laugh-out-loud funny with enough adventure to keep you reading. The memorable characters with realistic faults with not so realistic problems allows for the reader to relate to the characters without keeping it too real. A story solid enough to feel ancient and that will stay with you for ages. A great introduction to Gaiman’s work.