Reviews

Smoke and Mirrors: Short Fictions and Illusions by Neil Gaiman

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labunnywtf's review against another edition

5.0

It should be said that I enjoy reading collections of stories by a specific author more than any other type of book. It's a tasting menu as opposed to a large, overfilling meal that, 9 times out of 10, I won't enjoy near as much as something short and savory.

After reading this, I wish Mr Gaiman had more than two collections.

The stories are neat. Some of them weren't as appealing as others, but even then the ideas behind them were fascinating.

I couldn't give a real favorite, because they were all very different. The stories based on fable and fairy tales were amazing, mostly because I've always been a fan of retold fairy stories.

Truly enjoyable, and a quick read.

evabails's review against another edition

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3.0

Some gems in here but overall it was OK. I don't love the short story format so struggled to engage.

quinnster's review against another edition

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3.0

I picked this one for Libro.fm's audiobook challenge prompt "Narrated by your favorite narrator". Neil Gaiman will always be one of my favorite everythings. While I don't love the short stories as much as I have his novels, there is still so much here to revel in.

finalgirlfall's review against another edition

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3.0

i remember being rather unimpressed with most of the works collected here, but it was still an interesting read.

anarita3971's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective medium-paced

4.0

junipreads333's review against another edition

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slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? N/A
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? N/A
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.0

storytimed's review against another edition

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2.0

High school me would despair to hear me say this, but................ Neil Gaiman is annoying.
I think the whole effect of his personality is even worse when you're reading a collection of his short stories, because it's just a whole lot of Neil Gaiman
He's just so in love with his own cleverness............. but it's not actually that clever, much of the time it's just regressive tropes from the 90s. Like he has this whole short story about Snow White where Snow White is a sexually aggressive child vampire and it's basically Fledgling but worse
Like when he gets too in love with himself
And you remember he's a white guy