Constant Reader discussion

I teach creative writing (college students) and have noticed that these two are the writers that my students read most (along with everyone on the subway in NYC). For those of you who read primarily literary fiction, I am wondering if any of you have read these writers and what your thoughts are. I haven't read them myself so have no preconceptions really. Some genre writers I know are really literary writers--meaning, they bust the categories altogether-- some less so. How would you characterize these two? (I think I saw that Mr. Gaiman is on Goodreads, so if he happens to see this, would love to hear straight from the author!)

I'm reading American Gods. Quite imaginative and writen in a sprightly, readable style. Also funny.

The conceit is that the European elder gods end up in America and are dealing with the American way of life. Both the gods and the AWOL can be quite strange.

Not great literature, but better than amusing.

I've read neither. From the descriptions I've read neither seem like books that would appeal to me, especially Meyer. I have, however, on the recommendation of others, given Gaiman to a couple of grandsons whom I'd like to lure into more reading. They did not report back.

I've read much of Gaiman's work, which I recommend, and one Meyer novel, which I cannot recommend. (See my review of Twilight for the reason I don't recommend this novel for its target audience). I've never thought of using Meyer in a CW class. I plan to include selections from Gaiman's American Gods and Neverwhere in a seminar I've proposed on Myth, Folklore, and Fairy Tales.

I know Neil Gaiman as more the writer of the comics series, Sandman. Those I loved. He has a strong sense of tragedy and myth.

As a writer of novels, I have not found him as good. I have read American Gods and Neverwhere. They were both interesting as ideas, but not as moving or as rich as Sandman. His latest, The Graveyard Book has received decent to strong reviews.

I rather suspect that he works better with the comic form where his strengths are dialogue and plot construction, and where he can leave description and atmosphere to the artist.

Never read Meyer and don't intend to.

Haven't read Meyer; love Gaiman! Anansi Boys was a hoot! My grandson and I even love his children's books, Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish and, most especially, The Wolves in the Walls. At any given moment, I'm prone to break out with, "When the wolves come out of the walls, it's ALL OVER!" He writes so much that I don't think that anyone could love all of his books, but he is the real thing.

Thanks to all for the feedback. I would never consider using these for class, but I wondered what the students are "ingesting," what kind of writing is seeping into their brains. I'm always looking for good children's books for nieces and nephews, so I'm grateful for that bit of info, too!

Coraline is superb. My daughter calls it the best and scariest book ever.

Sonya, I'm using Gaiman's work in a seminar I'm thinking of entitling "New Lamps for Old", where we'll discuss how older texts are repurposed in newer writing. In American Gods, many world myths inhabit the text; in "Neverwhere," a host of 19th century romances/fantastic fiction seems to be in play (especiallyAlice in Wonderland). I'm also discussing the retelling of fairy tales in works by Angela Carter and Anne Sexton. This seminar is still very much in the planning stages; if you or any other Constant Reader have suggestions for me, I'd greatly appreciate your sending me a message. Thanks!

Not I'm envious of your students, Pamela! Sounds like a great class.

Nalo Hopkinson's books would work well, also.

Pamela wrote: "Sonya, I'm using Gaiman's work in a seminar I'm thinking of entitling "New Lamps for Old", where we'll discuss how older texts are repurposed in newer writing."

Hmmm... It's a bit of a pity that it won't include the comic/graphic novel form as there's some interesting work being done in that area there. Gaiman's Sandman I'm sure you know. Also Bill Wilkinson's(?) Fables. It certainly sounds like it will be a fascinating seminar. I wish I could be there.

I like Gaiman's short fiction. You can read some on his fantastic website here:

http://www.neilgaiman.com/p/Cool_Stuf...

I got to meet Gaiman when he came to the campus where I teach. He's great--funny, brillian yet down to earth.

I read the first book of the Twilight series and found it at first very readable then very boring. I enjoyed the premise, but there just wasn't enough edge for me. For gawd sakes, where's the sex and sexuality in it?!

I must look into Gaiman.

I messaged Pamela, but if any of you need a brain break, Terry Windling edited a wonderful series of fairy tale retellings. I've read about half of them so far and found them delightful. I've read:
Jack the Giant-Killer (a.k.a. Jack of Kinrowan) by Charles de Lint
Tam Lin by Pamela Dean
Briar Rose by Jane Yolen
White As Snow by Tanith Lee

Here's so more information on her work:
http://windling.typepad.com/editing/a...

I've read Twilight.

Bella is a Mary Sue, and her relationship with Edward strikes me as teenage wish-fulfilment. Which is probably why it is so popular with teenaged girls.

Kate - I wasn't expecting any sex in it, because it's Mormon YA.

Kate wrote: "I read the first book of the Twilight series and found it at first very readable then very boring. I enjoyed the premise, but there just wasn't enough edge for me. For gawd sakes, where's the sex and sexuality in it?!"

Kate, I haven't read the Meyers books and I don't intend to, but it's my understanding that it's the dichotomy of their desire and their abstinence that is intended to be erotic, alongside Edward's super-human hotness and his hyper-masculinity (which makes him far more attractive than any normal teenage boy). However ... SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER ... there apparently is sex in the 4th book, but only after Bella and Edward get married.

For any feminists out there, I think you may find this take on the books interesting:

http://bitchmagazine.org/article/bite...

Here's the first paragraph to wet your appetites:
Abstinence has never been sexier than it is in Stephenie Meyer’s young adult four-book Twilight series. Fans are super hot for Edward, a century-old vampire in a 17-year-old body, who sweeps teenaged Bella, your average human girl, off her feet in a thrilling love story that spans more than 2,000 pages. Fans are enthralled by their tale, which begins when Edward becomes intoxicated by Bella’s sweet-smelling blood. By the middle of the first book, Edward and Bella are deeply in love and working hard to keep their pants on, a story line that has captured the attention of a devoted group of fans who obsess over the relationship and delight in Edward’s superhuman strength to just say no.

Read the rest of "Bite Me! (Or Don't)" at http://bitchmagazine.org/article/bite...

Fascinating... and bizarre. The recent NEA study which reported more adults are reading fiction than in previous studies made me wonder how many of them are reading Harry Potter and Twilight. And I wonder if this is good news or not. Perhaps it's relatively good news--Twlight over American Idol? Although both seem emotionally regressive (again, I haven't read Meyer so I don't want to be too much of a peanut-gallery heckler); and that's not such good news...

Sonya wrote: "Fascinating... and bizarre. The recent NEA study which reported more adults are reading fiction than in previous studies made me wonder how many of them are reading Harry Potter and Twilight. And..."

I think the important question here is, is their reading limited to Harry Potter/Twilight, or are they reading other books as well? People are so excited that our youth is reading/becoming more literate, but from watching my cousins I'm not so optimistic, as they seem to only be reading HP/Twilight and not branching out or reading other YA authors.

I guess I'm thinking more about adults...if a 14 or 15 year-old needs something less subtle to grab her reading attention, then I sort of get that--with all the other media around competing for youth attention. But when adults are reading only or mostly Twilight... that's what I find to be misleading in that NEA report. As if reading is reading no matter WHAT you're reading. (You are what you eat, etc.) But I will stop now... because I am writing as if Meyer is a poor writer, which I don't know first-hand.

Sonya wrote: "I guess I'm thinking more about adults...if a 14 or 15 year-old needs something less subtle to grab her reading attention, then I sort of get that--with all the other media around competing for you..."

Sorry, Sonya, I missed that you were talking about adults. I have heard that report about more adults reading fiction. I think it may have more to do with the Oprah Book Club phenomena than Harry Potter/Twilight series. From my personal experience & talking to people (adults) who have read HP/Twilight, the adults that read these books are already reading other fiction, too. I haven't seen adult non-readers who all of a sudden decide they're going to pick up a Harry Potter and read it, unless their kids are reading it too.

I read American Gods and found it to be more interesting in concept than execution. The plotting is too transparent and immature toward the end. Haven't read Coraline, but the film version is coming out soon.

I've managed to avoid much Twilight chatter, but the talk here of its abstinence pose is interesting. Compare that to Anne Rice's books, in which the vampires are impotent and apparently incapable of traditional sex (based on the lineage from Isis and Osiris), yet they are hyper-sexualized in every other way.

As far as Mr. Gaiman's success is concerned, he has just won the Newberry Award for The Graveyard Book. Those of you who've also been involved in the CR discussion on Edgar Sawtelle might be interested in learning that this is also a book that employs a significant strategy from Kipling's Jungle Book.

Here's the article from the Washington Post:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/...

Rather interesting that the Twillight conversation has partially evolved into a consideration of the "less is more" approach to erotica. (This seems like a positive outcome to me!)

Congrats to Mr. Gaiman, he's definitely winning some potential new readers here--it seems a great service to parents when an author produces a book as engaging for adults as it is for children.

Having just finished American Gods, I agree with Jonathan. The book is brilliant in some ways, but the plot structure and the writing seem rather undisciplined to me.

Worth a read, but not a classic.

A great book for any fan of Gaiman is Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell. The author is a friend of Gaiman's, and her style is similar (though I'd say superior). The only issue for teens may be its length, but the story moves along quickly.

Jonathan Strange is a much better book. The plot and its development make sense, and the writing is more consistent.