Anansi Boys

By: Neil Gaiman

Narrated by: Lenny Henry

Length: 10 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's summary

God is dead. Meet the kids.

When Fat Charlie's dad named something, it stuck. Like calling Fat Charlie "Fat Charlie." Even now, twenty years later, Charlie Nancy can't shake that name, one of the many embarrassing "gifts" his father bestowed, before he dropped dead on a karaoke stage and ruined Fat Charlie's life.

Mr. Nancy left Fat Charlie things. Things like the tall, good-looking stranger who appears on Charlie's doorstep, who appears to be the brother he never knew. A brother as different from Charlie as night is from day, a brother who's going to show Charlie how to lighten up and have a little fun, just like Dear Old Dad. And all of a sudden, life starts getting very interesting for Fat Charlie.

Because, you see, Charlie's dad wasn't just any dad. He was Anansi, a trickster god, the spider-god. Anansi is the spirit of rebellion, able to overturn the social order, create wealth out of thin air, and baffle the devil. Some said he could cheat even Death himself.

Returning to the territory he so brilliantly explored in his masterful New York Times best seller American Gods, the incomparable Neil Gaiman offers up a work of dazzling ingenuity, a kaleidoscopic journey deep into myth that is at once startling, terrifying, exhilarating, and fiercely funny, a true wonder of a novel that confirms Stephen King's glowing assessment of the author as "a treasure house of story, and we are lucky to have him."

©2005 Neil Gaiman (P)2005 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

• Locus Award, 2006
  
• Alex Award, 2006

" "Excellent." (Stephen King)
"It's Gaiman's focus on Charlie and Charlie's attempts to return to normalcy that make the story so winning...along with gleeful, hurtling prose." (Publishers Weekly)

this is your next book

Really enjoy the way Neil Gaiman spins a tail. The reader brought the story alive. If you love a good story, this is your next book.

Light & funny for Gaiman

This is a refreshing listen. Both Gaiman and Lenny Henry did outstanding work. I was disappointed when it ended.

still one of my favorite fantasies!

the narrator brought a whole new dimension to a book I read as a teen and wanted to reread. I still love this book just as much as I did then - what a classic, perfect rendition of the coming-of-age story with African mythology as its backdrop! love, love, love.

wonderfully refreshing, exceptionally narrated

What did you love best about Anansi Boys?

This book took me by surprise. It is witty, creative, different, and extremely well narrated. I'm glad I took a chance on this one!

I have never read, or listened, to a book with such a unique plot and cast of characters.

What does Lenny Henry bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The narration was one of my favorite things about this audio book experience. The variety of accents required to tell the story were well executed, and the timing and delivery of the dialogue was fantastic. I especially loved the scenes where Spider and Fat Charlie argue, and Charlie's exchanges with the "old ladies." You defintely benefit by listening to a book with so many accents and dialogues rather than reading it. I wish I could give the narrator 10 stars!

Any additional comments?

This is not a book I would normally have read, but based on the reviews and my desire to branch out a bit, I took a chance. It was completely worth it, and I will seek out additional titles by this author and by the narrator.

I can't imagine reading this

The narrator for this book deserves an Oscar! I know I wouldn't have enjoyed this book nearly as much if I had read it. He performed this book, without being a distraction. I think I've listened to one other Gaiman book, and now I will definitely try more of his. This was so well written and utterly original. The only thing I did not like, and this is to whoever produced the book, sticking in music occasionally was NOT a good choice. It just seemed stuck in randomly and did not enhance the listening experience at all.

Lenny Henry was a brilliant choice for reader!

Where does Anansi Boys rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Close to the top of the list.

What other book might you compare Anansi Boys to and why?

The Song of the South recording by Disney. It is a retelling of the story of Breir Rabbit and the Tar Baby. They are both the story of Anansi. Gaiman's telling is just way more respectful and imaginative!

Have you listened to any of Lenny Henry’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I didn't know Lenny Henry had other performances but, I will now look him up... thanks for the prompt, Audible!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It is one of my favorite books to listen to. I have re-visited it many times.

Any additional comments?

It was a stroke of genius that Neil Gaiman did not read the book himself but, had Lenny Henry read it. Normally, I love hearing Gaiman read his own books but, this one is so much better having picked the perfect person to do all the Carribean accents.

Most entertaining book I've ever heard

Like my head line says, it is an amazing book so yeah my best dude

Good enough for the gods

I loved it a lot. Neil Gaiman is a God. I really enjoyed this story.

good

its hard to give 5 stars when A.G. had a full cast, but that is not the fault of the actor. Quite a good job, if i could id give 4.5 i would.

A storyteller telling a story about a storyteller

Neil is a masterful storyteller and this is pure fun with meaning. Great narration, fun characters and a bit of magic as always.