I can take that - yes, they are all from this site. The board has been up for over 4 years now, and we have many members with more than 10000 posts and a few with more than twice of Mtxx's

Well I finished a couple of nights ago, and I adored it. A gem of a book. I think my favorite bit was the big nods to modern pop-culture tricksters like Bugs Bunny "Of course, you know, this means war." In fact, thats how the entire book felt like...a live-action Loony Toons episode, and what happens when the tricks turn deadly. I also appreciated that Zora Neale Hurston was given props in his acknowledgements.

quote:

Originally posted by GMZoe:
I can take that - yes, they are all from this site. The board has been up for over 4 years now, and we have many members with more than 10000 posts and a few with more than twice of Mtxx's

I see. I am not trying to be a jerk or anything, but how could someone have that many posts on a writer's website and not like his books that much?

Leaves me kinda dumbfounded.

Hang on, I'll come up with a stupid phrase to explain it...
They come because of Gaiman... But stay for the... um hijacking zombie llama waterbaloon fights? Because this is a community that, while we start with the same basic interest, Neil, the vast majority of what happens here is everyday communication down in the World's End forum - the good, the bad, and the extremely goofy.

Where we hijack the Deaths thread.

I reckon I've already sussed out the ending to the bedside Howard Hughes bio (he died and I'm beginning Anansi Boys tonight......

Looking forward to it, too
Fhionn

quote:

Originally posted by Alaura Ephemera:
I also appreciated that Zora Neale Hurston was given props in his acknowledgements.

Me too. I'd asked him during his American Gods tour if putting Mr Nancy's home in Ft Pierce was a nod to Zora (she died there.) He said it just had been a happy coincidence. I too was pleased to see the props given her in this one.

quote:

Originally posted by Vortec27:

quote:

Originally posted by GMZoe:
I can take that - yes, they are all from this site. The board has been up for over 4 years now, and we have many members with more than 10000 posts and a few with more than twice of Mtxx's

I see. I am not trying to be a jerk or anything, but how could someone have that many posts on a writer's website and not like his books that much?

Leaves me kinda dumbfounded.

And, hee, I nominate this for the next WE t-shirt. Hee

quote:

Originally posted by Dweller in Darkness:
I did think the ending third of the book was rather different from the first bit.

in the interview at the back of my copy neil mentions that the last third had to be rethought from his original plan and he left the novel for three months for some research before writing it. so that would explain the change of tone, and the episode spoilered in white by GMZoe is what caused that change of plans.

but i bet you guys all new already

anyway, i lovedlovedlovedlovedloved this book! and i'm afraid i'm either still too hyped on it to do some criticism, or unable to find the flaws others have mentioned

It's a terrific book! Unlike AG, the kind you can read in a day (especially a business-travel day, where you can't seem to get away from the story, even for a quick nap.)

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Matthew D. Raven,

i just finished it and i'm quite happy with it. it's light, funny and it kept me on my toes. of course i like mr. gaiman's other works better but this surely has a special place among his works.

quote:

Originally posted by Vortec27:

I see. I am not trying to be a jerk or anything, but how could someone have that many posts on a writer's website and not like his books that much?

Leaves me kinda dumbfounded.

well, lets remember that he wrote a few other things before he went into novels.

that you post on this site shouldn't mean you check in your critical facilites at the door.
But that said, I do believe michael would throw barbs at the Epic of Gilgamesh for being derivative.

Glad this is the first and ONLY Gaiman I've read.

I found it laugh out loudFUNNY and I do recommend such laughter, especially for the aged, like ME.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: dsmeyer,

quote:

Originally posted by mtxx:
The book was a disappointment to me. The first half was compelling and very funny, but then it seemed like the book started to fall apart. Particularly the last third, on the island, seemed to be written by a different and much less interesting writer. Completely arbitrary plotting, fewer jokes, a stupid sub-Stephen King-like psycho killer character, and fewer lyrical sequences. Didn't care much for it at all. :-/

Honostly I agree with this sentiment too. It's not that I didn't enjoy the book but I was a tad bit disapointed in that the last third didn't really live up to Gaiman's high standard in my own eyes.

Actually - it's kind of a puzzle. It works very well with the rest of the book but you don't get it until you work it out. It does have it's own style, though: different setting and a definite shift from what was going on previously.

(and it's one of my favorite parts!)

read it again - and again - and just take a closer look at what's going on.