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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
Because of my own squeamishness during the parts which are too gruesome for me, I am not going to rate this book. Neil Gaiman reads his own stories extremely well, and at times I found a part that would make the book seem worthwhile, but I am not sure that I would reread it again, or if I did I would just skip the stories that were too much for me.
At that moment, Neil Gaiman became her favorite author of all time.
A mixed bag collection of shorts stories. A mixed bag in terms of style, genre and quality.
Some of them I absolutely adored and could easily have read a longer, novel sized version. Others were simply too strange or contrived to even find interesting (thankfully the latter kind is few and far between.) Very harsh, considering I love Gaiman - but the way I understand it is that some of these may have been before he found his 'voice' and style. But one or two were a chore to get through...
However, as I said - when he gets it right, they're magical little tales that you just don't want to end. So you may find yourself going straight back and reading it again.
My one annoyance with the layout of the book is that all the introductions to the short stories are at the front of the book - compiled in a long essay of sorts, having Gaiman detail his inspiration for each story or poem. I read it all in order, but found myself having to flick back and forth everytime I finished a story to read the history behind it.
It would make much more sense in a future edition to simply have each story start with its respective foreword ahead of the story directly. It would give a natural break between each narrative and save having to recall the authors thoughts on it!
Some of them I absolutely adored and could easily have read a longer, novel sized version. Others were simply too strange or contrived to even find interesting (thankfully the latter kind is few and far between.) Very harsh, considering I love Gaiman - but the way I understand it is that some of these may have been before he found his 'voice' and style. But one or two were a chore to get through...
However, as I said - when he gets it right, they're magical little tales that you just don't want to end. So you may find yourself going straight back and reading it again.
My one annoyance with the layout of the book is that all the introductions to the short stories are at the front of the book - compiled in a long essay of sorts, having Gaiman detail his inspiration for each story or poem. I read it all in order, but found myself having to flick back and forth everytime I finished a story to read the history behind it.
It would make much more sense in a future edition to simply have each story start with its respective foreword ahead of the story directly. It would give a natural break between each narrative and save having to recall the authors thoughts on it!
I always enjoy Gaiman's short stories. I read these over a rather long stretch of time, so I'm not going to be able to give a very elegant review. My main recollection is that the lot tended towards the sexy (or at least sex-full), focusing often on sex, lack of sex, masturbation, and lots and lots of penises. That's not a criticism, just an observation. I quite liked the story about the man whose penis stopped being his own. I liked the one about the sexy memory vampires. None of the stories really stuck to me, as sometimes happens with one gem in a large collection, but I enjoyed the whole lot overall.
My first Gaiman book.
I really wanted to like this book because someone I really respect is a big fan of Neil Gaiman. Unfortunately, I felt I was just pushing through it more often than not. The poems were in particular not to my taste, which is not really surprising given my native language and how poetry works in it. I did however, like the longer, more narrative stories. So I guess that means that I'm going to give myself another chance and read another Gaiman book. Probably a long story this time.
I really wanted to like this book because someone I really respect is a big fan of Neil Gaiman. Unfortunately, I felt I was just pushing through it more often than not. The poems were in particular not to my taste, which is not really surprising given my native language and how poetry works in it. I did however, like the longer, more narrative stories. So I guess that means that I'm going to give myself another chance and read another Gaiman book. Probably a long story this time.
Never a disappointing book. Quickly becoming my favorite author, no matter the medium.
• 5 stars for the short story "Chivalry"--one of my most favorite short stories ever! (especially audio version as read by Gaiman) Hilarious! The humor is absurd and Pythonesque.
• Remember enjoying but not the details of the other short stories (it's been a while!)
• Remember enjoying but not the details of the other short stories (it's been a while!)
A hit or miss fantasy short story collection. Some were based on myths. Some had some very thought-provoking ideas. But some of the stories were a slog.
Good, spooky, funny, creepy, beautiful stories. (Although the last one, a retelling of Snow White, scarred me for life. Don't read that one.)
This is a really good book of short stories by a masterful writer.