Anansi Boys

By Neil Gaiman

In this #1 New York Times bestseller, Neil Gaiman returns to the territory of his masterpiece, American Gods to once again probe the dark recesses of the soul.

God is dead. Meet the kids.

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 is on his doorstep—about to make Fat Charlie’s life more interesting . . . and a lot more dangerous.

“Thrilling, spooky, and wondrous.” —Denver Post

“Awesomely inventive.… When you take the free-fall plunge into a Neil Gaiman book, anything can happen and anything invariably does.” —Entertainment Weekly

“Delightful, funny and affecting.... A tall tale to end all tall tales.” —Washington Post Book World

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: Oct 13, 2009
• ISBN: 9780061794971

Neil Gaiman

Neil Gaiman is the New York Times bestselling and multi-award winning author and creator of many beloved books, graphic novels, short stories, film, television and theatre for all ages. He is the recipient of the Newbery and Carnegie Medals, and many Hugo, Nebula, World Fantasy, and Will Eisner Awards. Neil has adapted many of his works to television series, including Good Omens (co-written with Terry Pratchett) and The Sandman. He is a Goodwill Ambassador for the UN Refugee Agency UNHCR and Professor in the Arts at Bard College. For a lot more about his work, please visit: https://www.neilgaiman.com/

Reviews for Anansi Boys

[rstanfield_6 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A story about Anansi's sons. Part fantasy, part mystery. A fun and humorous read, although I have heard rumors that American Gods by Gaimen was even better (must put that on my "to read" list).

[chelseaknits-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Very good. Not as deep as American Gods, but moves more quickly.

[shanaqui_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I have no idea why, but I didn't like this book anywhere near as much as American Gods. It's still interesting and fun to read, but... there's a different tone, definitely.

[pussreboots · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I didn't like the first 35 pages or so. Gaimen takes too long to get the story set up. Things start to get intersting once Charlie learns about Spider. The little parables at the end of some chapters are worth skipping as well as they break the flow of the story.

[louisu_2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

American Gods is one of the better books in the great books that is the plethora of books in my Neil Gaiman library. One of the minor players in the book of American Gods comes out as a player whose fingers reach all across the pages of Anansi Boys. The story deals with the events that happen during the course of a god's death and the fall out from those that have come from him. The one person at the center of this story is the unfortunate son of Anansi named Charles "Fat Charlie" Nancy who has never really been fat except for a small period of time in his youth. It seems that since his father is the trickster god of African culture and a storyteller, it is one of his abilties that if he names something. That name will stick with someone for quite some time. It turns out that Charlie is planning on getting married and his fiancee decides that they should in fact invite his family to their wedding which spurs him to the finding of his father who has not been in his life for quite some time. It turns out that his father is dead and on his way home his entire world is turned upside or at least the beginnings of chaos. Apparently he has a brother who he has never met, but apparently has the powers he never possessed. It turns that his father was a god, a very funny one at that. It turns out that he calls upon his brother to visit and when Spider comes into his world he disrupts the entire foundation of the life of his brother. In retrospect it may be for the greater good, but in a lot of ways it may be a lot more dangerous than anything either brother has everexperienced.Where American Gods is a dark comedy introducing th reader into the world of gods and legends working and living in gas stations alongside our everyday existence. Shadow is an introduction to this world moving and learning where death and shady dealings lurk around every corner. Fat Charlie is a comedic twist and turn of how this world can be funny and entertaining for a child born of the gods. Great book and ton of fun for all those who choose to venture into this world.

[veracite · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It was fun, I know I enjoyed it, but now I come to review it I don't much remember what happened.

[susiesharp_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Ah Neil you did it again..I just love anything this man writes!!And this one was no exception!I won't go into the whole story you can read that above,but the characters in this book had me laughing.There wasn't any flat characters at all they were all so fleshed out so you cared what happened to each and everyone of them including the bad guy!Loved it!

[pauljessup_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Not anywhere near as good as American Gods, and not anywhere near as funny as Good Omens. Most of the jokes fell flat, as well as most of the characters. Felt more like a bad buddy-comedy film and less like a Gaiman novel.

[quibee · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A good story enhanced by the narrating of Lenny Henry.

Plain old ordinary Fat Charlie Nancy's life changed when he met up with a brother he didn't know he had after his father dies. His brother Spider is special and absconds with Charlie's life and his girl friend. Fat Charlie fights back and makes things much worse by calling on help he can't control.

[mountie9_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I have heard over the years mention that this is a sequel to American Gods and it pales in comparison to its original. I have just recently finished listening to American Gods, and yes, it isn't as brilliant as the original, but it sill is a fabulous story. Honestly, it is also a little more accessible to someone like me, who is of more of a simple intelligence. The story is fast paced, interesting and like Gaiman, totally unique. I listened to the audio version and the narrator was brilliant, he brought to life each and every one of the characters. Just a little added note, much of Fat Charlie's commentary on Rosie's mom made me laugh so hard, there were tears. Favourite Quotes“Of course, everyone's parents are embarrassing. It goes with the territory. The nature of parents is to embarrass merely by existing, just as it is the nature of children of a certain age to cringe with embarrassment, shame, and mortification should their parents so much as speak to them on the street. “It's funny. I thought she'd live through anything."Charlie said, "Me too. I figured even if there was a nuclear war, it would still leave radioactive cockroaches and your mum.”

[vzakuta · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Neil Gaiman is one of the most original sci fi / fantasy writers around. "Anansi Boys" is a really good book from him. He mines African legends and urban humor for quite a trip along the wonderful and twisted path that is the plot of the novel. The novel is rich in imagery and also presents great archetypes and opposites-- the trickster god, the good/bad son, feminine/ masculine, religion/science and many more. I highly recommend.

[osmium_antidote · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I love British humor - not because it is funnier or more intellectual, but because British authors make no excuses. This story is absurd and delightful. It is fast-paced with a lot of movement.

[simonw11 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

a good lighter book set in the same mileu. as American Gods. Fat Charlie Nancy's father who seems to have existed only to embarass his stick-in-the-mud son has died. unknown to him his dad was a god and now the brother he did not know he had has turned up at his door. stealing his girl, upsetting his job and using all those godly powers Charlies just doesn't seem to have inherited.although I read the book I will take a moment to also reccomend Lenny Henry's audio verison.

[orangemonkey_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Ah, there seems to be no better way to start off the year than with a new Neil Gaiman book. Especially since this is a sort-of-sequel to Gaiman's best work, American Gods, and features the two children of Anansi, Fat Charlie and Spider, as they journey to learn more about themselves and their heritage. It featured a lot of the wit, humour, and literary hipsterness that Gaiman is so well known for.

[kmaziarz_4 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Fat Charlie Nancy…who was only fat between the ages of 10 and 14 but has never been able to shake the nickname…has always been embarassed of his suave, story-spinning, flirtatious and tricky father, Mister Nancy and the two haven’t spoken in years. So when Fat Charlie reluctantly calls to invite his father to his impending nuptials, he is surprised to learn that Mister Nancy has actually just died. When Fat Charlie flies from London to Florida for the funeral, he learns one more surprising fact: he has a brother he’s never known existed. One of the other mourners at the funeral tells him that if he wants to contact his brother, ask a spider. And one drunken night back in London, that’s exactly what he does. And who should appear, but the tall, handsome Spider, who is everything that Fat Charlie isn’t: tall, handsome, in shape, suave, well-spoken…and, incidentally, in possession of some hefty magical powers inherited from their father, who happened to actually be the West African spider god, Anansi. Spider, a mischievous sort just like their father, proceeds to take over and ruin Fat Charlie’s life by seducing his fiancee, getting him fired, getting him arrested for a white collar crime he didn’t commit, and introducing Fat Charlie to the magical world of the other African animal deities. It’s up to Fat Charlie to prove that he, too, is his father’s son and take his life back from Spider’s meddling hands.Fast-paced, clever, and inventive, “Anansi Boys” is a treat. Dealing closely with African folklore, but also firmly ensconced in the real world, the novel is both funny and heart-warming by turns. Highly recommended.

[afyfe_5 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I expected a lot more out of this book. Since it was BPP book club book and the other ones I've read from their recommendations were great and the fact that I usually love fantasy/sci-fi. This book was just not enough and I didn't think the story amounted to much. Maybe a better ending would've made me like the book more, but the ending was too dull and not dramatic enough for all these crazy characters.

[grandy_2 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Very unusual read, have never read a book quite like this one, almost quit reading but had to find out what it was about, could have done without some of it but it was okay kind of weird.

[terpsichoreus · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

One can catch snips of wit in any of Gaiman's books. Any good book must include some humor: an author might as futilely try to excise pain or desire from life as humor. Gaiman has never placed any such artificial limits on his work; indeed, the only limits on his books are those he, himself cannot overcome.Previously, his humor was only an occasional element, but there was apparently something in the writing of this particular book which finally allowed him to unleash his sense of the comic as a whole entity. The text swims and bobs with the ridiculous, the unfortunate, and the clever.After reading the book 'Good Omens', written by Gaiman and Prachett, I was told that without Prachett, it would have retained none of the humor. I now begin to wonder whether Prachett's only addition to that book was the predictable and banal snatches which so fill his discworld books. Indeed, this work of Gaiman's overshadows that earlier work in both degrees and shades of the insightful and entertaining.The book also works as an amusing analysis of storytelling itself, so that anyone who studies the nature and classification of tales will find certain asides and references particularly amusing. It is rare these days that an author will write a piece of fiction which explores on a subtextual level a concept or idea fundamental to the work itself. I have come to wish that more authors could gain the audacity that Gaiman found here.There is a degree to which this story matches Gaiman's usual monomythic progression from naive outsider to coy insider, which at the outset was my greatest difficulty with the work. The inevitability and redundancy of this trope makes me wish for Gaiman's more eccentric and perverse moments. However, I found in the clever and skilled text a story worth experiencing, and one which matches or exceeds Gaiman's other attempts in the modern fantasy genre.The story is not as epic or dire as Gaiman's tend to be, and without that there is a loss of urgency in the story. This is not really a deficiency, however, as the playful humor could not cohabitate comfortably with an ever-steepening plot curve.The work fits into Gaiman's usual mode, exploring the myths and psychologies that most interest him. It may lose some of his fans in that it is less dark and brooding, less hopeless, but this could hardly be counted a loss. Any reader who wants more of the same can re-read his old works. the rest of us may appreciate seeing a master storyteller exploring his form in a new and engaging way.

[shelfmonkey · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Charlie Nancy has a number of tribulations in his life. For one, his nickname “Fat Charlie,�? which has stubbornly clung to him “like chewing gum to the sole of a tennis shoe,�? despite the fact that he has never been fat in his life.His father is another problem, albeit one that he has happily managed to avoid for years. But now, after his father passes away during a drunken karaoke serenade, Fat Charlie unearths two new problems; a brother, Spider, whom he never knew existed, and a heritage he could never possibly have conceived of.Charlie’s father, as it happens, was not merely Mr. Nancy, but Anansi, the African trickster spider god of legend from “when the world was young, and all the stories were being told for the first time.�? And while this comes as a shock to Charlie, it should come as no surprise to fans of author Neil Gaiman, who excels at this sort of far-fetched plot twist.The British fantasist created a legion of fans through his celebrated Sandman comics, and then managed the feat of ably transferring his skills to the non-visual medium of literature. After some well-received novels and children’s stories (most notably Coraline), he managed a critical and commercial breakthrough with his last effort American Gods, nabbing both the Bram Stoker and Hugo Awards for best novel.Anansi Boys, his latest, takes a page from Gods in envisioning a world where the myths of our past still exist, haunting the highways and searching for a place for themselves. But where Gods was a shadowy, genre-busting epic, the pseudo-sequel Boys is a fast-paced lark, a weird family comedy that combines mysticism, criminal acts, pratfalls, and killer birds, while also functioning as an examination into how our stories sustain us.Like his novel Neverwhere, Gaiman sets his tale around a protagonist forcibly introduced to the world of the supernatural. Charlie is inherently unprepared for sharing a flat with Spider, a god-like sibling who “would not have recognized guilt if he had an illustrated guide to it with all the component parts clearly labeled.�? His regimented world in disarray, Charlie takes the drastic step of consulting the “postmenopausal mafia,�? four elderly ladies who somehow know all about Charlie’s father, and may wield a cure for his ancestral ills.The overall effect of Anansi Boys is of an author enjoying himself immensely, mixing the dark terrors of Clive Barker with the bizarre humour of Douglas Adams and offbeat characterization of Joe R. Lansdale. Boys resembles nothing so much as Gaiman’s own Good Omens, a gut-splitting account of two demons who inadvertently misplace the antichrist at birth, instead raising a boy who has no evil inclinations whatsoever. Anansi Boys has the same archaic spirit, as Gaiman throws everything against the wall to see what sticks. The end result is a lumpy, indulgent, and exceedingly funny ode to familial relations. Anansi Boys may not be Gaiman at his best, but it is Gaiman at his most relaxed, spinning stories as memorable as they are ethereal.

[librarianinblack_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The single best thing Gaiman has written since Sandman. The weaving of mythological elements with a modern day story is truly genius. His amazing ability to craft entire worlds out of words is used to its fullest extent in Anansi Boys. Congratulations to an already amazing artist for creating another astounding new world for his fans.

[kassilem · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Another Gaiman book. I still can't quite reconcile myself around this author. He's still not my cup of tea but I think I've come to the point where there is something about his books that is charming in their own way. Maybe because they are so different than most other books I've read? If nothing else, they have certainly broadened my reading horizons :) It wasn't too long of a book however and it was on the list and I've been making a point of broadening my horizons, so it wasn't too bad in the end.

[kathywoodall · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Fat Charlie had always been a little embarrassed by his father. His father thought it was great fun to play practical jokes on him. Once when Fat Charlie was just a kid his father told him that if he went to school on Presidents Day dressed as his favorite president he would get a bag of candy and be the most popular kid in school. When Charlie confronted his dad after practically been laughed out of school his dad just laughed.Charlie’s fiance talks him into inviting his dad to their wedding. When Charlie calls he finds out his dad has died. While singing karaoke in a night club he suffers a fatal heart attack and dies’ but, not before though pulling down a woman’s tube top and exposing her to everyone.After the funeral Charlie is told 2 very important things about his dad. The first one is, he has a brother he never knew about. Second his father was a god.When Charlie asks how to get a hold of this so called brother he is told to talk to a spider. He does just that. Not long after his brother shows up at his apartment door. He gets more than he bargain's for with his brother. Spider turns poor Charlie’s life upside down.Very humorous and a fun story to read. An off beat comedy of 2 brothers learning that their dad truly was a god.

[bewise1_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

LOL funny at times, very imaginative and engaging story line. The spider god and his son(s).

[kikianika · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I haven't read Neil gaiman in a while, and I was surprised at how much I noticed his writing style and technique this time. I think it detracted slightly from my enjoyment, as I found it hard to immerse myself in the story without going 'Ooh, isn't that an interesting way to do it?'. Having said that, it was an awesome story. he's one of those insanely talented writers that make you look bad.

[alliebadger · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book was FANTASTIC. I've never read American Gods, although I think this book is related to it, and I plan on picking it up in the future. The basic plot is that Fat Charlie Nancy (who has been called Fat Charlie his whole life because his father once called him that and it stuck) has just found out his father died. He was always mortified by his father, but he finds out so much more--his father was the spider trickster god Anansi, and apparently he has a brother he never knew existed. Now with all of this magic and embarrassment in his life, he has to sort everything out and maybe put his life back together.Gaiman's quirky humor shines through in this novel. All of the separate story threads sparkle on their own, but by the end they are dazzling as they weave together to make his spider web of a story. It is a beautifully crafted, laugh-out-loud novel that you should definitely pick up.

[john_warner-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Tiger was the chief of the West African gods because he had the greater number of songs and stories. However, when Anansi, the trickster god, surpassed Tiger in the number of songs and stories, his authority grew and Tiger’s diminished. When Anansi dies, his son, “Fat Charlie” discovers the true identity of his father and learns that he has a brother, Spider. Wishing to see his brother, he is told by an acquaintance of his father, that all he needs to do is tell a spider, which he does. When the fun-loving Spider comes for a visit, Charlie discovers that he is in no hurry to leave. As his brother becomes more intertwined in Charlie’s life, Spider threatens Charlie’s romantic life, job and freedom. Charlie now must find the way to send the reluctant Spider away. However, to do so, he must inherit his godhood.I listened this book in an audiobook format, which really made it come alive. The narrator was Lenny Henry, a British stand-up comedian and actor, who skillfully differentiated the number of voices I especially loved his interpretation of Graham Coates, Fat Charlie’s boss, who spoke in one cliché after another. Neil Gaiman peppered the novel with various Anansi myths which provided depth to the story.

[doncranford · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I love Gaiman's writing. It's witty and downright laugh-out-loud at times. He weaves this yarn like the pro he is. Clean language (not that I mind). Even what violence there is is played down and brief. Highly recommended. It is NOT a sequel to AMERICAN GODS but it does fall within that universe.

[vclarke-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Anansi Boys follows Fat Charlie, though he does not like to be called "Fat Charlie", as he discovers the truth about his father and the brother he never knew he had. Charlie's life was quiet and, if truth be told, boring. He worked a boring job and had a pretty boring life. When his fiancee, Rosie, encourages him to invite his father to their upcoming wedding, Fat Charlie learns that his father is dead. Mr. Nancy's death becomes the catalyst for all of Fat Charlie's adventures. Mrs. Higgler, an old woman and Charlie's former neighbor, explains all about his family's history. Charlie is the son of a god only he did not get "any of that god-business". The brother that Charlie didn't know he had got all of the magic. She tells Charlie to ask a spider if he would ever like to meet this mysterious brother.Everything goes down hill from there. Fat Charlie's mysterious and magical brother, Spider, shows up to begin his relationship with Charlie, the brother he did know about!Neil Gaiman's novel is funny, witty, charming and exciting. The relationship between Charlie and Spider is comical and touching. The brothers' relationship reminded me of my relationship with my sister. They fight in a way that only siblings can. While the relationship between the brothers is prominent, the book follows several other storylines as well. The book includes a cast of characters, such as Rosie, Charlie's do-good fiancee, who doesn't seem to know which brother is her fiance; Grahame Coats, Charlie's boss who loves to speak in idioms; Maeve Livingstone, a client Graham Coats is swindling; Mrs. Callyanne Higgler, an old woman who knows a bit of magic and a lot about Fat Charlie's family.

[nderdog · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great read! What a web Gaiman can weave with Spider and his brother. I will definitely read this one again.

[mohi_11 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

As a spin-off of the highly acclaimed 'American Gods' this book had plenty to live up to. And that has been its downfall. A fun tale that is hampered by the long shadow cast by its predecessor.