[I never can really tell what a book review is all about. All I know is that it should not be a "Plot Summary". Here's my review of the book Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman.
Dedicated To Fat Charlie.]
“God is dead. Meet the kids.”
When I had first heard of Neil Gaiman, it was in one of the quizzes I'd attended; either here in Bangalore, or up in Delhi. I think he probably made an impression on me when he appeared in a “sci-fi-fantasy-lit quiz” here along with the likes of P. K. Dick and Terry Pratchet. Ever since, I've kept an eye out for books written by these three, so much so that my bro and me bought Gaiman's Graveyard Book (which featured in a question) last December.
While the Graveyard Book did get me back into reading (as in, it was the first book I'd read after 2 months), I found Gaiman's style of writing somewhat kiddish, and the book did not live up to my expectations. However, that was not the case with his Anansi Boys.
The book begins with a highly apt description of the protagonist; in fact, through a few incidents of his childhood. One's childhood leaves an impression on who one is, and Gaiman uses this to give us a quick and accurate description of “Fat” Charlie's character. A clumsy man with a life of embarassment, Charlie discovers only after his father's funeral that the old man was a 'god' and that he has a 'god' brother too.
Completely disbelieving, but still curious, he attempts to call his brother Spider. The next thing he knows, Spider has turned up on his front door, and has begun altering his life. While Charlie is an introvert whose only talent is that he sings very well, but only without an audience, Spider is a casual extrovert who takes what he wants when he wants it without the slightest thought for others or the slightest remorse for any of his actions. In no time, Spider has casually taken over his brother's life and left the latter with no say in the matter.
As retaliation, Charlie calls on the power of other gods to help him get rid of Spider. Without realizing it, he has awoken a force too powerful for them, while Spider has realized how he has screwed his brother's life. They join forces against all the enemies they are set against one after another, and end up fighting for their survival.
In terms of narration however, the book adopts an intermediary role in a number of places. Gaiman writes as if he is telling a story he already knows the ending of, and is making a point of it. With phrases like “if you were in his place, you too would” etc, he takes a grab at making the book sound personal in narration. Well, I personally don't like intermediary narrators. I prefer having a god-narrator, or a first-person narrator. The intermediary ones make you feel like you are a five year old listening to a story told by a grandfather at the dinner table or something.
Whereas I don't approve of the narrative style, the content is amazing. A tale of two brothers. Who have had no childhood memories together, and meet only after the passing of their father. In two weeks' time, Gaiman has managed to summarize the entire two decades' of my sibling life. From fights and bullying, to running off complaining to parents, to coming close after our own fashion, Gaiman has managed to write my siblinghood life down into a godlike tale of adventure, emotion and humour. For all those who have siblings (especially bros), this is a must-read; while for those who don't have them, this book is just what you need to find out just what you are missing out on!
