The fabulous Neil...

[blue_lotus13]

Last night [Bad username or site: @ livejournal.com], [Bad username or site: @ livejournal.com] and I went to see Neil Gaiman read at Magee Secondary School. Since I was pressed for time, I ended up taking a cab ride there with a lovely cabbie who called me, "my friend" and played some nice tabla music as we drove through the rainy Vancouver streets.

The three of us were about an hour early for the event, which appeared to have sold out. Neil's fanbase seems to attract an equal gender balance. At one point, we looked around to see how many people were wearing black, and were surprised to note that only about half the audience was.

Neil appeared on stage wearing black jeans, a black leather jacket and a black t-shirt. I've always thought he was sort of goodlooking, but in person, he's got that kind of sexyish that Alan Rickman has. He's also a great reader. Douglas Coupland should take lessons from him.

He proceeded to read us a section of "Anansi boys" which refers to Vancouver. He then read us a section of the book and then did a Q and A. I still haven't read "Anansi Boys", but I'm waiting for my copy from the library.

Neil came across as rather charming, and was very witty and funny. He told us about playing with dead muppets at Jim Henson's old house, and about how he wanted to be a writer and would daydream that he wrote "The Fellowship of the Ring."

After this, we waited and then lined up for a LONG time to get Neil to sign our books. The wise [Bad username or site: @ livejournal.com] had brought some Nanaimo bars for Neil. He was pleased and proclaimed, "At this time of the night, everyone needs chocolate." So [Bad username or site: @ livejournal.com] cut up the Nanaimo bars with a Swiss Army knife while [Bad username or site: @ livejournal.com] asked Neil about the state of his cats, and he described how they were all doing in great detail, which was quite nice.

So with our books are signed by Neil, we caught the bus back home.

Comments

[jangrl.livejournal.com]

i went to his reading when coraline came out, and he was fantastic.
i even took a picture with him!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jangrl/17887994/in/set-423521/

jangrl

[angharad.livejournal.com]

I carefully charged up and emptied my camera Thursday afternoon, and then… left it at home.

[carpetofstars.livejournal.com]

i am so envious of everyone who's gone to see neil and actually been able to carry on conversations with him.

[angharad.livejournal.com]

I'm afraid I was so dazzled by the Nanaimo bar logistics and the fame that nearly the only thing I remember about his cats is that they are very old (except for Fred). I can't even remember their names!

[angharad.livejournal.com]

p.s. I know that graphxgrrl has more or less refused to try to get his name correct, but just in case you haven't… it's gragathaz. (=

[graphxgrrl.livejournal.com]

I just have to look it up every time I use it, so avoid using it where possible. I don't know why I can't wrap my head around it. :)

[amy-pi.livejournal.com]

Every once and a while, my sister talks about finding out where he lives in Wisconsin (For some reason I've heard he's in western Wisconsin, which can be very close to where we live in Minnesota) and then oving there to try to make friends with the Gaimans. I think she's only half joking.