WEEK 8 - Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman (6pts)

 This novel overall had a lot of contemporary fantasy elements within it. It discussed all the characters as personified animals within African Mythology in a way. It discussed the boy dealing with his fathers death and how he plays a role in filling his shoes within the legacy of story telling. He needs to use his skills in order to save his father's legacy and I think seeing this within the fantasy realm is quite sweet but also he's trying to keep everything together. Through these critical life changing events Charlie has to kind of grow up fast and get to his own coming of age story. I think fantasy books often do a great job to showing you character development and like creates a great story of growth through bad circumstances and dwelling with fate and why it must be this way. 

I also thought it was refreshing to realize most characters were POC. With a story that deals with heritage quite alot, especially within the fantasy context for a writer that usually writes for children. I think it's important to expose people to ideas, characters and overall just themes they're not usually familiar with. Neil investigated other mythology that has nothing to do with his own origin and he did a good job, he appropriately represented a culture that he is not a part of and for that I can commend him. 

Overall it was a good read full of deceit, coming of age, self growth and fate. 

This is my first time reading a Neil Gaiman book that isn't Caroline and I will say I was pleasantly surprised. 

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