Anansi Boys

by Neil Gaiman, 2005

I only just now realized that this is "Anansi Boys" and not "Anasazi Boys", which is what I had been saying in my head when I read it. That's kind of a mind bender.

Anyway, the story starts with the death of Fat Charlie's father, who was quite a lively character. Always singing, dancing, goofing off, and womanizing, Fat Charlie's father never ceased to embarrass him. So, needless to say, they'd had a strained relationship and now his father's dead. Fat Charlie ends up learned a lot more about his father from old family friends at the funeral, and also learns that he has a brother! In the course of the book, Fat Charlie learns that his family is a lot more strange than he ever suspected. At this point, the book veers into a strange, otherworldly aspect that intersects nicely with Fat Charlie's regular life.

I've read other of Gaiman's books, and I generally like him. His style is humorous, and a little dark. I might describe him as a bit of a darker Terry Pratchett. In fact, the book they wrote together was pretty much the perfect blend.

The Eyre Affair

Another work by Jasper Fforde. I'm on a kick right now. This is the first of the Thursday Next series. Thursday Next is a literary detective, that is, she solves crimes that are somehow related to works of literature, like a stolen original manuscript or something like that. In this book, the criminal has found a way to actually enter the literary work and mess with it; in this case, he has kidnapped Jane Eyre. Also, as a side plot, there are elements of time travel (Thursday's father used to work in the time division of the police force, now he's on the lam in time).

All of Fforde's unique elements are in this as well. Actually I think this was his first published novel. Fun literary nods and clever word play abound. I've got the next couple Thursday Next books on hold now. yay!

The Big Over Easy

The first of the Nursery Crimes series by Jasper Fforde. I seem to be taking this series out of order. This one was a murder mystery about who killed Humpty Dumpty, who was found broken to bits at the base of his wall. When his body was reconstructed, they discovered a bullet hole. Oh my!

Once again, lots of literary puns and allusions, lots of nursery tale characters appear, and Jack even has an encounter with a beanstalk. Not much else to say that I didn't say about The Fourth Bear, I'll just reiterate that I love Fforde's style, very funny and a light read. I look forward to more.

The Fourth Bear

by Jasper Fforde, 2004

This was my first Fforde book. I've heard lots of good things about some of his other works, and the other day I was wandering around the public library looking for something fun to read, and I saw this. It was in the mystery section, but by the cover I could tell it certainly wasn't taking itself seriously. (Side note: the people who do Fforde's art live in Portland, Oregon!)

I think I'm going to read a lot more of this guy, he's hilarious. This particular novel was one of his "Jack Spratt Investigates" mystery novels. Jack Spratt works in the Nursery Crime Division of the Berkshire police department. He's got a secret history as a Person of Dubious Reality since he's indeed *that* Jack Spratt, who could eat no fat. His first wife could eat no lean, and she died from it. Anyway, he gets into all kinds of trouble with various characters from nursery rhymes, and solves cases. This one involved Goldilocks who got into trouble when she was trying to meet her secret lover but stumbled upon a cabin in the woods occupied by three bears. Also, there is a Ginja warrior causing havok - a ten foot tall gingerbread man created as the ultimate fighting machine. There are even slight hints along the way that the characters seem to be aware that they are in a book, and one time even discuss the author and his overextension to build up a bad joke.

This would be enjoyed by those who like the Discworld novels by Terry Pratchett, especially the ones set in the police department. Also a good hint of Douglas Adams' mischievousness.

slow down in reviews

I see that I have been slacking on my book reviews lately. You can blame this on my video game habit. I apologize. Should I review my video games here as well?

The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down

By Anne Fadiman, published 1997

This is a non-fiction book about the conflict between the American medical institution and the recently-immigrated family of a young epileptic Hmong girl, Lia Lee. Fadiman does an excellent job telling each side of the story, so that the reader bounces from feeling that the whole messy situation is the Lee's fault for rejecting American medicine, to feeling it's the ignorant American doctors' faults for brushing off the wisdom of the family's culture. As the book progresses, the reader comes to realize it's much more complicated than assigning blame, and how the collision of two cultures can be so much more complex than anyone could guess. Along the way, the history of the Hmong is laid out, especially their role in the Vietnam War. The reader comes out of the story with a much deeper understanding of the Hmong people in particular and how America can do a better job in interacting with refugees in general.

Cold Mountain

A kind of modern Odyssey, we see one main character making his way home and experiencing or escaping all sorts of adventures. Another main character learns patience and how to live in her world. Time and place are evoked in a very compelling way. Set in the closing days of the civil war, so there is plenty of violence here as well, both from self defense and from senseless lashing out. I was especially moved by the descriptions of Ada developing from a helpless girl to a self-reliant woman, learning to take control of her life and shape it to meet her needs instead of pining away when she found herself on her own.