Anansi Boys: Animal Instincts

Sorry about the title, I couldn't think of anything incredibly witty, and I thought it'd be kind of funny to reference the final joke of Forgetting Sarah Marshall, even though it has nothing to do with this book.

Of the three books, this one is the most fun, in the sense that it exists more to tell a story than to wax poetic on grand themes (however, I could be completely wrong). The story is still deep and uses the rules set in American Gods, but Anansi Boys is a story about sibling rivalry, stepping out of your father's shadow, and learning to stand up for yourself. The two main characters, "Fat" Charlie and Spider, are the sons of the spider god Anansi (who went by the name Mr. Nancy in American Gods). Anansi was a trickster god from African mythology; his stories were about his interactions with other animal spirits, like Monkey, Snake, Lion, Bird, and Tiger, who he often deceived for various reasons. Anansi could get anything he wanted through his deceptions, whether it be material (such as food) or intangible (such as credit). This didn't make him very popular with the other animal spirits, who have come to resent and/or hate the god.

The Mr. Nancy incarnation of the god settled in America and settled down. His son Charlie (who received the unwanted moniker "Fat" from his father) has been, for as long as he can remember, a timid and unmotivated man, a bit of a George McFly type character. He does not rock the boat, refuses to do anything that may embarrass himself even the least bit, and will take any and all crap given out to him by his boss and future mother-in-law (it's a wonder he has a girlfriend due to to his sheer inability to do anything daring, which includes asking people out).

The tiniest things cause Fat Charlie to become embarrassed, so it goes without saying that his father's over-the-top antics didn't sit will with Charlie. Fat Charlie moved to London, which is where he was when he received news of his father's death. Events at the funeral led to the discovery of a long-lost brother named Spider who seems like he is Anansi's true son; Spider is a bit of a trickster and has god-like powers of persuasion and deception.

The story follows the brothers as they learn to accept each other and themselves. Of course, this wouldn't be a Gaiman story without some mythology thrown in; a few of the animal spirits show up to help, hinder, or do both to the boys.

This sounded a lot more like a review than an observation of the story, but like I said, this book was more about story than theme, and it is a great story. In addition to the mythology, it has Gaiman's trademark wit, and that alone is worth reading the book for.

Up next: Incredible Omens...