SamanthaRichman
October21 , 2009
BookReviewfor Glog : cat do weneeda catchytitle?
Fromtales of horrific trolls to the strugglesof teensinteractingat parties , Neil Gaiman coversmanyaspectsof life alongwith imaginativeworldsof mystical creaturesandsettings . Bestsellingauthor , Neil Gaiman , winstheattentionof manywithhis collectionof short storiesin , M is for Magic. Publishedby HarperTrophy, thebook , M is for Magic containselevenimaginative , colorful storiesconsistingof approximatelytwentypageseach ; somestoriesare morechildfriendly - thanothers . Neil Gaimanwrites , “ Theres ’ anothergoodthingabouta bookof short stories ; you dont’ haveto like themall . If theres ’ oneyoudont ’ enjoy , well , therewill be anotheronealong soon ( Neil Gaiman ).” It is becauseof this fact , that I wouldstronglyrecommendreadingthis collectionof stories . Throughthenumerousshort storiesin the book M is for Magic, Neil writes in a creativestructure , appealingto peopleof all agesandgenders .
Neil Gaimans ’ M is for Magic presentsstoriesthat are peculiar , someunreal anddespite that stepawayfromreality , peoplecanrelate to the eventsandcharactersin the stories . The short story , “ Thecaseof the FourandTwentyBlackbirds ” tells of the mysterybehindHumpty Dumptys’ death . Thestory relatesto a morematurecrowd , tellingof drinkingproblems , gambling, murders , andframingin a detectives ’ dangerouspathto the truth . Thestory also includessomemorematurelanguagecontent . Thestory is eerie , most horrific facts told in a light tone . Neil Gaimanputs a uniquetwist on andold nurseryrhyme .
Anadditional short story , “ Dont ’ AskJack ” relatesto a youngercrowd . Theshort story tells of a baleful jackin - - theboxthat - hauntschildrenwhohavepossessionof it . Thestory is intendedto chill andamusethosekidswhochooseto readthis story . Thestory relatesto childrentellingof their discoveriesplayingin theattic andlife at nurseryschoolwith all their toys. Togetherthe children , whisperandexchangestoriesof themysteriousjackin - - thebox - . Neil Gaimanskillfully , ties in fantasyin all his stories , connectingwith readersfrommanyranges . Together, bothshort storiesdemonstratethe diversecharactersandplotlinesin the book M is for Magic. Theshort stories , “ Thecaseof the FourandTwentyBlackbirds ,” and “ Dont ’ AskJack ,” wereintendedto entertainthereader . Theshort story , “ Thecaseof theFourand TwentyBlackbirds ,” mainideais that thecriminal maybe the least youexpectwhensolvinga crime. Themainideais identifiedthroughthewomanthat hiredMr . Hooveras a detective . The womanclaimedto be HumptyDumptys ’ sister but in the endshewasthe murderer . In thestory theauthorusednoreappearancesuchas - weaponchoiceto help solvethe crime . Themysterious deathof twopeopleinvolvedin Mr . Hoovers ’ casehelp to leadhimto thewomanandwhyshe wouldwantthemdead . It wastheseeventsthat helpedHooverpiecetogetherthe case , discoveringthe unlikely criminal . Themainideaof thepassagewasdisplayedby Gaimanwith the eventsthat weretoosuspiciousto passby as “ accidental .” Withintheshort story , containeda curseworldalongwith sombereventsthat werenot necessarily appropriatefor childrenlookingfor an entertainingimaginativestory . Thelanguagedoeshoweverhelp to illustratethe grave , and dangerouslystressfuleventsthe detectivemust got throughin orderto do his job . Through contextcluesinvolvingsignificantevents , alongwith languageandgeneral dispositionsof characters , Neil Gaimanleadsup to theto the mainideaof thestory .
Theshort storys ’ , “ Dont ’ AskJack ,” mainideais that temptationhelpsto overcomefear . In thestory themysteriousjackin - - theboxis - nevertouched . Thekidsexchangestoriesof the toy, knowingof its evil . However , eachkid exposesthemselvesto thetoy at nightonvarious occasionsleadingto theremisfortunes . Thetoy whispersthingsto themthat theycannotrecall yet will neverforget . Oneof theyoungboys ’ that hadfallenfor thetoys tricks , diedin the GreatWar . Theotherboyendedup in a madhouse . Thesecharactershelpedto showwhatthe temptationof thelonely toy did to them , supportingthemainidea . In addition , thedescription of thetoy hiddenamongall theothertoys wasdescribedmorethat once , showingthe toy waits foreverwaitingto be discoveredby yet anothermisfortunatechild . Theeventsof all the childrens’ terrible futures , helpsto conveythe horrorsof whata simpletemptationdid to them . Thelanguageusedthroughoutthebookis appropriatefor readersof all ages . Thelanguage contentadditionally , containsa mysterioustonekeepingtheattentionof the reader . Throughout bothshort stories , eachvaryingcontextcluesgivesthebookmeaningamusingmanyreaders . After readingthevariety of oddstoriesbothhumorousandmysterious , I fell very compelledto recommendthis bookto not only mypeers , but eventhe adult worldof readers . Thestoriescontainhorrortales that kidscanidentify with betterthanadults . However , within eachstory , lies humoronly adults wouldunderstand , entertainingbothagegroups . Togethereach story tells of conflicts that a personcanidentify with , alongandconflicts that are meantto entertain. Withinthis variety , it is nearly impossiblenot to findoneor several storiesyoucan enjoyandlearnan importantmoral from . Neil Gaimanwritesanothersuccessfulbook , giving readersentertainmentfor hours .
Thenovel , M is for Magic, has an unbeatablesuccessrate for readersacrossthe globe . Withthe resourcefulstructureof writing , readershavethe ability to choosefroma collectionof short stories . Throughall thecharactersanduniqueplotlines , a diversegroupof readerscanfind somethingappealingamongit all . Together , theauthorusescontextcluesthat give meaningto eachindividual story that readerscanbetterconnectwith . Withmuchexperience , fromcomic booksto screenplays , Gaimanis awareof whatreaderstruly want . It is Neil Gaimans ’ ingenious mindthat invitesreadersinto a wordof fictitious , remarkablestories , givingthema blissful escape.