Anansi Boys (6 points)

               Every great piece of writing and art in the fantasy, sci-fi, and horror genres is about deeper human issues. Stories of these genres can be interesting without being about real world issues but the most profound ones’ deal with real life issues. The book takes the reader on an adventure that includes mythical creatures and gods but it is truly about a person’s life journey.

                At the start of the book, Fat Charlie is with Rosie. They are planning on getting married soon. This book allows him to realize that the two of them are not meant to be together.

The book uses some storylines that have been used before but it includes them in an interesting way. I think the names of the characters are very interesting. The protagonist is called Fat Charlie. His brother is called Spider. Other characters in the book have a range of unique names. The only two characters with simple names are Rosie and Daisy. Their names sound similar and are both types of flowers. Their clear similarities make me wonder if the author is trying to say that these characters are basically interchangeable. I hope this isn’t the case, but maybe it is more of a foreshadowing that they eventually will swap roles in the life of Fat Charlie.

Fantasy elements are clearly implemented in this story but they aren’t as present as many fantasy stories are. Fat Charlie experiences a fantasy situation early on in the book when he talks to a spider to reveal his brother. Later in the book, he goes on more of an adventure to talk with the gods. By naming Fat Charlie’s brother Spider, the reader can’t help but imagine him as a creepy, sinister, spider-like human. Even though he isn’t explicitly meant to be a fantasy physical creature, we are constantly thinking that Spider looks like a spider.

As the book comes to an end, Fat Charlie gets rid of his horrible nick name and simply goes by Charlie. I think this is such an important part of the book and for Charlie as a character. He gets rid of the nickname his father gave him ultimately removing his past to make his own future.

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