I read Fragile Things by Neil Gaiman as the first part of my Once Upon the Time challenge. I’ve read most of Neil Gaiman’s adult books: Neverwhere, American Gods, Anasi Boys, Smoke and Mirrors, Stardust, and Good Omens. In fact, except for American Gods, I own all of those books! So, I went into Fragile Things expecting to love it.

And I did. Fragile Things is his second short story collection, and it contains a huge variety of styles. However, all of the stories showcase Gaiman’s ability to instantly create a convincing world. Since he’s a fantasy writer, his stories usually take place in at least a slightly alternate reality, so I’m sure he’s had plenty of practice. Still, it’s incredible to watch.

I highly recommend Neil Gaiman to everyone: I feel that he transcends genre-writing. He basically writes fairy-tales for adults; it’s always good to feed our inner child.

Favorite Passages

I was head-over-heels in love, and so, I liked to think, was she. Our affair continued when we returned to England: fizzy, funny, utterly delightful. It was love, I knew, and it tasted like champagne in my mind. (196)It’s a way of talking about lust without talking about lust, he told them.
It is a way of talking about sex, and fear of sex, and death, and fear of death, and what else is there to talk about? (216)