A writer like no other, Neil Gaiman never fails to impress when it comes to his literary achievements. Over Spring Break, I had a chance to catch up on my reading list—which already includes several of Gaiman’s books—with his novel “Anansi Boys.”
“Anansi Boys” follows the journey of main character Charles “Fat Charlie” Nancy: a very typical man with an office job, modest London apartment and a fiancée. However, Charlie’s quiet life is flipped upside down when he learns of his estranged father’s sudden death on a karaoke stage. Flying back to his hometown of Florida to attend the funeral, Charlie is set on a path of otherworldly power and danger when his elderly neighbor reveals Charlie’s father was an ancient god. Not only that, Charlie has a brother named Spider. A seemingly complete opposite of Charlie, with god-like powers, a big personality and unending confidence, Spider invades Charlie’s life after being reunited. Suddenly thrown into chaos, Charlie loses his fiancée, job and peaceful life in one fell swoop. However, when Charlie begins to play with supernatural magic in an effort to restore order to his life, he quickly finds himself and those around him in grave danger when Charlie’s father’s nemesis, the god Tiger, comes for his revenge.
In an effort to save his brother, ex-fiancee and others from Tiger, Charlie is forced to tap into his own supernatural power—one he has suppressed for most of his life. As he does, Charlie has several revelations about his complex relationship with his father and brother—realizing they are more similar than previously believed. Forced out of his comfort zone and faced with a number of challenges, Charlie begins to realize there is more in the world for him than a simple, quiet life. Armed with a new sense of confidence, the novel concludes with Charlie’s dramatic confrontation of Tiger as he comes to terms with his newfound abilities, setting the once-typical man on a path out of the shadows and into the limelight.
As usual, Gaiman does a fantastic job at drawing his readers into his story. His writing style, imagery and unique plot all serve as ways to keep his readers engaged. The creativity Gaiman executes in applying mythology to modern day makes for an exciting, fresh story appealing to all types of readers. Each character comes to life for readers with vivid personalities, backstories and connections which culminate into a well-constructed novel. For any Gaiman fan, “Anansi Boys” is an absolute staple. And, for those looking for a new read, this book, or any of Gaiman’s other works, are a great place to look for an adventure which truly leaps off the pages.
