Ever get the feeling that something's trying to tell you someone?

[badseed1980]

Two nights ago, I dreamed about Anansi. This was unusual, since he's not a deity I deal with at all, and I don't even know many of his stories. I have read American Gods and Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman, though, and those novels are pretty much what I think about when I think of Anansi.

Anyway, in the dream, Anansi was in human form, and he was being tricksterish and clever and charming. We were hanging out and it was cool. When I woke up yesterday morning, I thought, "Hey, I should reread Anansi Boys!" So last night, I started doing so. I didn't get more than a few pages in before going to sleep.

Last night (really, early this morning) I dreamed about spiders. One was tiny and didn't bother me. Two were big - about the size of a silver dollar--and looked like black widows. They scared the fuck out of me. Then along came one about the size of a dinner plate, also looking like a black widow, and I screamed and woke up.

Yeah. So. Anyway, the subject line is from Sandman: Preludes and Nocturnes. It occurred to me today.

Comments

[unferth.livejournal.com]

For a different take on Anansi, check out China Miéville's King Rat.

Also Jane Linskold's Changer, though that's a less memorable book. Still not bad, but slighter.

I haven't read Anansi Boys yet; I was somewhat disappointed with American Gods, so I'm not buying it in hardcover, and I haven't seen it at the library yet.

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

Oooh, thanks for the recommendations! I loved AG myself, but to each his own.

[unferth.livejournal.com]

It wasn't exactly bad - I didn't regret reading it or anything. I just didn't think it was up to the standard of his work on Sandman.

Coraline was better, but I think on the whole I prefer Gaiman's comics to his novels. Again, tastes will vary.

[tisana.livejournal.com]

I'm similar--I far prefer his short stories, like in Smoke and Mirrors, to his novels. They have far more punch to them.

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

Punch, yes. But I've found that his novels are like long and interesting dreams. I can sink into them far more easily than I can his short stories. The short stories I can appreciate more from the outside. The novels, I get more inside.

I love his graphic novels too.

[tisana.livejournal.com]

Which was your favorite?
(I meant novel, but graphic novel, too)

Strange though it may be, I love his writing, but I don't like most of the art in the Sandman comics, so it's harder to get into for me--I can't ignore things like that for the story. So I've only read a few of the comics, even though I call myself a comics geek.

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

Hmm. Favourite? It depends on what mood I'm in. It's like asking me my favourite restaurant: it depends on whether I'm in the mood for seafood, Mexican, beer, haute cuisine...even a restaurant I adore may be the last place I'd want to go on a given night, if I'm craving a different kind of food.

That said, I'm really really enjoying the tone of Anansi Boys as I re-read it. It's got rhythm.

[cudubh.livejournal.com]

Best advice from Anansi:"Never pass up an opportunity to sleep, eat or piss... you don't know when you'll get a chance again"

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

Very good advice, too!