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alassel's review against another edition
5.0
I've read a lot of Gaiman's work, including many of his novels as well as other short stories, and so when this went on Kindle sale for $0.99 I absolutely could not resist. I took longer to read this than I would a novel of similar length, because the stories are such that reading a few at a time is enough - I needed to take a break to let them marinate and absorb before starting a new one. The arrangement of the stories is really well done, as while many of them are not directly related they still flow from one into the next to form a surprisingly cohesive whole.
I particularly loved "The Sleeper and the Spindle," which I've seen in the illustrated version but had not read yet - it was a perfect twist on the Sleeping Beauty story. While I'm not a huge Sherlock fan, I adored "The Case of Death and Honey" for all the details and how the bees became a character of the story in their own right. "A Calendar of Tales" has a great setup - twelve stories, one per month, each inspired by a fan tweet - and I enjoyed every single one of them and how they were all different.
The remaining stories were all good, though I connected with them less (particularly the poems, I'm not good with poetry), and while many of these stories have a dark theme or inspiration, this isn't a book of horrors though it may leave you thoughtful. Gaiman's writing is as it always is, interesting, well-worded, and clever, with no surprises or lacks to be found throughout the book. If you like his writing, you'll likely enjoy this book of stories as well.
I particularly loved "The Sleeper and the Spindle," which I've seen in the illustrated version but had not read yet - it was a perfect twist on the Sleeping Beauty story. While I'm not a huge Sherlock fan, I adored "The Case of Death and Honey" for all the details and how the bees became a character of the story in their own right. "A Calendar of Tales" has a great setup - twelve stories, one per month, each inspired by a fan tweet - and I enjoyed every single one of them and how they were all different.
The remaining stories were all good, though I connected with them less (particularly the poems, I'm not good with poetry), and while many of these stories have a dark theme or inspiration, this isn't a book of horrors though it may leave you thoughtful. Gaiman's writing is as it always is, interesting, well-worded, and clever, with no surprises or lacks to be found throughout the book. If you like his writing, you'll likely enjoy this book of stories as well.
heliea's review against another edition
5.0
It's Neil Gaiman - and it's Neil Gaiman at what he does best (in my opinion). His short story collections have not let me down so far, and although writing something better than Smoke and Mirrors and Fragile Things is nearly impossible, this one does not dissapoint. Trigger Warning is a bit harsh and dark, and I loved every single piece in it.
No poem of his will ever top The Fairy Reel, though.
No poem of his will ever top The Fairy Reel, though.
marafranzen's review against another edition
4.0
Look, I love Neil Gaiman. I love Magical Realism. I love short stories. This book is the perfect storm.
I knew I would like it going in, but I don't think I knew how much I would come to like it. It just seems so perfectly to fit my image for what is needed for a story, and yet each one is incredibly different.
I just. It makes me happy okay?
4.5 stars.
I knew I would like it going in, but I don't think I knew how much I would come to like it. It just seems so perfectly to fit my image for what is needed for a story, and yet each one is incredibly different.
I just. It makes me happy okay?
4.5 stars.
mazloum's review against another edition
4.0
A fun hodgepodge of Neil Gaiman's writing, including stories and characters old and new.
elmarcapaginasdemel's review against another edition
5.0
Una vez más Neil Gaiman nos entrega un libro que como él mismo anuncia en la primera página junto al título son: cuentos breves y otras perturbaciones. Y así se entienden una vez leídos, cuentos cortos -y algunos no tanto- con la magia y perspicacia del autor.
En "Material Sensible" se reúnen más de veinte historias independientes con giros inesperados, personajes extravagantes y esa aura fantástica propia de Gaiman.
No puedo decir que todos los relatos me hayan emocionado o causado gran impresión, tampoco lo esperaba al ser cuentos de tan pocas páginas, aún así me gustó mucho el libro en sí.
Todas las historias transcurren en lugares y tiempo distintos, con personajes humanos y no humanos muy enigmáticos, que te enganchan a la lectura, haciéndote querer saber qué es lo que está sucediendo.
Como ya he dicho, no todos los cuentos me gustaron, algunos se me hicieron irrelevantes prácticamente. Por otra parte, los que más me llamaron la atención me gustaron mucho, algunos de ellos:
"Cuento de julio"
"Cuento de octubre"
"Terminaciones femeninas"
"El caso de la muerte y la miel"
"Las nada en punto"
En el caso de los dos últimos relatos, algunos de los más largos, se trata de historias inspiradas en personajes ficticios: Sherlock Holmes y Doctor Who, respectivamente.
Me entusiasma el modo que tiene el autor de contar un cuento que podría parecer para niños en primera instancia, pero que son mucho más oscuros a cada palabra que se lee.
Sin duda es una lectura que recomiendo a todo fan de Neil Gaiman que no lo haya leído, y a todo aquel a quien le apasionen las historias turbias e intrigantes, pues el autor no decepciona.
En "Material Sensible" se reúnen más de veinte historias independientes con giros inesperados, personajes extravagantes y esa aura fantástica propia de Gaiman.
No puedo decir que todos los relatos me hayan emocionado o causado gran impresión, tampoco lo esperaba al ser cuentos de tan pocas páginas, aún así me gustó mucho el libro en sí.
Todas las historias transcurren en lugares y tiempo distintos, con personajes humanos y no humanos muy enigmáticos, que te enganchan a la lectura, haciéndote querer saber qué es lo que está sucediendo.
Como ya he dicho, no todos los cuentos me gustaron, algunos se me hicieron irrelevantes prácticamente. Por otra parte, los que más me llamaron la atención me gustaron mucho, algunos de ellos:
"Cuento de julio"
"Cuento de octubre"
"Terminaciones femeninas"
"El caso de la muerte y la miel"
"Las nada en punto"
En el caso de los dos últimos relatos, algunos de los más largos, se trata de historias inspiradas en personajes ficticios: Sherlock Holmes y Doctor Who, respectivamente.
Me entusiasma el modo que tiene el autor de contar un cuento que podría parecer para niños en primera instancia, pero que son mucho más oscuros a cada palabra que se lee.
Sin duda es una lectura que recomiendo a todo fan de Neil Gaiman que no lo haya leído, y a todo aquel a quien le apasionen las historias turbias e intrigantes, pues el autor no decepciona.
uncannyem's review against another edition
4.0
Best in the collection is Black Dog. It's a Shadow Moon story. I need more Shadow Moon stories. I also enjoyed the Sherlock story and The Sleeper and the Spindle quite a lot. Everything in the collection is deliciously chilling.
tishae's review against another edition
3.0
I really like Neil Gaiman as a writer, and the writing itself is really good, but the rapid change of pace from the different short stories is a little jarring. There is no common theme, which is addressed in the foreward, but it just wasn't for me overall.
liviascarlett's review against another edition
Did not finish bc it turns out the author is an abuser. Extremely disappointing. Loved Neverwhere but not as much as I love believing and supporting survivors.
mardob95's review against another edition
3.0
Some really scary/interesting short stories and poems in here, but most were just.... not.