The Book Report Episode #43

Episode #42

Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman

The Book

20th September 2005 was the date of this book’s first publication, in hardback by Review. Then in paperback in October 2006 by Headline Review, an imprint of the Headline Publishing Group.

The copy I have is the 37 printing, created in 2021. The book has 484 pages. The story is 452 and then some acknowledgements, an interview and ultimately, some book recommendations.

The dedication, at the beginning of the book I did enjoy. It’s a dedication to you the reader, the unmet person going through a separate life. The person you may have met, in crossing.

The book was also released as a BBC radio play. Mr Gaiman wasn’t happy with the final product. It was also reproduced into a comic series. And lastly, we are waiting to see if it will finally be finished as a TV series, produced by Amazon.

What Did I Think

Charles Nancy or “Fat Charlie”, as he is known, has lost his mother and a few weeks later his dad as well. After going back to Florida to settle his dad’s effects with the help of a neighbour he finds out about his dad. His dad had spent most of his life mentally abusing Fat Charlie, by constantly playing pranks.

He finds out from his neighbour that he also has a brother and his brother, as well as; his dad, is a god.

This book is connected to another book written by Mr Gaiman: American Gods. It is the story of Shadow, son of A Odin, who was born to help with a coming war, although he doesn’t know this. I do recommend this book. It was also made into a TV series that was never finished.

In the end, Fat Charlie meets his brother and soon discovers that that was a mistake… for now. Spider ruins Charlie’s job and future marriage within a couple of days. Charlie tries to fix the situation by getting help from his old neighbours and friends, but that just makes it worse.

But it turns out that there’s another detail missing between the brothers that all started with a witch being pissed with him. And it went a little too far without the witch realising.

Flying

This story travels from England to Florida and back again, even on a trip to the beginning. The beginning is where all the original gods live. The underlying plot of the story is the battle between the spider and tiger god, for control of the storytelling. And a final destination, on an island named St Andrews (not a real place).

This was a great read. The story flowed nicely and even though I had to I couldn’t put the book down. But saying that, this isn’t his best work. It is still a good story but if you compare it to The Ocean at the End of the Lane. You would see a massive difference.

Would I Recommend

It’s Neil Gaiman! Of course, I recommend it. So please, give this book a go and enjoy a side chapter from the world of American Gods. And if you get a chance read American Gods as well.

Would you like to purchase your very own copy?

You could try these online stores: Amazon UK/USA. Waterstones. AbeBooks UK/ USA, Barnes and Noble and eBay UK/ USA.

Alternatively, you could try your local bookshop or even your local library.