To be really sad that Amanda Palmer and Neil Gaiman have separated.

[blueglassandfreesias]

Officially cabin fevered now but I have followed both of their careers and always felt slightly that Neil Gaiman held all the power since AP had their child 4 years ago. She posts often about how much she loves him, he never does this.
They were in lockdown in New Zealand together then suddenly he left to hid house in Scotland.
I feel really sorry for her stuck in a country with their child, heartbroken and unable to face to face sort it all out with her husband.

Exactly what ilikebooksandplants said.

I haven’t heard of a lot of people. I don’t care about a lot of topics that get discussed here. I don’t feel the need to go onto threads that don’t interest me to declare that I’ve never heard of the people being discussed and I don’t care about what they’re doing. I just ignore the thread.

I don’t go onto Style and Beauty and ask why people give so much of a shit about wearing makeup, I don’t go into the Doghouse and say everyone’s talking bollocks because cats are better.

It’s only natural that when something happens to celebrities that it gets discussed. That’s what celebrities are for , surely? Especially at the moment when there’s fuck all else to talk about.

And these two celebrities in particular have made their fortunes by either being very open (AP) or projecting a very “down to earth” and accessible vibe (NG). So it’s only natural that people may feel a bit of a connection, as that’s exactly what the celebrities themselves have created as it suits them and makes them more money!

@ViciousJackdaw I thought it was just me

Thank goodness. They freak me out, they really do.

I bloody love Neil Gaiman’s writing.

Just my two pennorth.

“Never heard of them”

Have we reached a new mumsnet low?

I’m going to start going onto all the long haul threads and commenting helpful stuff like “never been to Thailand” or onto the long running Archers thread and ask “who’s Lynda?”

Over 40s?!

My 12yr old LOVES Gaiman and so do many of her 12-17yr old friends. DH (38) is a big fan. I've read most of his books and like him but prefer Pratchett.

He guest starred briefly on Big Bang too.

I do know both Amanda and Neil personally. Interestingly pretty much all the speculation in this thread is wrong. Especially the bits about the “balance of their relationship”

Thanks for this insight. Hopefully they will resolve their problems, they always seemed well-matched to me.

Of course I don't know them, but I suspect AP wouldn't be bothered about the prospect of randomers discussing her online

I do love his novels, although l'm not so keen on his short stories. I quite liked the Dolls too but she rather lost me over the l've-got-a-ton-of-donated-cash-but-l-want-you-to-play-for-nothing business.
The whole nerd royalty thing makes my toes curl - l'm happier just getting into someone's work, if l "know" them via social media and they come across as a right twat it spoils the books/music a bit for me ...
People split up all the time, why take it personally? You don't know them, you don't know what's actually going on, it's not worth being sad over.

I don't think either of them are very nice people. I met her once at a signing event (yeah, judging her on one meet, sue me) and she came across as rude and arrogant and that soured her work for me. For someone who relies so much on her fans' £, you'd think she'd be arsed to be friendly.

I also have zero respect for anyone who posts their young kid all over the internet. Give the poor kid some privacy, he's not an extension of your overblown ego.

@popebenedict to be fair, this was on AIBU, not a specialist fantasy novel / music area of MN.

I suppose if I’m projecting anything it’s that she’s been with an avoidant man for the entire relationship. He managed just under one week in a fixed domestic situation, she softened into it and seemed happy and he literally ran for the hills. It just screams fear of intimacy to me.
Brings to mind the line “a lie burns long but the truth bites quick”.

I’m surprised at how many people don’t know who Neil Gaiman is. Do people not read

I read all the time but had never heard of him. Guess we also like different books/authors. Is he worth reading?

Never heard of either of them until today but thanks to D listed and the amazing comments section, I am all caught up . So much drama and hot garbage.

I’m surprised at how many people don’t know who Neil Gaiman is. Do people not read

Well given I’ve over 700 read books on my kindle, yes, I do read but nothing of his has come on to my radar. I’ve just had a good look at the novels he has written and the synopsis of them. I still have no interest in reading them, it’s not a subject matter I ever read, I have no interest whatsoever in fantasy, sci-do, mythology or any similar genre and tend to avoid it at all costs. It doesn’t make me ignorant as some of the posters here suggest, it’s just not topics of interest to me so it doesn’t cross my path and I’m sure that there are plenty of educated, MN’ers who enjoy reading quality literature who don’t have to have heard of or read Neil Gaiman

I read all the time but had never heard of him. Guess we also like different books/authors. Is he worth reading?

Well that depends on whether you like fantasy books or not. Which I don't, and plenty of people don't. Like I said earlier, I only know who they are because my DH likes them. I got slightly more interested a couple of years ago when Amanda tried to get away with getting some musicians to do unpaid work.

Anyway, as with many fantasy authors, Neil Gaiman has a considerable following of geeks, nerds and "alternative" people. That's why all the faux-highbrow outrage in this thread is ridiculous. He's a popular author if you like that sort of thing, but he's not a creator of Great Works of Classic Literature. The way some people are so aghast on this thread, you'd have thought we were talking about William Shakespeare.

Is he worth reading?

Depends on what you enjoy. I love his books and I'm not normally a fan of that kind of fantasy-style novel. Start off with something like Neverwhere which isn't too mythological and see what you think.

Well seeing as they've both boasted about their "open relationship", how they can "meet other people and have relationships with them" etc I'm not surprised. Not everyone can last in a poly relationship.

Anyway, as with many fantasy authors, Neil Gaiman has a considerable following of geeks, nerds and "alternative" people. That's why all the faux-highbrow outrage in this thread is ridiculous. He's a popular author if you like that sort of thing, but he's not a creator of Great Works of Classic Literature. The way some people are so aghast on this thread, you'd have thought we were talking about William Shakespeare.

Google Neil Gaiman's first wife. Years ago I remember feeling a bit sad (from a distance, actually none of my business) that the been together before you were famous relationship had fallen apart just as things financially must have been getting easier. From the images, I always thought the original Mrs Gaiman would have been on Mumsnet.
The internet throw up Neil & 1st Mrs G's Scientology background.... Never knew that!

I'm surprised Amanda Palmer isn't more popular on MN

“Is it more of an over 40's thing?”

What is an over 40s thing? Is that the large print section in the library? I’m reading a lot of Victorian gothic at the moment, is that an over 100s thing!?

I know Gaiman’s work through my rather eclectic book group. Not my thing but I’ve read a couple of his children’s books (like Fortunately the Milk) to the kids and they loved them.

I found Neil Gaiman’s tweet in response to AP’s post very very pass ag and shows that he’s invested in coming out as the “good” guy in all of this. Very off putting.

I think I can tell which side you're taking OP!

As you don't know either of them in real life I don't really know how you can say some of the stuff that you've been coming out with.

Clutches pearls at the Dear Daily Mail video!