I read Anansi Boys this week. I wasn’t familiar with the mythological character that was interpreted, Anansi, but it was a very engaging read and made me want to know more about West African mythology. Since Anasi is the God of Stories, it was fun for him, in particular, to be brought into modern times. We love entertainment and we love stories. Even our news and real-life events are told like dramatic stories.
One of Anasi’s powers was to bend reality and convince anyone of anything. This power blends in well with modern times because we see amazing new technologies all the time and have gotten used to quickly accepting them into our lives. Even though he has these powers, Spider learns that there is beauty in the truth and in reality. This is a wonderful reminder that no matter what flashy advancements are made in the world, what’s more important are the people. On the other side of the coin, Charlie, who thought he didn’t have any power, learned that he had charm and could tell stories of his own. The “powers” of Anansi helped him loosen up and actually enjoy his life.
Overall, a great interpretation of the myth and study of how stories affect our lives. Would definitely recommend this book.
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