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)

amazing

I'm in awe. I couldn't stop smiling through the entire book. Not only was the book a blast the narrator is a real artist. If you don't like this book just kill yourself, your already dead.

Wonderful!

I loved this story. Neil Gaiman spins a tale of the African Gods and infuses it with messages of family, love, and how to believe in yourself. Lenny Henry is the best narrator I've ever listened to. I could listen to this story repeatedly and never tire of it.

Fast and fun . . .

Very cool. Gaiman mines the ancient Anansi fables for a contemporary story. It's not as dark as American Gods but it's just as magical, twisty and surprising. It required no effort to suspend my disbelief. (Am. Gods required a bit). As an audio production, Anansi Boys is a fun escape.

Better in Audio

I'm a bibliophile and do read a lot of books in print. I'll never, EVER read this one. The combination of Lenny Henry extraordinary performance and Neil Gaiman's brilliant writing create a whole that is even better than the parts.

The story itself is touching and funny and terrifying by turns. Don't expect an American Gods sequel. The mood and feel is equally GOOD, but it's quite a different story. (Though the Guidall performance is excellent).

Lenny Henry's performance, though I hate to use a cliche, is just masterful. There's no other expression for it. His vocal characterizations are clear and distinct. He handles the Atlantic-jumping accents with the greatest of facility, making you almost forget it's being narrated by just one person.

It's one of the best audiobooks I've ever heard. Treat yourself. You won't be sorry.

the book of brotherly love.

what a rich story of culture, family love and mythology. I truly enjoyed every character and their story.

Fun

This is the story of a man who finds that his dad was a God before he died. Not only is it fun to listen to, but the narrator does the BEST job on the voices.

Exceptional

Wow! Lenny Henry is one of the finest Narrators I have ever heard (and with 6 yrs of Audible under my belt I've heard a lot!). His ability to give unique voices to such a variety of characters, male, female, young old, British, Jamaican (Island) is extraordinary. Surprisingly, he has read nothing else on Audible, which is certain to change. I loved (and hated) Graham Coates, in particular. Of course, if it weren't for the superb storytelling of Neil Gaiman, however compelling characters wouldn't have been possible. American Gods was good, however a bit complex and mysterious, while Anansi Boys was straightforward, humerous and so very character driven that you will love it. The only negative is that the build-up to the end lead to a somewhat predictable conclusion. Don't let this deter you because it was, nonetheless, very satisfying and there were some surprises. You just have to stay around to see what happens to Graham Coates.

I'm Hooked

I loved this book, I didn't want it to end. I also listened to American Gods, so I now I want to read everything Neil Gaiman. Excellent writer.

He is simply one of the best teller of stories.

Absolutely loved it. Original and delightful. Funny and thoughtful , Neil Gaiman is one of the best storytellers of my lifetime. I will read every single one of his, probably more than once. And the narration in this one was fantastic. I could happily listen to little old Jamaican women-biddies all day.
5 stars!

Great story. Expertly narrated.

Love, love this book. Gaiman is the best storyteller. He builds an amazing cast of characters then weaves them in and out of the plot and around each other, then ties them all up in a neat little bow - just like a beautifully wrapped surprise birthday present.