mnsperkins's review against another edition
4.0
This book took about a month to read. I had to read little chunks at a time. It was really in depth about his early career and mid-career, more current stuff like Ocean at the End of the Lane got two-three pages. There wasn't a whole lot on his childhood or personal life. The book was informative, lengthy, and in depth.
jonwesleyhuff's review
3.0
I liked this book quite a bit, but there is this nagging sense that it's not quite the book it could be. Or, perhaps, that one day we'll get another book like it or an expanded new edition that will be even better. I admire Neil Gaiman a huge amount, of course. I'd count him as my favorite writer, on most days. And usually I do not care much about the personal lives of my favorite creators. It's not so much that I'm disinterested, just that I'm more interested in what they are creating versus their lives. So, even though I was a big fan, a lot of this was new to me. I'd just read his non-fiction articles book, which meant that I knew a bit more than I would have going into this one. But, even still, there was a lot of new stuff, and the photos and bits of notes and pieces of art here and there were great to look at.
The problem is, the book is ascribed to "Hayley Campbell in conversation with Neil Gaiman" and there is a little of that. But I wish there was so much more. The book starts off really promisingly, but towards the end there's a feeling it's running out of steam. The detail becomes more sparse about the creation of various works, for one thing. But, the worst thing is that Neil is almost always only present through quotes from older articles. I really would have loved to get his perspective on, say, Mirrormask after 10 years have passed. Or, even what he feels about things like his Doctor Who episodes. You get more insight the further back in his career he goes, mostly because he's talked about it in some other interview. Maybe we'll have to wait to get more insight into those things, but it does make the back half of the book less interesting.
The problem is, the book is ascribed to "Hayley Campbell in conversation with Neil Gaiman" and there is a little of that. But I wish there was so much more. The book starts off really promisingly, but towards the end there's a feeling it's running out of steam. The detail becomes more sparse about the creation of various works, for one thing. But, the worst thing is that Neil is almost always only present through quotes from older articles. I really would have loved to get his perspective on, say, Mirrormask after 10 years have passed. Or, even what he feels about things like his Doctor Who episodes. You get more insight the further back in his career he goes, mostly because he's talked about it in some other interview. Maybe we'll have to wait to get more insight into those things, but it does make the back half of the book less interesting.
rovingsoul's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
5.0
A delightful read that’s perfect for a rainy, hygge kind of day. I loved seeing all of the Neil ephemera! Each section was split into digestible portions which made it easy to pick up again after long stints in between reading. Ya gotta read it if you’re a Neil nut.
primmiiee's review against another edition
4.0
Bit expensive and kinda dull in some parts, but overall a must read for any aspiring artists and/or Neil Gaiman fans.
mimirtells's review against another edition
4.0
4/5 Stars (%80/100)
It was a really fun book to read. Campbell's is Gaiman's goddaughter and I loved their relationship. The book felt really sincere and warm which I would say reflects their relationship. You also learn a variety of things about Gaiman (well that's the goal). Apart from the joy, I also found the book quite useful for my master's thesis. I highlighted many parts and decided to use it as one of my sources. Compared to similar books I've read on Gaiman, this one manages to stand out mainly because of the relationship between Campbell and Gaiman. It is also a great book to introduce yourself to the amazing world of Gaiman.
It was a really fun book to read. Campbell's is Gaiman's goddaughter and I loved their relationship. The book felt really sincere and warm which I would say reflects their relationship. You also learn a variety of things about Gaiman (well that's the goal). Apart from the joy, I also found the book quite useful for my master's thesis. I highlighted many parts and decided to use it as one of my sources. Compared to similar books I've read on Gaiman, this one manages to stand out mainly because of the relationship between Campbell and Gaiman. It is also a great book to introduce yourself to the amazing world of Gaiman.
onceandfuturelaura's review against another edition
3.0
Lovely bit of fan service. Learned a lot. Disappointingly produced. The text goes right up to the binding, and the binding is tight. Made the book physically difficult to read.
lindsray01's review
3.0
Interesting, but strangely uneven. Would have loved deciphered text of Gaiman's handwritten notes!
cail_judy's review against another edition
4.0
An incredibly well-researched book that provides troves of information for Gaiman nerds. Lots in here I didn't know and was glad to see it get super detailed, with a section just dedicated to obscure projects like Princess Mononoke and his early magazine work.