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Too bad! I must confess I am a huge Gaiman fan :P although I think I enjoy his ideas more than his execution.

Which books would you recommend? I've read a lot of Sandman, and one or two of his novels, and I didn't enjoy any of them very much.

I really enjoyed American Gods, but I read it right after I read his Norse Mythology book (which helped deepen my understanding of the Gods he was referring to), and I think I was just really enjoying life while I was reading it, so it gave me all sorts of great feelings. That one was my favourite books of 2018 though, mostly because I loved how everything tied together and his word play. I also liked the children’s books Coraline and The Graveyard Book. I haven’t read them all yet, but the ones of his I have read I enjoyed. I wasn’t as big a fan of “Neverwhere� as I found it slow until the last 40 pages, but I think that’s also how Gaiman writes. If you haven’t tried American Gods I suggest trying it, but if you did try it and didn’t like it I would have to say you probably won’t enjoy any Gaiman- he has a peculiar style where almost nothing happens in his stories until the very end!

Ms.P_reads wrote: "I really enjoyed American Gods, but I read it right after I read his Norse Mythology book (which helped deepen my understanding of the Gods he was referring to), and I think I was just really enjoy..."

I'll give it a try someday. I have a sense that American Gods is rising to the top of his oeuvre as the classic Gaiman, so I should know that one, at least. Even if I don't like it. :) Thanks for the comments and recommendations—much appreciated!

If it makes you feel any better, I've sampled several Gaiman stories (Coraline, American Gods) and I just cannot get into his work. I accept that it's simply good & not to my taste, like olives or mushrooms.

The only thing of Gaiman I have/am reading is The View From the Cheapseats: Selected Nonfiction. To be honest, I find this collection to be particularly engaging, though I have not read anything else by Gaiman for me to comment on his body of work beyond these speeches, essays, and writings.

I find Gaiman compelling when he talks about ideas, and how he is inspired as a writer and human being. I'd love to read a Gaiman novel to at least see if I enjoy any of his fiction work but I can at least recommend, in part (as I haven't finished it entirely), the book previously mentioned.

Carmen wrote: "The only thing of Gaiman I have/am reading is The View From the Cheapseats: Selected Nonfiction. To be honest, I find this collection to be particularly engaging, though I have not read anything el..."

Thanks, Carmen! I think I'd like to read Gaiman talking more in-depth about ideas. Art Matters was just too quick, but I'm sure he's better when he has more words and space for reflection.

Neil wrote: "Carmen wrote: "The only thing of Gaiman I have/am reading is The View From the Cheapseats: Selected Nonfiction. To be honest, I find this collection to be particularly engaging, though I have not r..."

You are probably correct on that. The View From the Cheapseats is quite a hefty tome. You can read through it fairly quickly, I am certain, since each work is fairly short, but I have been taking my time with it, letting it flow through me without rushing its process.

What fascinates me about Gaiman in this collection isn't necessarily that I always agree with his ideas, but rather that I feel like I am sitting at the table with a man who truly cares about language, words, and books as a whole, and how important they are to human beings. For that, I find this collection a fascinating walk around the garden, observing things I have already seen, but taking the time to see them in a new way, from a different perspective than my own.

Carmen wrote: "Neil wrote: "Carmen wrote: "The only thing of Gaiman I have/am reading is The View From the Cheapseats: Selected Nonfiction. To be honest, I find this collection to be particularly engaging, though..."

That's a great comment, Carmen. Now that you say that, I recall that what I have liked about Gaiman is his curiosity, poking into all kinds of areas of knowledge and story. I haven't particularly liked how he's applied all that curiosity in crafting new stories, but he is interested in a lot of things that I'm also interested in, and I respect any author who is committed to learning and enjoying.

Neil wrote: "Carmen wrote: "Neil wrote: "Carmen wrote: "The only thing of Gaiman I have/am reading is The View From the Cheapseats: Selected Nonfiction. To be honest, I find this collection to be particularly e..."

And I think that is important too, that is, discovering what you like and dislike about an author. It might be why we want to like certain authors but don't. I think that makes us better readers and people when we can parse out what we like and don't like about an author. There are many books where I can get behind the idea and concept but don't like the direction it took.

And I have to say that curiosity is a wonderful trait to have, especially as we age. We should not lose our child-like wonder and curiosity. Children are honest in their joy, and if nothing else, I think I can appreciate Gaiman's never-ending curiosity with the world around him.

You are a great thinker Neil, so whether you end up liking the collection or not, you'll always have something interesting to say about it as a whole. I'll look forward to your thoughts!

Have you ever read "Art and Fear" by Bayles & Orland? It covers some similar ground, but in a thoughtful and intellectual way. I find it invaluable whenever I feel creatively stuck.

Joel wrote: "Have you ever read "Art and Fear" by Bayles & Orland? It covers some similar ground, but in a thoughtful and intellectual way. I find it invaluable whenever I feel creatively stuck."

Thank you for that recommendation, Joel. I haven't read it yet, but now it's on my list. :)