Comments | youngcurmudgeon: Neil Gaiman is ruining my life.

youngcurmudgeon

Neil Gaiman is ruining my life.

Mar 02, 2008 22:24

Okay, he isn't really. He (and his fabulous publishers) put American Gods online for a month for free. I'd never read it, so I'm going through it now (in between studying for my midterm and writing a paper), and ... I get why people say he's a good writer. He's fantastic at creating moods, all the characters are fascinating, etc. etc. However, this ( Read more... )

Comments 5

paraleipsis March 3 2008, 03:47:15 UTC

It...turns out okay? As I recall?

Watch hilarious things instead. Practically every episode of QI is on YouTube; I cannot recommend its therapeutic properties highly enough.

youngcurmudgeon March 3 2008, 04:05:28 UTC

Here's hoping; I had to stop when I reached part 2 as it became apparent I'd need some kind of drink or therapy to get me through it in one sitting. I haven't reacted so badly to a book since The Handmaid's Tale.

Eeeee, QI! If my system doesn't explode frmo the unadulterated Fry, that should work quite nicely. Thanks!

phabala86 March 3 2008, 05:23:11 UTC

I remember having a bit of an emotional breakdown when reading it. While 'American Gods' is quite brilliant, it is EXTREMELY dark. Most of Neil's work is. Hell, all of 'Sandman' is dark and a pretty fucked up. But you get through it with characters like Sam (if you haven't gotten that far, know you have someone to look forward to). Keep pushing through.

As for these Things in which you speak of, inquiring and concerned friends would like to know.

youngcurmudgeon March 3 2008, 05:34:19 UTC

Yeah, it's ... definitely not made of happy. Like, the scenery is evocative and things are cool! And yes, Sam is awesome. But when I finish Part One and my only happy thought is "... I really liked Anansi stories when I was little," there's something rotten in the state of Denmark. Or, rather, small-town Illinois.

Eh, I'll explain over IM. Just midterms and stupid drama, really.

use_theforce_em March 3 2008, 08:44:08 UTC

Ha. I'm beginning to realize that my view on "dark" is just entirely different from everyone else's. Because I really didn't consider the book to be incredibly dark at all. Well, it is, but that never made me upset or uncomfortable after I walked away from it. It's definitely not a fairly tale, so it's not going to move on at a happy trot like "Stardust".

On the up side, it doesn't end horribly. And "Anansi Boys" is much lighter, personally my favorite book of his.

I'd tell you to put it down until things clear up for you, but I know you won't. ;) Just pace yourself; you don't want to have a tainted view on the book because of other things casting a shadow over it.