I was kidding. It was hyperbole.

You didn’t like American Gods? I liked Sandman a lot, even though it was a graphic novel. It was compelling for me. He turned Morpheus, who started out as a cold, almost tyrannical character, into a human being for me. By the end, I ended up caring about the characters, even though some were oh-so two dimensional (like the character of Barbie and Thessaly). Gaiman has a tragic-romantic/gothic style which I enjoy reading. He can write so poetically, without even trying.

On someone, NO. That’s how celebrity stalkers start off.

On their work, YES.

I just don’t “feel” Gaiman. Nothing really ever evolved beyond Sandman level. I like Sandman, actually, but that’s hardly compelling literature.

And Yoga Fire, yeah I know that Neil Gaiman tends to be repetitive in his work, and tends to write about the same theme over and over again. But I am still a huge fan of his, in spite of that (or maybe because of that?). Call it a crush, or maybe something more meaningful. Is it right to crush on someone you don’t know?

Ah but can there be a more succinct summary of Indo-American life?

My gripe with Lahiri is I’ve read at least three stories by her that feature an Indian-American graduate student in Boston. And at the end of her stories I’m always left feeling as though nothing consequential happened and I learned nothing. I’m not expecting a happy-ever-after ending but something that is insightful beyond the daily machinations of neurotic characters.

I hear he’s writing a new story that explores the nature of storytelling. Because, you know, he’s never done that before.

As far as short stories go, though, I don’t think anyone will ever beat Hemmingway’s greatest work:

“For sale: baby shoes, never worn.”

Not sure about the Lahiri distaste. I think she’s remarkably astute.