American Gods A Novel

Although the prose and the story are satisfying, for it flows and connects together, the plot (or plight) of the gods involved in a survival of the fittest romp was not only unbelievable, but it was unbelievable just how the gods could buy into this battle, go into an agreement to war, and then walk away from it all by a few somber words over the futility of it all by one Mr. Shadow, the...more

Although the prose and the story are satisfying, for it flows and connects together, the plot (or plight) of the gods involved in a survival of the fittest romp was not only unbelievable, but it was unbelievable just how the gods could buy into this battle, go into an agreement to war, and then walk away from it all by a few somber words over the futility of it all by one Mr. Shadow, the protagonist. The hero, though over-the-top in symbolism, was sort of true and proceeded in a very self-reflective manner over his life and dreams, though much of Shadow's story was left to an authorial narrator, which I tend to shy away from in my reads these days. Also, the early beginnings that brought the gods to the New World were very moving; I especially loved the tales about Agusu and and Wututu (Chapter 8) and this is why this novel has two stars in my book. Maybe I can't get Julio Cortazar's Hopscotch out of my head, but I am seeking something more mystique in the everyday, something genuinely searching with an autopoetical lens, or something that American Gods just cannot come far away enough from to deliver to me, here and now. If only Gaiman would have spent more of his prose to take us beyond the plot and tertiary explanations on why this superstitious rot makes sense, I wouldn't have challenge the believability of the story. Only the gods know, I guess.   hide

Okay this book probably deserves a four, but I'm giving it a three because the first half of the book didn't compel me in comparison to Neil's other masterpieces. In other, more cliche, terms, it wasn't my cup of tea. However, I spent most of today (the day I'm essentially writing this quick review) reading the last 350 pages of the book, which really picked up. I was...more

Okay this book probably deserves a four, but I'm giving it a three because the first half of the book didn't compel me in comparison to Neil's other masterpieces. In other, more cliche, terms, it wasn't my cup of tea. However, I spent most of today (the day I'm essentially writing this quick review) reading the last 350 pages of the book, which really picked up. I was profoundly pleased that it did indeed picked up considering I am going to see Neil the day after writing this review for a readin...more Okay this book probably deserves a four, but I'm giving it a three because the first half of the book didn't compel me in comparison to Neil's other masterpieces. In other, more cliche, terms, it wasn't my cup of tea. However, I spent most of today (the day I'm essentially writing this quick review) reading the last 350 pages of the book, which really picked up. I was profoundly pleased that it did indeed picked up considering I am going to see Neil the day after writing this review for a reading his new book, The Graveyard Book, which I've already listened to the first 4 chapters online from his previous readings this week. But moving on to American Gods itself, it has it moments, and I most certainly will pick up a copy of Fragile things and Anansi Boys (both of which should be read after AG), as soon as possible. However, American Gods was no Neverwhere or Stardust, though feel free to disagree as many do and have pointed out to me several times. Neil Gaiman produces enough to apply to several different readers   hide

For the most part, I did not like this book while I was reading it, but curiously I liked it well enough upon completion. My favorite part of the book was when Shadow was in the underworld, which was very near the end. I felt like that part of the book was written first and the rest of the book was then written around that scene. Of course, if you read the interview with Gaiman at the end that...more

For the most part, I did not like this book while I was reading it, but curiously I liked it well enough upon completion. My favorite part of the book was when Shadow was in the underworld, which was very near the end. I felt like that part of the book was written first and the rest of the book was then written around that scene. Of course, if you read the interview with Gaiman at the end that turns out to not be the case but it certainly felt that way to me. Anyway, the story was original and interesting but too long and there were definitely some cringe-worthy moments for me with regard to some of the dialogue which didn't always ring true. Same with some of the plot, I mean Shadow's reaction to finding his dead wife in his hotel room was absurdly nonchalant.   hide

This book gets a star for its premise alone. Ancient gods living in America as humans--how could that go wrong? Especially when written by the author of the deliciously spooky Coraline and the slightly inferior but still charming Stardust? Unfortunately, this book never quite swept me away. I had no affection or even much interest in the main character, and the book moves from place to place and...more

This book gets a star for its premise alone. Ancient gods living in America as humans--how could that go wrong? Especially when written by the author of the deliciously spooky Coraline and the slightly inferior but still charming Stardust? Unfortunately, this book never quite swept me away. I had no affection or even much interest in the main character, and the book moves from place to place and from group to group so swiftly that I never could get interested in anyone else. The plot was just a little too ambitious, cluttered with too many characters and interspersed with interesting little vignettes that never really tied into the central plot. The plot, such as it is, doesn't really get revved up until halfway through the book. Until then, the book reads like a series of adventures connected only by the central character and, at times, his employer. Some vignettes were great, but the whole thing just doesn't start to hold together until it's too late.   hide

The old gods of the old pantheons face of against the new gods in AMerica and our hero, Shadow, is stuck in the middle. It's Odin vs. the Internet in a battle cosmic. The idea is that not only people migrated to America, but the gods they worshipped got shipped over to. Once here they were abandoned and no one paid attention to them any more. The new gods of America are the personifcation of...more

The old gods of the old pantheons face of against the new gods in AMerica and our hero, Shadow, is stuck in the middle. It's Odin vs. the Internet in a battle cosmic. The idea is that not only people migrated to America, but the gods they worshipped got shipped over to. Once here they were abandoned and no one paid attention to them any more. The new gods of America are the personifcation of the internet, cars, airplanes and TV. SHadow our hero get released from jail and gets dragged into a showdow between the two sides. Gaimen writing always make my brain feel liked it was used in a different way. His lead characters are always fun and sympathetic, but his supporting characters make you feel violated at times. They are vulger, profane and some time likeable. The world they exist in seems just slightly out of joint with the real world. Close but like a nyguil dream. There are some parts that are offencive. If I was a muslim I would have been really bothered by one part. There was some talk about Jesus that a christian would find wrong. But, if your prepared for that you can skip it and loss nothing. It's a great read and a imagrents view of America. An imagrent god that is.   hide

Modern American mythology from Gaiman's brilliant and twisted imagination. Sort of hard to describe, but it takes the mythos of the American road trip and makes it truly mythological. As in gods from across cultures, eras, and lands all hurtling towards an epic showdown. For all his grandiosity of vision, Gaiman really excels at small, intimate character moments, and his characters are always...more

Modern American mythology from Gaiman's brilliant and twisted imagination. Sort of hard to describe, but it takes the mythos of the American road trip and makes it truly mythological. As in gods from across cultures, eras, and lands all hurtling towards an epic showdown. For all his grandiosity of vision, Gaiman really excels at small, intimate character moments, and his characters are always completely believable, e...more Starting with the book I've read most recently and working backward from there. Modern American mythology from Gaiman's brilliant and twisted imagination. Sort of hard to describe, but it takes the mythos of the American road trip and makes it truly mythological. As in gods from across cultures, eras, and lands all hurtling towards an epic showdown. For all his grandiosity of vision, Gaiman really excels at small, intimate character moments, and his characters are always completely believable, even when they're unbelievable. I really enjoyed his in-depth exploration of one of the ideas I found most intriguing about his Sandman series--what happens to old gods when people stop believing in them? Funny, tragic, touching, and a tad terrifying, an intriguing and complex portrait of an America at once both familiar and foreign--all from a British man. Impressive!   hide

First things first, Neil Gaiman’s imaginative novel is a great read. I loved this book. Shrouded in mystery and steeped in a richly researched mythological world, Gaiman’s expertly crafted postmodern odyssey is unrelentingly clever, surprising, and ultimately wise. Gaiman is a master writer, savvy enough to know when to break the rules and when to revel in classic archetypes and narrative...more

First things first, Neil Gaiman’s imaginative novel is a great read. I loved this book. Shrouded in mystery and steeped in a richly researched mythological world, Gaiman’s expertly crafted postmodern odyssey is unrelentingly clever, surprising, and ultimately wise. Gaiman is a master writer, savvy enough to know when to break the rules and when to revel in classic archetypes and narrative modes. The result is a haunting epic journey through a strangely defamiliarized American landscape. Released from prison, Shadow is confronted with a world he no longer recognizes and so serves as an ideal protagonist within Gaiman’s otherworldly America. Beneath the surface of ordinary, recognizable America pulses a supernatural, although sometimes forgotten, history and a powerful inheritance of myth and magic. The mysterious Mr. Wednesday brings Shadow deeper into this secret world beneath the modern mechanization of American culture and ultimately provides the setting for hard-fought personal and epic redemption. I loved this book. Really. Read it.   hide

Bizarre and surreal, this Neil Gaiman book is not for children! In this fantasy novel, Gaiman develops the idea that settlers to North America from as far back as 15,000 years have brought their indigenous gods with them, and they are still with us and among us today. Their power is seriously diminished as new gods of "shopping", "drugs", and the "internet" have supplanted deities such as Odin....more

Bizarre and surreal, this Neil Gaiman book is not for children! In this fantasy novel, Gaiman develops the idea that settlers to North America from as far back as 15,000 years have brought their indigenous gods with them, and they are still with us and among us today. Their power is seriously diminished as new gods of "shopping", "drugs", and the "internet" have supplanted deities such as Odin. When the old gods and new gods prepare themselves for a battle for survival, unwitting civilians are among the casualties. One of life's losers, a man called Shadow, is reluctantly pulled into the fight of the gods, and finds himself somewhat worse for the wear. Fortunately, it helps to have friends in high places, and Shadow will need all the friends he can get.   hide

After being released from prison early due to the death of his wife, Shadow is not sure what do do with himself. He joins up with Wednesday, aka Odin the All-Father, an old trickster on a quest to rouse the old gods in a war against the upstart technology-inspired gods. Shadow's bizarre road trip takes us across America, using back roads because Wednesday is not sure which side the highways...more

After being released from prison early due to the death of his wife, Shadow is not sure what do do with himself. He joins up with Wednesday, aka Odin the All-Father, an old trickster on a quest to rouse the old gods in a war against the upstart technology-inspired gods. Shadow's bizarre road trip takes us across America, using back roads because Wednesday is not sure which side the highways are on. Shadow and Wednesday unearth long-forgotten gods and goddesses, brought to America with the immigrants who believed in them, and then left by the wayside as the immigrants became a part of a new culture. Shadow is an extremely engaging and well-developed character and his continuing relationship with his dead and decaying wife is believable and darkly humorous. Complex and thought-provoking.   hide