The WELL: inkwell.vue.257: Neil Gaiman, "Anansi Boys"

#87: Daniel (dfowlkes) Mon 21 Nov 05 03:35

Mon, 21 Nov 2005 03:35:00 PST

<scribbled by dfowlkes Tue 3 Jul 12 10:14> [Read entire topic]

#86: Melanie Hamilton (hamilton) Sun 20 Nov 05 18:33

Sun, 20 Nov 2005 18:33:00 PST

Ahh. It's now a week later. I inhaled the story in two breaths: one for the initial shock of entering the story and the next to relax and let go. I'm of the sort who don't always get jokes and cry at the wrong kind of practical joke, so Fat Charlie's tales of his life with his father hurt. (exhale. do some chores. come back tomorrow). I love the old women. None of my relatives, fortunately. These are women I would have loved to have been around for all of their insistence that you eat. It's their companionship with magic that I wish for.

All through the narration, I could hear Lenny Henry's voice. I'd only heard a few seconds of the reading online because I didn't want to know too much of the story before I read it. But, that was enough. I had this thought that he should play both parts when the movie is made. Any thoughts ever on who might play Mr. Nancy? I can't think of anyone mischievous enough with sufficient sense of turning the universe inside out at will, who would also look good in lemon yellow gloves.

I think my favorite character is Daisy. Especially how you use her to remind us to listen for our own song. And a huge chuckle when the sensible cop got drowned out by "Evildoers beware!" I know that kind of "Oh, Hi! Remember me?" appearance. Then one night, waiting for the bus, it struck me. I know only one Gilbert and Sullivan operetta decently. So, when I kept hearing "Tarantara, tarantara, tarantara!", I finally asked, why?..... OH! Daisy! I may not know the words and music of her song, but she has a little bit of those policemen going on during the soapy bits.

All in all, a lovely time. I don't know if you started out to write an Anansi story, or a story about Anansi that Anansi made sure was one of his; I'm just glad you don't write Tiger stories. There's enough of them trying to be told.

Thank you. [Read entire topic]

#85: Andrew McFarlane (farlane) Sun 20 Nov 05 07:17

Sun, 20 Nov 2005 07:17:00 PST

Thanks for Anansi Boys, Neil. I heartily enjoyed it.

I spent a little time living and working in Barbados. A couple of pages into the book, I heard a voice say to me in Bajan* "He one of Anansi Boys".

For me, it was as if the resolution of your setting suddenly sharpened. Did you intend to evoke that with the title?

In any case, worked for me and I appreciate the way in which you weave subtle but powerfully evocative references into your tales.

* For those who don't know, Bajan is English, Barbados-style and can be relatively easy to totally impossible to follow for a non-speaker (I think in part dependent upon whether the speaker wants you to follow it or not). [Read entire topic]

#84: Melanie Hamilton (hamilton) Fri 11 Nov 05 11:24

Fri, 11 Nov 2005 11:24:00 PST

Oh clotilde, thanks for the tip. I'm so scrambled from research paper mixing with nanowrimo that I'd only got as far as opening the envelope and knowing it's here. Had to actively tell myself "you don't have to think of the next assingment till Saturday, earliest." Now I know how to coax myself into some quality downtime! [Read entire topic]

#83: Dodge (clotilde) Fri 11 Nov 05 08:20

Fri, 11 Nov 2005 08:20:00 PST

You should start with Anansi Boys with the weekend coming up. Unless you have something that must be done this weekend. It's one of those books hard to put down to you reach the end. [Read entire topic]

#82: Melanie Hamilton (hamilton) Thu 10 Nov 05 18:53

Thu, 10 Nov 2005 18:53:00 PST

Thanks bumbaugh! [Read entire topic]

#81: virtual community or butter? (bumbaugh) Thu 10 Nov 05 11:36

Thu, 10 Nov 2005 11:36:00 PST

<scorpio.ind.> for the discerning Scorpion. [Read entire topic]

#80: just (hamilton) Thu 10 Nov 05 10:16

Thu, 10 Nov 2005 10:16:00 PST

Happy Birtday, also. (see? Scorpio season. dontcha just love it!) [Read entire topic]

#79: Mary Roane (the-roane) Thu 10 Nov 05 09:31

Thu, 10 Nov 2005 09:31:00 PST

Neil--just in case you don't see it in 216, Happy Birthday! [Read entire topic]

#78: some pipsqueak popinjay pop star (tinymonster) Wed 9 Nov 05 19:18

Wed, 09 Nov 2005 19:18:00 PST

It's a bit early for San Francisco but right on time for Neil's current location, so:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, NEIL!!!!!!!!!! [Read entire topic]