American Gods (original 2001; edition 2002)

DNF

I'm not put off by big books, and this one had me turning pages for a couple of days. It won awards in both fantasy and horror (and, weirdly, in SF), and my personal preference is definitely for the fantasy element over the horror (though the latter was not too overdone). It is certainly as "big and odd and meandering" as the author intended. Several chapters seem to be almost free-standing short stories, thematically linked to the novel but not pertinent to the plot, or at least very marginal. Gaiman's mention (in the acknowledgements) of James Branch Cabell, producer of similarly bewildering novels exploring myth and belief, is certainly a pertinent reference. (He name-checks Terry Pratchett, Roger Zelazny, and Harlan Ellison too, though not Lord Dunsany, who trod these paths over a century ago in Time and the Gods. I also guess that he may have read John James's Votan and Not for All the Gold in Ireland.)

His geography, though, is not Cabell's vague Europe or Dunsany's not-quite-anywhere, but the American Midwest (Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota, and environs). I can't exactly vouch for the accuracy of all of his depiction, not because I haven't been there, but because I can't really remember much about it: outside major towns such as La Crosse, WI, most of it is just as unmemorable as he makes it sound. His picture of American back-of-beyond tourist attractions is definitely spot-on: vast toy collections or fields full of gently decaying plaster dinosaurs, advertised by roadside billboards which may stretch a hundred miles or more into the next state. And reading his description of the cold, I'm grateful never to have been up that way in winter.

As for the story: well, imagine that Stephen King and Garrison Keillor had tried to collaborate on a Tom Holt plot, then throw in a chunk of Frazer's Golden Bough and a nod to cyberpunk. No? Well, it plays on the fantasy trope of pagan gods surviving into the modern world, sustained by a dwindling pool of belief. This has been well served in lighter mode by both Holt and Pratchett, but Gaiman brings fresh imagination to it, along with walking corpses, coin tricks, and more sex, torture, and death than I really go for in my reading matter. There is much graphic illustration of the sheer horridness of much ancient religion (so far as we know it). The gods in this tale are not effete classical deities or picturesque robed figures of post-Wagnerian romance: they are steeped in blood and human sacrifice. There are some hard sections highlighting the utter inhumanity underlying so much of the European/African settlement of America, with its slavery and indentured servitude, and its callous disregard for the local people.

I'm glad I read this book - even some of the bits that I really didn't enjoy - but it helped to have glimpsed the America it describes.

MB 8-ii-2012 ( )

Wow! I have never read a book like American Gods, so I'm glad this was chosen as a group read. Crammed with characters, some of whom I recognised right from the start, some are hidden, several storylines, dark humour, myth, otherworlds, the mystical, parts of America unveiled, a road trip (of sorts), a murder mystery, and a love story this book cannot be pigeon-holed, or boxed in. Gaiman seems to have a unique talent in this regard. I have only read one other work by Gaiman, but it was a collaboration with Terry Pratchett and, reading American Gods I can now discern whose voice was whose, I think I shall be reading more of Gaiman's work, in addition to Pratchett's.

I must admit, too, it was a new experience listening to an audio book where a cast were assembled to read the various characters. This may have helped to unravel some of the mystery though, as the same voices were used for characters with different names, and I twigged who particular characters, unknown to the protagonist, really were. When Shadow thought someone familiar, I was sorely tempted to scream at my iPod who they were, but it did not detract from my enjoyment of the book, or the Audible's Full Cast production. I highly recommend it as an audio book experience, especially if it's your first foray into the medium.

Somewhat more than a fictional book, I found it also raised some questions about modern, pagan practices and religion in general. Fiction books can make you think, and this one does it, though not as subtlety as other books; this one is kind of blunt about it. As much as I avoid anything American, in choosing it as the setting indeed as one of the characters - Gaiman has played a masterstroke, as it allows so many different streams to converge in a fictional melting-pot (see the contents listed in the first paragraph). It all works because it is set in America. This becomes clear when the book concludes in Iceland.

Strangely, the book does conclude, but it doesn't. There is scope for a sequel, however I was left with the distinct impression this is not forthcoming but, rather, the reader is left to ponder the future.
American Gods is able to read, put down, and picked up again, without really losing track of what is happening, though I was glad that I picked it up every 12 hours or so, or I might have lost my place, and the pace of the book. It's not a small read, or listen, and I wish I could have spared the time to listen to it in one hit, certainly there was one section where I did not stop and stayed up rather late to get to the end of a particular sequence, it was gripping. Gaiman held my attention, almost from the start; at no point did I feel it dragged, though I have seen this as a complaint with this author's extended edition. Not having read the original version, I have nothing to compare, but I truly enjoyed this version, feeling not a word was excessive.
I highly recommend American Gods. It's a jolly good romp exploring the nature of religion, faith, love, hope, people, all wrapped up in a darkly humourous road trip across America. ( )

Gaiman is the best there is at crafting a completely self-consistent and commonplace world that no one would ever really start to imagine. It's a road trip novel in which the road covers multiple cultures and mostly comes to the traveler, and a mystery in which the mysterious adhere completely to their own logic. ( )

I absolutely loved this book. From the ideas about deities and their pantheons (although not entirely new Terry Pratchett uses the same idea in Small Gods, but then again he and Neil have worked together a lot) to every little plot twist and turn. It all came together flawlessly in the end for me. I think Neil Geiman is fast becoming one of my favourite authors. ( )

I consider myself a Neil Gaiman fan, but not all his material appeals to me, and this is one book that I won't likely be revisiting. The very idea of reviewing it and having to say that a man named Shadow comes out of prison a day early when his wife is murdered to be approached by a man named Wednesday who seems to know everything about him and hires him as his sidekick, and then turns out to be a god involved in a battle between the gods of old and the new gods (of drugs, internet, etc) is just... *ugh*. Sorry, can't do it. Two-and-a-half stars, because there were lots of brilliant flashes, but on the whole, I dreaded and couldn't wait for the end. The fact that the tenth anniversary edition I listened to on audio was supplemented with 12,000 words that were cut out from the original edition probably didn't help much. ( )

Wednesday and Shadow are gathering the old Gods for a battle. But not is all what it seams.

The gods are not the typical mighty and powerful lords of Olympus that we have grown accustomed to during our readings. Nor are they of the fire and brimstone varieties that are bread and butter of our mythology and folklore. What they are is a collection of forgotten entities who have been relegated to the empty hallways of popular culture. The people who once worshipped and kept the belief in these gods alive have now become dust and ashes, while their offsprings have long since forged their own paths in the New World, leaving these gods to wallow in their meagre existence.
Shadow, a man caught between two worlds, will become the missing link that will usher the gods into a new era, but the cost may very well be the very essence of who he is, heart, mind and soul.

I started American Gods with no expectations, but even that was not enough to prepare me for the kind of book that it shaped up to be in the end. Gaiman is brilliant in his ability to create a premise and storyline that is both unbelievable, yet incredible at the same time. All brilliance aside, there were definitely parts of the reading that I found rather crass, with the random expletive thrown around, and the occasional fornication tossed in for good measure. Despite my intermittent confusion due to the jumping of time and points of view in the narrative, Gaiman's artistry and talent as a storyteller is undeniable. ( )

The concept of this book is that the gods that immigrants to America believe in remain, even when the belief in them does not remain. I found this concept intriguing and was looking forward to reading my first book by Neil Gaiman, as I had been hearing so many favorable things about him lately.

I found myself disappointed in the book, although it is difficult to put into words exactly why. I would pick the book up to read it, and after a chapter or so, put it down again to do something else. For books that I enjoy, I find them hard to put down. Perhaps it was the characters - none of them were really relatable to me. Shadow, the main protagonist, is a thief who is on the verge of being released early from his prison term when his wife is killed. While his character is the main part of the book, it's as his wife said - he is not alive. He never really came alive to me. I didn't particularly care what happened to him; he seemed very flat and one dimensional.

Wednesday, the other main character in the book, was also never really fleshed out as a character. We do find out who he is, and it seems that more could have been made of that somehow, but it's hard to know if he is the villan, someone for whom we should feel sorry, or just another character.

I'm not sure how I would categorize this book to someone - it's not sci-fi, not really fantasy (although it is fantastic...), it's not horror (although there are zombies in it) - perhaps speculative fiction (which to my mind means sci-fi). In a way, I think it reminds me a little of some of Stephen King's works, but without the gore.

Perhaps I didn't like this book because I'm just not into this genre - it reminds me of the sort of books that I might have read 30-40 years ago in middle school and high school, but have just grown out of.

Whatever the reason, although the premise held promise for me, the book just didn't do it for me, and I will be hesitant to read any more Neil Gaiman books. ( )

I so wanted to Love this book its Neil Gaiman I really should love it but unfortunately this will not be on my list of favorite Gaiman novels. I liked Anansi Boys much better maybe it is because I liked Fat Charlie so much. Part of me did like Shadow though because; how confusing this must have been for him he is just along for the ride for the majority of this book.

Some major research had to have been done to find out about all the different Gods and of course Neil’s writing is great but I just couldn’t connect with this book it was way too easy to put it down/stop listening. There are parts that were interesting and parts that are cringe worthy.

I did like the second half of this book better than the first, but it still didn’t make me fall in love with it and then the end (prologue) got confusing again. I still love Neil and not liking one book out of so many is in no way going to make me stop reading him or change the fact that he is one of my favorite authors. In fact this makes me want to go back and read Anansi Boys again now that I have a little more background than I had when I read it the first time.

The concept of gods only existing because people believe in them is not new but the way Neil tells a story may be. There is so much going on in this book that it is hard to review or try to explain. There is a lot more sex and swearing in this book than I expected; yes, yes I know the gods are sexual beings but there are some very graphic scenes that I felt were over the top.

As I said earlier it is Neil Gaiman I feel awful giving this the rating I am giving and maybe after I’ve stepped away from it my rating may change or maybe someday I will came back and revisit this and see if my opinion changes.

I listened to the 10th Anniversary Full Cast production of this one I enjoyed all the narrators and thought it was very well done. Narrated by, Dennis Boutsikaris, Daniel Oreskes, Ron McLarty, Sarah Jones and Neil himself and many more they mention at the end but this was all they listed on audible.

3 Stars ( )

Where does one start with a book as complex and convoluted as American Gods? Neil Gaiman demonstrates his genius with this tale of mystery, magic and myths. Amazing in scope and subject matter, this book deals with characters as far apart as American folk hero Johnny Appleseed to the Norse God, Odin.

The basic plot of the old gods having to battle it out with the newer, shinier gods is an interesting one, and Neil Gaiman shapes his story around an America that has little time for religion or gods, instead being caught up in the worship of technology. The new gods are based on the internet, the TV, and the Media. Sprinkled throughout the story are small vignettes that tell of how the old Gods were brought to America and slowly lost their power as their people were absorbed into the North American culture. America as a melting pot has created a wonderfully diverse country, but this melding together has caused the vanishing of many customs and religious beliefs.

What I couldn’t do is totally love this book. Awe and admiration, yes. Love, no. I tried and tried to get some kind of emotional handle on the main character, Shadow. He is so detached and cold that I eventually just didn’t care what happened to him. I actually thought his dead wife, Laura, had more personality and warmth I also found parts of the book very confusing, but I do admit that the author pretty much explained everything by the end of the book. And what an ending, indeed. With twists, turns, reveals and incredible pacing, the ending is a great reward for the readers. ( )

Perhaps the most extraordinary thing about reading this book is that I read it on l's recently cast off ipod touch. I loved the premise of gods depending on the beliefs of people and how they were brought over to the New World by immigrants and intermingled with local ideas of the land. But somehow I was hoping for more commentary on society. I suppose it Gaiman stayed true to the internal logic of the characters as I guess a real storyteller is supposed to. Maybe I try too hard to try to use story to make a point. ( )

What a book. Here, Gaiman masterfully weaves Middle-American culture with ancient mythology to create a rich and imaginative world. As I was reading this, I thought that only Neil Gaiman, who himself moved from the UK to Minnesota as an adult, could write this book; I'm sure Gaiman's own personal "American Experience" is intricately interwoven into the pages. Gaiman's characters--particularly Shadow--are both mysterious and sympathetic at the same time, and even the "gods" have an unmistakable humanity. As a reader, you're never quite sure where the plot is going, but always eager to find out, and the twists at the end definitely make it a worthwhile journey. ( )

Thoroughly disappointed with this one. I've heard so many fantastic things about Gaiman, but I just couldn't get into this book. In part, I think that the plot might have been just too far-fetched for me. What I was mostly struck by, however, was the mediocre quality of Gaiman's writing, which I was not at all expecting. His characters were so poorly developed, and such cookie-cutter, cliched representations of character stereotypes, that I could not find myself caring enough about them to muddle through. On top of that, the pacing was far too fast, and yet this book caps out at over 600 pages. And none of that the description that this book vitally needs? Definitely a disappontment. If it were just the plot, I would give another of Gaiman's novels a try, but I'm not so sure if the writing will improve in other books. ( )

Not my usual kind of book, but I found myself pulled into the story and the fantasy, the whole idea. Couldn't wait to find out what happened to all the characters. ( )

Gaiman re-images the gods of myth and legend and places them squarely into the culture of modern America and in tension with the gods that our modern culture has created: technology, media, movies, music, and so forth. The wild card in the coming storm of old gods vs. new gods is the young man, Shadow. Gaiman writes with a fluid style that moves the reader smoothly through the plot, which he unfolds grudgingly, a piece at a time drawing the reader steadily deeper into the story. Gaiman creates a modern mythology that mixes old gods with new idols and in the process offers a commentary on the transitory nature of faith, belief, and culture. Gaiman's story is not just an interesting read, but really draws the reader into a deeper reflection on the place of belief and faith in our modern society dominated by the industrial military complex. This is well written, fast paced, and intricately developed. It does contain strong language, violence and sexual content, but they give a sharp edge to the story that leaves no doubt that it is set in our cultural context. The plot twists and turns challenge the reader and almost assuredly will leave the reader surprised at the end. ( )

This was a fascinating tale! "American Gods" accompanies Shadow, a released convict, as he journeys into the heart of America with the forgotten gods, mythical beings and legendary figures who “traveled” to America with the immigrants and were, over time, neglected and forgotten. Shadow innocently becomes integral to the old gods’ plot to regain power from the newly emerging gods of technology and progress.

The worldwide mythological references masterfully incorporated into this story include Norse, German, Native American, African and Egyptian beliefs (etc.) as well as American legends such as John Chapman and Paul Bunyan. I made sure to have the Google search app on my Smartphone ready to go as I read so I could reference the different myths as I read, which added another dimension to this reading experience. This story, however, goes beyond a reminiscence of these past ideas…it encourages the reader to consider the importance of remembering our immigrant roots and perhaps finding ways to incorporate the traditions of our past into our modern lives, without denying the necessity and beauty of progress.

As I read this book, the only thing that bothered me was that I felt that it got a bit wordy in parts and certain sections could have been edited slightly. Then I discovered that I had been reading the 10th Anniversary Edition of the novel published by William Morrow in June 2011, with the "author's preferred text", which includes an additional 12,000 words. Perhaps I would have been better off reading the book as it was originally published in 2001, when it was awarded both the Hugo and Nebula Prizes.

Other than that, though, I love Neil Gaiman’s writing style and I was totally entranced by many of his descriptions, such as the science fiction-y passage describing Las Vegas…and I was captivated by the journey into the Egyptian afterlife! After reading "The Graveyard Book" (which is still one of my favorites) and "American Gods," I am definitely looking forward to reading another one of Neil Gaiman’s works. ( )

Not his best in terms of pacing. At times it was thoroughly engaging and at times, it dragged with no sense of direction or urgency. ( )

One of my very favorite books and my very favorite novel by Neil Gaiman.

I loved it as a fan of odd, slipstream'ish books with a fantasy edge. I loved it as a fan of Gaiman. Heck, I even loved it as a Pagan. There's a climatic showdown near the end that is a bit messy, but its easy to forgive when everything else is so fantastic.. I first read it during high school, which was unfortunate. I distinctly recall missing more than a few classes reading this one under my desk because I couldn't bear to put it down. ( )

Philosophy, mythology, travelogue, humour, depth, twists. It has it all. What is belief? What do we believe? What is the relationship between us and what we believe, how does that affect our lives? I thoroughly enjoyed the questions and views that were put before me, but that weren't dictated to me. It left a lot of space for reflection, but also to be carried along by a very good story, that works at many levels. Go on, read it. ( )

The game is rigged.

I cannot compare this book to anything I have read so far. It had a bizarre effect on me, stirring up mixed emotions about characters, plot development and the author himself. In the end I can hardly explain why I love this book. I was confused at times but didn't want to put the book away because I knew all the pieces would fit together and I needed to know just how Gaiman would pull it off. It is quite long, yet I understand that it could not have been shorter. All the parts that seemed to be slowing the pace down actually complimented the story because as it unfolded they were inevitably revealed to be of significance. ( )

I love mythology so I absolutely loved this book. Shadow feels just like a shadow at times, but the man he is, is good, and that pervades the story. The different characters he meets up with and the places the plot takes him to are incredible. Some serious research went into this story, and as an aspiring writer I have to give Respect. Even the rules of the gods, what makes them gods, seem to come out of psychological and logical and philosophical premise. And then there was that one reveal moment. You know what I'm talking about if you've read it. I just about had a fit.

Bottom line: amazing read. ( )

Haven't quite finished this but it has been a great read! ( )

Absolutely fantastic. One of my all-time favorite novels ever. A love song to the myth of American reinvention that only an immigrant could write, and an incredible cocktail of gods and myths that only an incredible imagination like Neil Gaiman's could successfully concoct. Loved it when I first read it and never forgot some of the characters and situations described. I've re-read it (fully or partly) a few times since and I enjoyed the added material for the author-preferred version. Did I mention already that it's fantastic?? :o) ( )