[Power to the J]

I got about 80 pages into Neverwhere and stopped. It felt bland and I really couldn't get into it at all. The characters were cardboard, and no matter how much I read I couldn't get going. Then I picked up American Gods, hoping my other experience to be a singular event, but I was once again disappointed. After hearing such praise for Gaiman, I was surprised to say the least.

My question: does anybody else feel like me, and/or did I just pick up the two "bad ones?" Thanks.

[Bear]

I enjoyed Neverwhere overall. It isn't his strongest writing, but I really liked the characters (particularly the Marquis De Caraba, and Croup and Vandermar) and the setting.

I loved American Gods. My favorite book from him, and one of my favorite stand-alone fantasies altogether.

Anansi Boys was really fun, as was Good Omens. Stardust was not perfect, but it was enjoyable (and again, very good villians ... I almost always really like Gaiman's villians). Coraline was a great YA book. The Sandman graphic novels are excellent. I really liked both of his kids books, and his short story collections are uneven, but they all have some real gems in them.

So for me, Gaiman is totally readable even at his worst. And when he is good, he is very good. So I guess I don't agree with you.

[DailyAlice]

I like Gaiman a lot, but, y'know, this side idolatry. Neverwhere was fun, American Gods stronger (though maybe not so much fun), Anansi Boys fine. Stardust kind of infuriated me because of its sheer poetic delicacy; just not tough enough. Uneven, yes.

He's always readable--and I find a lot of writers unreadable--but could have had greatness thrust upon him a little prematurely.

It may be that I'm influenced by my current submersion in Before They are Hanged. Abercrombie: talk about your tough.

Oh, I *really* liked Coraline. Maybe I'm being a little tough on him.

[Power to the J]

DailyAlice, what you said about Abercrombie brings up a point. I'[ve been reading Hobb, Martin, Donaldson, Abercrombie & Erickson at the same time as I read both of the Gaiman books, so I may be looking at them a bit unfairly.

[QuickTidal]

I will freely admit to being a BIG Gaiman fan. I've read all his books, and his short fiction books (Fragile Things being my fave).

Neverwhere is decent. It's got some really cool characters and some GREAT ideas and plot devices, but it is my least fave work by the man. I still like it, but whereas I will re-read alot of his other books, I have my doubts as to whether I'll ever re-read Neverwhere.

That being said, I feel that American Gods is his best adult book to date. I love all the characters. I think Wednesday is brilliantly executed. Shadow as the anti-hero protagonist is awesome.

Stardust lays on my shelf next to my Harry Potter books, and my volumes of Dickens' that encompass my FEEL GOOD reads. When I feel utter ****, I reach for one of those, and Stardust almost certainly falls into that category.

Now, when I FIRST read Gaiman years ago, I was only a little impressed by his work, and it took re-reading a few of the books and setting myself into his mindset when I read them (like when you watch a brainless comedy movie, you have to accept you are going to watch brainless comedy and then you can enjoy it on that level) if that makes sense.

Not all people are going to like Gaiman. His writing is very much Poe or Marlowe, and even a bit of Lovecraft at times...and his books are not your typical reads.

My advice, should you wish to try something more by him, is read his short fiction in "Fragile Things", and "Smoke and Mirrors", as I know a few people who dislike his novel work, but they enjoy his Short fiction immensely.

I myself love both obviously.....but then my homepage is set to Neil's online Journal, so I may be biased.

[FitzChivalry]

Neil Gaiman is probably in my top 5 favorite fantasy authors... i guess that's a NO.

[Astra_]

I picked up American Gods, hoping my other experience to be a singular event, but I was once again disappointed.
My question: does anybody else feel like me, and/or did I just pick up the two "bad ones?" Thanks.

You are not alone.
I read AG 2 months ago.
My verdict was - the dumbest book I have read in a long long time. So lame, stupid, boring, not funny, awful dialogs.....
It is going to be a long time before I try him again and read Anansy Boys.
Just when I started to read AG I have watched Stardust movie with my wife. We really liked it. So, she started to read the book and gave up on it after 70-80 pages. She said she doesn't like his style. At that moment of time I was only 1/4 into AG and I thought - how piculiar, I feel just the same, but so many people prised AG, I must carry on, it should change for better soon.

It didn't. American Gods was a waste of time on my part.

[dawurm9]

My question: does anybody else feel like me, and/or did I just pick up the two "bad ones?" Thanks.

Neverwhere was probably his weakest novel, I think partly because it was an adaptation of a fantasy series he scripted for BBC. American Gods was in my opinion his best novel to date, so I think it's safe to say that if you didn't enjoy it Gaiman is probably not your cup of tea.

That said, he's got something to offer everyone. Comics/graphic novels, short stories, script work, big screen and little screen adaptations.

[clockwirk]

I really dug Neverwhere and Anansi Boys, but didn't really like American Gods. I liked the concept of AG and the vibe of the story, but I found myself not really caring which gods came out on top in the 'war'. I guess I'm the anomaly that likes Gaiman but not American Gods.

[Gojira]

I completely agree with you.

I've listened to Stardust on audiobook, read Neverwhere and quit on American Gods. I kept thinking that maybe I just wasn't reading his best books, that I should give American Gods another chance because everyone always raves about him. But then I decided I just didn't like his writing style.

I have no desire to read any more of his books. I guess I just don't get it...