In this collection, Gaiman compiles some of his greatest works that upend readers’ expectations, playing metaphorical smoke-and-mirror tricks on our perceptions of old literary traditions. Some of my favorites are Gaiman’s fascinating takes on stories everyone knows, like the Three Billy Goats Gruff, The Chronicles of Narnia, and the quest for the Holy Grail. Smoke and Mirrors touches on everything from vampires to goldfish in every genre from magical realism to original poems. Some are hilarious, some are horrifying; some are a page long, others are 30. However, all of them are captivating, meaningful, and masterfully written, and this is truly one of my favorite books to this day.
Opening Line: “Mrs Whitaker found the Holy Grail; it was under a fur coat.”
Favorite Line: “Just as you wake he comes to you, and he sweeps up kingdoms and castles, and angels and owls, mountains and oceans.”
Why I Like It: Gaiman is a master of every genre, one of the most incredibly creative writers of our generation, and my inspiration in every regard.
Read If You Like: Fantasy, fiction, Coraline, weird stuff and incredible writing.