Created Myths

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Stories often create their own mythologies and I find this mode of storytelling to be the best. 
On "Ananzi Boys" --This is probably one of my favorite reads so far. “Ananzi Boys” was a relatively short story that entertained many stories within. (I want to make note of Gaiman’s obsession with spiders. Both “Ananzi Boys” and “Coraline” have them.)

There are several myths within “Ananzi Boys” that I found interesting and new to me. The original myth of Spider and Fat Charlie being the sons of Anazi is interesting. As well as Charlie being able to summon his brother by talking to a spider.  The entire story is a created myth that's really engaging and fun to read.

The tale of stories and how Spider wronged the tiger and the bird were also great and fun to read about. I loved when Spider was captured and made the little spider from his blood and sand. Also the "deal" that Charlie makes with bird is so fun to see happen. When the birds just follow Charlie around. 

My favorite myth was when Dunwiddy explains that when Charlie was little he broke her mirror and she split him into two —Spider having all the bad qualities and banishing him.

Another one I liked was Tiger being the one who used to tell all of the stories, but Spider finding him boring, to say the least, and taking over.

Something I loved about Gaiman’s story was the use of grounded fantasy. While this story had fantastical moments, it also had dark adult themes. Spider and Charlie having their fill of women, Charlie’s boss embezzling funds and trying to frame Charlie, and the widow who gets murdered. There's also the moment of Charlie getting arrested, which is just a really interesting thing to see paired with fantasy. The entire embezzlement story was great and so realistic.

On Lady in the Water. Although this movie was lackluster, the entire thing was a created myth. There was unique storyteller and it actually seemed like a story that someone could tell to others about a lady in the water and how to get her home. I don't love the movie, but I enjoyed how they misinterpreted everyone's abilities and then they were slowly revealed by the end.

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