PrincessReviews

Fat Charlie got his name from his father Anansi, and for those who don't know who he is--like me--Anansi is an African god popular in folktales. Remember the tale of Brier Rabbit? It is based on the tales of Anansi The Trickster who often appeared as a spider or a man in his folktales. Unfortunately for Fat Charlie, he didn't know his father was a god or a trickster. He also didn't know he had an equally tricky brother. Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman is an engaging story about Charles Nancy whom everyone calls Fat Charlie because his father gave him that nickname and whatever name Anansi gives things, it sticks. Fat Charlie grew up in England with his mother after she left her husband Mr. Nancy (Anansi) and Florida in the US. He's always been wary and complacent probably, because of all the tricks is father played on him as a child. Fat Charlie and his father did not have the best of relationships and so it takes a fluke phone call to find out that his father has died....

By Neil Gaiman Coraline is about a little girl who travels to another plane of existence. It is identical to her own home except much better. It is a world where her "other" mother and father are more loving and attentive to her and she has everything that she could want. However Coraline feels an underlying sense of evil in the other mother and decide to leave, intending never to return again. However when her parents are kidnapped by the other mother, Coraline must return to the other home to rescue them and make sure they all get out alive. I enjoyed this story.  Coraline is a likeable, courageous and resourceful little girl. And even when she goes against advice and what she should do, she does so with bravery. Her habit of doing things when others advise against it is what causes her troubles, however that same quality helps her solve the problem. The only thing I had trouble with were long sentences separated by several commas that had me re-reading them.  The ...