Reviews

Smoke and Mirrors by Neil Gaiman

missmadic's review against another edition

4.0

My faves: An Introduction/The Goldfish Pool & Other Stories/Snow, Glass, Apples.

linzcat's review against another edition

3.0

3.5?

Yo I'm conflicted. On one hand, certain stories utterly disturbed me. That's a good thing.I'm looking at everyone who was grossed out by necro-prince charming as if that was the wrong reaction??

On the other. I don't like Gaiman's poetry, like, whatsoever. And there was too much here. Except the magician bit. Fuck magicians. I had a nightmare about disappearing old people.

I'm just sad I'll never know was the goo dripping out of Snow's lady parts was. Bile? Old blood? A malicious magic substance? Melted black licorice? Tar?

... Ink?

Really dark water?

Help me.

nastronach's review against another edition

3.0

Nadal nie jestem pewna swojej opinii co do tej pozycji. To bardzo specyficzny zbiór opowiadań... Niektóre z nich były świetne i z pewnością do nich wrócę, jednak było takich tylko kilka, a reszta jakoś szczególnie mnie nie zachwyciła. Może to dlatego, że ten zbiór opowiadań czytam od dłuższego czasu i niektórych po prostu nie pamiętam...To dopiero pierwsza książka z twórczości tego autora, może jeszcze sięgne po coś innego i zrozumiem fenomen tego autora.

sam_t1027's review against another edition

dark lighthearted mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

topdragon's review against another edition

4.0

I haven't read too much Gaiman yet but have been trying to correct that shortcoming for quite some time now. This is his first published collection of short stories and I liked most of them a lot. As always, I really enjoy the introductions to each piece, learning how they came about, where they were first published, etc.

Favorites include:
- The Wedding Present
- Troll Bridge
- Changes
- Looking for the Girl
- Snow, Glass, Apples
- We Can Get Them for You Wholesale

That last one is truly incredible. Very happy to have read these and looking forward to more of Gaiman's work.

readymadereader's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

leeskipje's review against another edition

1.0

Not my cup of tea. I gave up halfway. Not everything that a writer can think off is something that needs to be published.

The ratings of this book suggest it is kinda hate it or love it book. And I fell into the hate it group. A well, can't have everything.

makcar03's review against another edition

The current allegations against Neil Gaiman kind of ruined this book for me. I was enjoying it, but I can't bring myself to keep reading without thinking about what he's accused of doing. Huge bummer because he's written some of my absolute favorite books. 

kil3yp's review against another edition

5.0

There were some stunners in here! Snow, Apples and Glass was an amazing twist on the Snow White tale, and Nicholas Was... an even better twist on Santa Claus. And he tackles something that has enamoured me forever - how the Earth was formed by God (which I have always kept spinning in the back of my mind as a story option), and he takes it from a biblical perspective, and what truly prompted Lucifer's outrage at God's unjust way. An amazing storyteller, is Neil Gaiman.

lblevich's review against another edition

Sexual assault allegations against Gaiman. GODDAMMIT