illiterate_literate's review against another edition
May go back to it; not feeling the right moment for these stories right now.
13burkhart's review against another edition
Smashing Book as always. Neil Gaiman has an uncanny ability to create a world in a short amount of time, and I seem to fall in love with each and every one of them.
alannabarras's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent collection of short stories and poems. As always, Neil Gaiman does an excellent job of making each story just realistic enough to seem like it could be true, but still so fantastic you can't quite believe it would be.
The trademark of his story collections is the stomach-churning discomfort when reading each story. Its an excellent indicator of how vivid the worlds he creates are, even if you only get to glimpse the character's lives for a page or two.
The trademark of his story collections is the stomach-churning discomfort when reading each story. Its an excellent indicator of how vivid the worlds he creates are, even if you only get to glimpse the character's lives for a page or two.
falloutmeg's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
dylanperry's review against another edition
2.0
While a part of me is glad to have read some of Neil Gaiman's early works, I can't say I enjoyed much of it. There are some gems scattered throughout, but on the whole, the stories felt nonessential to the point where even Gaiman's narration couldn't save it.
katie_elvira's review against another edition
3.0
Found this really hard to get into, perhaps it's just that Neil Gaiman's writing isn't for me. Found a lot of the endings of the stories so weird and confusing that they left me unsatisfied as a reader. A generous 3 tbh.
ajsterkel's review against another edition
5.0
People, this is how you write fantasy short stories! They're dark and weird and bloody and magical. The author is amazing at weaving the mundane with the fantastical. The stories start out ultra-realistic, but then there's suddenly a demon or troll or something. It catches you off-guard, but it still feels entirely plausible in the story's setting. Of course there's a troll under a bridge or a demon attacking stray cats. I could not put this book down. As soon as I finished one story, I started another because I wanted to know what horrifying thing Neil Gaiman would think of next. He has a twisted imagination. I don't think I fully "got" all the stories, but I didn't hate any of them. This is a 5-star collection. It would be perfect for Halloween. Warning: This book is NOT safe for work. A few of the stories have gross, graphic, horror sex. You wouldn't want your boss walking in while you're listening to that awkward weirdness. No one needs a detailed description of a troll's floppy dick in the workplace!
livingdeadenby's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0