Top Ten Books For People Who Like Neil Gaiman

Tuesday, July 3, 2012


This week's Top Ten from The Broke and the Bookish asks for top ten books for people who like a specific author. I’m going to pick Neil Gaiman, but Gaiman’s work is so varied depending on what you read. He writes young adult novels, graphic novels, children’s books, etc.

So instead of listing ten books you might like, I’m going to list ten of his books and then provide a recommendation for each book. This should work in reverse as well. If you’ve never read Gaiman and would like to try him, pick one of the books in the second column that you already know you like and then try the recommended Gaiman book.

1) Stardust – The Princess Bride 

2) Neverwhere – The Book of Lost Things 

3) American Gods – The Stand 

4) Good Omens – The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy 

5) The Graveyard Book – The Jungle Book 

6) Coraline – The Golden Compass 

7) Anansi Boys – Big Fish

8) Instructions – The Little Prince 

9) Sandman Chronicles – The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen 

10) Fragile Things – Edgar Allan Poe or H.P. Lovecraft’s short stories

BONUS: The Doctor’s Wife (BBC episode) – All of Doctor Who!

14 comments:

Meytal Radzinski said...

Interesting parallels! I particularly like Coraline and The Golden Compass comparison - though obviously very differently styled books (especially when taking into account the remaining books in His Dark Materials...), there is something that ties them together.

Camilla P. said...

Thanks for the suggestions :) I love Gaiman's work and I'd surely like to read something as wonderful as his books. I know most of the "parallel" books you've suggested, and I agree with almost every connection you've done - and I took note of the titles I didn't know. :)

Nina said...

Great books! I loved Coraline, such a good book and movie! I have watched the movieThe Golden Compass, but never read the book. I do want too!

Melissa said...

Awesome recommendations! Stardust and The Princess Bride are so right on! (Not to mention, I need to read more Gaiman!)

Tanya Patrice said...

I've only read 1 Gaiman book, Neverwhere, which I loved! I've been meaning to read other books by him as well, and now I'll have to check out some of these companion books as well.

Paulita said...

This looks like a great meme that stretches the minds of book lovers. I'm doing First Paragraph Tuesday plus Paris in July. Here's Mine

Lauren @ Story Bound said...

LOVE Stardust and Princess Bride! I liked Neverwhere and have The Book of Lost Things on my to-read list and so is The Graveyard Book. Also, LOVE LOVE LOVE your bonus!! That was a fantastic episode but then again, all of Doctor Who is AMAZING! Great list!

Jillian said...

Yay for recommending The Book of Lost Things! I actually love that book so much, but have not read Neverwhere, which of course, is inspiring me to read it! I also have to agree with Stardust and the Princess Bride.

Jeanne said...

What? You think Good Omens is remininiscent of The Hitchhiker's Guide? My daughter had a copy of it somewhere...

Melissa (Avid Reader) said...

Biblibio - Yes, I think the rest of the Dark Materials falls in a different group, but the first book felt similar to me.

Camilla P. - Oh good! I hope you find some new ones that you like.

Nina - The book of The Golden Compass is so much better than the movie! I thought the film was pretty disappointing.

Melissa - Gaiman's work has such a fascinating diversity. Not every single piece is my favorite, but I've found so much that I love.

Tanya Patrice - If you liked Neverwhere, maybe try Anansi Boys next. They're both great!

Lauren - Wasn't that Doctor Who episode fantastic! It blew my mind.

Jillian - I love Book of Lost Things too! It reminded me in a lot of ways of Neverwhere. They are very different books, but they both have a parallel dark world and a troubled main character.

Jeanne - Do you disagree or you haven't read it yet? I think it has the same great sense of humor!

Anonymous said...

I love Gaiman and your list is great. I agree with most of your pairings--the ones I know something about.
1) Stardust – The Princess Bride

2) Neverwhere – The Book of Lost Things

3) American Gods – The Stand

4) Good Omens – The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

6) Coraline – The Golden Compass

LBC said...

Great list! I really love The Little Prince, so maybe I'll check out The Instructions. I haven't read much Gaiman although I really like The Sandman comics.

Melissa (Avid Reader) said...

readingafterbedtime - Thanks! I think it's hard to know what you'll like when it comes to his work because each book is so different.

LBC - Gaiman read The Instructions at an event I attended. It was so beautiful and it reminded me of The Little Prince in so many ways.

Jenners said...

Wow … amazing job with this!!!! I would have to agree with your assessment based on this one book by Gaiman I read. I'm ready to try some more though.