Anansi Boys

Anasi Boys was an imaginative story like nothing I had read before. Gaiman’s story concept is relatable but wasn’t my personal choice of novel. Gaiman was able to relate to his readers by touching upon everyday matters most people encounter: annoying relatives, lame jobs, and difficult love lives. His main character, Anansi is a West African spider god. Within Gaiman’s novel is the protagonist, Fat Charlie, Anansi’s son. The novel is centered around Charlie’s struggle with his father’s past and discovery of the brother he was unaware he had. The humor Gaiman adds into his story gave me the ability to continue reading without losing interest entirely. Gaiman’s characters were a craft all in themselves, although I did not personally enjoy the fact that the main character was required to talk to a spider in order to communicate with his brother. This seemed a little too farfetched for me, personally. Overall, I feel Gaiman’s intention with this novel was to relate to everyday readers through common ground. Having his main character Charlie embarrassed by his father, gives readers a sense of understanding and ability to relate. I personally would not be embarrassed by my father’s fatal heart attack after flirting with girls, but do understand Gaiman’s projection of embarrassment through the way Charlie’s father passed.