No Santa Cameo but...

[seedee]

I'm no fan of Neil Gaiman. But this line is gold and too precious to go unmentioned:

"The house smelled musty and damp, and a little sweet, as if it were haunted by the ghosts of long-dead cookies." -American Gods

Comments

[tania-sings.livejournal.com]

I positively adore Gaiman (I guess we differ there) and American Gods is one of my favourites! But I can't seem to remember that line. What's it referring to?

Have you read Good Omens? I've met lots of folks who don't normally like Gaiman who enjoyed that one. Maybe it's Terry Prachett's influence.

[zebrui.livejournal.com]

That is an awesome line! :D
I only read Gaiman's Neverwhere and I'm halfway through Smoke and Mirrors short stories so I'm perhaps not a best person to judge, and I can't say I'm a fan of his writing. He's got pretty cool imagination and ideas but falls short in writing department, characterization and world building IMO.

[tree00faery.livejournal.com]

I'm not completely in love with everything he writes, but I do like a lot of his stuff. His graphic novel series, The Sandman, is actually kind of my one true love. ^_^

American Gods is pretty awesome, too. Love that line!

[vanseedee.livejournal.com]

It's pretty close to the end. He describes Anansi's house.

I think the problem is that I've read some excellent books this year. Compared to them, Gaiman is not really good. There's nothing new or exciting. In terms of characters and plot, I feel he's too flat. He's dabbling everywhere a bit, but he's not exploring. And, well, his storytelling can't make up for it.

I haven't read Good Omens yet, but it's on the list. I'm on better terms with Terry Pratchett, so I'm curious.

[vanseedee.livejournal.com]

Yes, that's exactly it. He falls short. There's some substance there, but there's not enough exploration. I have problems with his plot, too. It's not always making a whole lot of sense, and sometimes it's just too forced. There are interesting characters. It's a shame that it feels like they are being sacrificed for the sake of some big moments instead of letting them develop in their time.

I read Coraline, Fragile Things, Anansi Boys and Neverwhere. None of them was a pleasant surprise. I'll try Good Omens for the Pratchett factor. But then I'll be done with Gaiman. I know that many people love him, but it's just not my style.

[thimble-kiss.livejournal.com]

That's a brilliant description. But precious? *shudder* I've eaten cookies like that when I was desperate for a snack and had nothing else suitable in the house. For some reason I think they were always sweetmeal digestives. And they tasted exactly like a long-locked-up house.

(I'm sorry if that's gross but ... I was young and poor and needed the biscuit? :)

[vanseedee.livejournal.com]

Hmm. I've heard that his comics are better than his novels. Maybe I should try those before I give up on him.

[vanseedee.livejournal.com]

I don't think there was ever a cookie that survived long enough in my vicinity to become a cookie ghost. I imagine them kind of adorable. You know, little hopping cookies with tiny sheets covering them? no? Might be me, then. :D

[thimble-kiss.livejournal.com]

I'm always so impressed by how you have a perfectly perfect icon for every opportunity! *envies*

And sure, sure, it's precious the way YOU describe it. :D

[tree00faery.livejournal.com]

Sandman is AMAZING. Seriously. It's also like, my childhood. (I had a kind of weird upbringing; my dad actually read me some of the Sandman comics as they were coming out.)

[vanseedee.livejournal.com]

Oh, okay. Now you made me curious. I'm going to have a look at it. It would explain his love for the loud and explosive moments in his novels. That fits the comic medium better, methinks. Thanks for the rec!

[vanseedee.livejournal.com]

:D

It's cookies! They are precious by default. nods.