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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
Always entertaining. This wouldn't be for very young kids as it has some scary impressions and complex content.
I have always been a fan of Gaiman, and this short story didn't disappoint. Would absolutely recommend for fans of Gaiman and fantasy, 5 stars :)
My favourites are Troll Bridge, October in the Chair, Chivalry, and The Witches Headstone.
It was a slow start for me with this book, but towards the end, I started to embrace the wackiness, constructions of short stories, abrupt endings, wonderful twists and occasional wordplay. I definitely loved it towards the end!
I had never read a Neil Gaiman book before, and this short story collection seemed like a good start, just to try and see how it goes. I got the audiobook, narrated by the author himself (have to admit the voice and tone goes perfectly in sync with the mood of the stories!), but somehow, I always ended up doing something more exciting than actually listening to it (ah, well, knitting, crocheting, painting, tiding up, cooking), but I kept the audio running in the background. Occasionally I caught some storylines, nice phrases, characters, unusual settings, but never too involved. And then one day I realized I would never finish the book if I keep listening to it, so I got the text. And you know, it worked!
I am not sure if it was me who didn't find the connection with the book from the beginning, or those were the stories that were too short maybe, or too unfamiliar for me to feel for (not a fan of short story fiction), although it always seemed like the stories were good, it was just I never had the time and determination, yes! it is the lack of determination that is wrong with me and this book.
But, this evening, I mentally chained myself to the chair, and read it, and by the two second to last stories, I was hooked, and I wished the story about Nobody Owens had been longer...
All in all, I am still not a fan of short piece fiction, but this one was worth a try! I loved the wibe and mood and atmosphere of those stories, they all spoke to me in a very cinematic language, I could definitely picture each tale as film or cartoon or a painting. Great inspiration for creativity!
And I can't wait to write the Instruction on a Friends birthday card!
I had never read a Neil Gaiman book before, and this short story collection seemed like a good start, just to try and see how it goes. I got the audiobook, narrated by the author himself (have to admit the voice and tone goes perfectly in sync with the mood of the stories!), but somehow, I always ended up doing something more exciting than actually listening to it (ah, well, knitting, crocheting, painting, tiding up, cooking), but I kept the audio running in the background. Occasionally I caught some storylines, nice phrases, characters, unusual settings, but never too involved. And then one day I realized I would never finish the book if I keep listening to it, so I got the text. And you know, it worked!
I am not sure if it was me who didn't find the connection with the book from the beginning, or those were the stories that were too short maybe, or too unfamiliar for me to feel for (not a fan of short story fiction), although it always seemed like the stories were good, it was just I never had the time and determination, yes! it is the lack of determination that is wrong with me and this book.
But, this evening, I mentally chained myself to the chair, and read it, and by the two second to last stories, I was hooked, and I wished the story about Nobody Owens had been longer...
All in all, I am still not a fan of short piece fiction, but this one was worth a try! I loved the wibe and mood and atmosphere of those stories, they all spoke to me in a very cinematic language, I could definitely picture each tale as film or cartoon or a painting. Great inspiration for creativity!
And I can't wait to write the Instruction on a Friends birthday card!
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Some of the stories were good, but most were terrible.
* The Case of the Four and Twenty Blackbirds 4/5
* Troll Bridge 2.5/5
* Don't Ask Jack 5/5
* How to Sell the Ponti Bridge 4/5
* October in the Chair 5/5
* Chivalry 3/5
* The Price 4/5
* How to Talk to Girls at Parties 2/5
* Sunbird 2/5
* The Witch's Headstone 5/5
* Instructions 5/5
* Troll Bridge 2.5/5
* Don't Ask Jack 5/5
* How to Sell the Ponti Bridge 4/5
* October in the Chair 5/5
* Chivalry 3/5
* The Price 4/5
* How to Talk to Girls at Parties 2/5
* Sunbird 2/5
* The Witch's Headstone 5/5
* Instructions 5/5
Rating: 5 stars
Edit: Seriously! What the hell?! Why can't I just enjoy reading without the author turning out to be a giant piece of garbage!
I have a personal rule about not supporting monsters financially, so finding out that Neil Gaiman has sexually assaulted multiple women (apparently he's also a Zionist) is intensely disappointing. I have loved everything I've read by him so far. I've spent a lot of money on his books. American Gods was my favourite book for ages. I listed him as one of my favourite authors. I named my cat after one of his characters! And it turns out he's been a monster all along.
I can't reverse time and un-spend my money and I can't change my cat's name, but I can add him to the list of artists who I no longer support (*cough* J.K. Rowling *cough*). I still own several of his books which I have not read yet; I will still read/rate them, but afterwords I will be donating all 16 of my Neil Gaiman books to my local library.
At least Jane Austen, Agatha Christie, Kurt Vonnegut and Anne Rice can't disappoint me since they're dead.
Edit: Seriously! What the hell?! Why can't I just enjoy reading without the author turning out to be a giant piece of garbage!
I have a personal rule about not supporting monsters financially, so finding out that Neil Gaiman has sexually assaulted multiple women (apparently he's also a Zionist) is intensely disappointing. I have loved everything I've read by him so far. I've spent a lot of money on his books. American Gods was my favourite book for ages. I listed him as one of my favourite authors. I named my cat after one of his characters! And it turns out he's been a monster all along.
I can't reverse time and un-spend my money and I can't change my cat's name, but I can add him to the list of artists who I no longer support (*cough* J.K. Rowling *cough*). I still own several of his books which I have not read yet; I will still read/rate them, but afterwords I will be donating all 16 of my Neil Gaiman books to my local library.
At least Jane Austen, Agatha Christie, Kurt Vonnegut and Anne Rice can't disappoint me since they're dead.
I love reading Neil Gaiman, period, and I particularly love reading him in the autumn.
That said, more than most authors I know, he is one who, some of his works, I LOVE, and some I really don't care for. I happen to look at this as interesting, rather than a fault, as to me, it shows that he is constantly experimenting/being creative.
That said, M is for Magic was an uneven collection of stories for me. Interestingly, the stories span 20 years of his writing. If you're a Gaiman fan, I'd recommend it, and recommend you read all of it, as my favorite stories are mostly in the second half of the collection.
That said, more than most authors I know, he is one who, some of his works, I LOVE, and some I really don't care for. I happen to look at this as interesting, rather than a fault, as to me, it shows that he is constantly experimenting/being creative.
That said, M is for Magic was an uneven collection of stories for me. Interestingly, the stories span 20 years of his writing. If you're a Gaiman fan, I'd recommend it, and recommend you read all of it, as my favorite stories are mostly in the second half of the collection.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated