Anansi Boys / Neil Gaiman / 336 pages / Neil Gaiman Challenge

In 2005, Booklist said that "in Anansi Boys, Gaiman exploits the conceit of his prize winning American Gods - that the gods of America's immigrant peoples are living in retirement, sort of, among us -- for the the purpose of a romantic screwball comedy seasoned with murder, magic, and ghosts."  Fat Charley Nancy always found his father to be an embarrassment but feels compelled to return to American for his funeral.  Through an elderly aunt, Charley discovers that he has a brother previously unknown to him.  If ever he should desire to meet him, he has but to tell a spider to fetch him.  Yes, Charley's father is the Anansi of legend and Neil Gaiman brings him and his stories to life and in this, at times laugh-out-loud, tale for grown-ups.