American Gods: Introduce Yourself

Thinking about joining us for March's OLOB selection, American Gods? Chime in here!

I will join. I hate introductory posts.

Thought the discussion for The Circle was great; looking forward to doing it again with a different book. See you in March

Though fairly new to Neil Gaiman's work, I enjoy what little I've read. I'm looking forward to reading and discussing this book with you guys!

I've had American Gods in my stacks for while now and am psyched to have "an excuse" to move it over to my nightstand! :-)

I might possibly join in, but this isn't something I'm especially keen to read. I'll have to see where I'm at with my challenges and whatnot when it gets closer.

I've read it a few times before. I might read it at the same time as everyone else, again.

I'm Roberta

I have this booked lined up for my 2014 Challenge so I'm am happy this one was chosen.

This will be a repeat for me, but I loved it the first time through, and am happy to have reason to revisit it!

ETA: Prior to this, the only Gaiman I'd read were Stardust and The Sandman series, both of which I enjoyed, to varying degrees.

I see that there is American Gods and American Gods: Tenth Anniversary Edition. Amazon says the latter is "expanded with the author's preferred text". Just thought I would mention it.

k4k

I'm going to try to join in. I've got a lot of books in front of it, but it's been sitting on my TBR for quite a while so I'd love to get to it.

Sandman was excellent, but his other comics/graphic novels have done nothing for me. I read Neverwhere and enjoyed it well enough but most of his novels just don't have much interest for me. It's possible I'd change my mind actually reading them, but, eh.

I read American Gods last year iirc, enjoyed it very much. I won't reread it, but will read along and perhaps join the discussions.

I am amazed that my two top picks actually won! This will be a reread for me, but well worth it. Since I donated my paper copy the the library book sale long ago, I'll be reading an ebook borrowed from there!

I'll be following the discussion, but I probably won't chime in much because the book isn't fresh in my memory—I read it a few years ago and definitely did not enjoy it enough for a reread.

My first edition bought nearly thirteen years ago remains unread so this is timely. I plan to read Neil's preferred text ... the tenth anniversaty edition.

I've read it before (in a different language...) and I have the anniversary edition. So sounds like it is time to get around it and read it in March.

Oh, dear.

I have, and would be reading, the original edition, since I read it when it first came out. If there's much of a difference between the two versions and the official text for this one is the new edition, I'm afraid I'll have to bow out.

>18 lorax: Apparently Gaiman re-added text that his editor initially had him cut, and 10th anniversary edition is about 12,000 words longer than the originally-published version.

We're not going to be specifying that members read a specific edition, so feel free to (re)read whichever you prefer!

Personally, I loved the original when I read it a few years ago, so I might use this as an excuse to check out the 10th anniversary edition, if I can get my hands on a copy.

I've been wanting to read American Gods for some time, so it will be fun to read it as part of a group. Great selection!

I got this book for Christmas, so I'm in.

I'm in. This wasn't my pick but, like Eggers was, he's a new author to me and discussing new-to-me authors was my motivation for joining OLT/OB. I purchased the Kindle edition and thought I was getting the author's preferred text version but, because of some craziness with the links on Amazon, I'm not quite sure now.

You can return it if it is not the correct one. Contact kindle help.

>23 krazy4katz: Thank you, krazy4katz. I phoned and they quickly refunded the old edition and found the edition I wanted. Hopefully they will correct that link so others won't mistakenly do the same thing I did.

I am going to read American Gods. I have put it on hold in two places, so hopefully I will not be late this time.

I should be joining or lurking for this one too, if I manage to pick a copy in the meanwhile.

Not very familiar with Gaiman yet, I've only read his Smoke and mirrors collection so far, which I enjoyed a lot though short stories tend to be a harder sell on me.

Been meaning to read this one for a while, so I may join in.

I voted for it so I'd better find myself a copy I suppose. Full confession... I'm not that keen to read the book but I did pledge to myself that this year I would read a little more outside my comfort zone (which is primarily crime fiction) and I need something like this for a push. I've never read a Gaiman book but I've heard good things

I read this several years ago. It was my first Gaiman and I didn't really like it. Since then, Gaiman has grown on me (I particularly love Stardust and The Ocean at the end of the Lane), so I've been thinking of rereading American Gods to see if I would feel any differently about it these days. This March seems like the perfect time to find out.

I really loved this book the first time I read it, but that was years ago. It's definitely time for a reread! The only question now...stick with my mass market paperback or buy the new shiny author's preferred text? :P

I'm not particularly fond of the Gaiman books I've read. The only one I thought was palatable was The ocean at the end of the lane, but I'm not really a fan of Coraline and The graveyard book. However, those last two are children's books, and American gods is not, and I've heard the latter is very different from the former. I've been thinking about given American gods a try, and this group read seems to be a good excuse.

I'm definitely going for the old version and not the new. I've read books before that should have been edited heavier than they were, and I think authors cannot always judge their own work well enough. I have no idea if this is also the case for Gaiman, but I'm not gambling on it. I'm taking the edited version!

This is one of the two Gaiman books I have read in actual book form, although I've listened to audio versions of several of his other books. I picked up a copy of this to re-read.

I loved this book! Read it a couple years ago, so may have to reread to discuss, but look forward to chatting about it.

I am without a doubt doing this one! I adore American Gods and haven't read it in a few years and would love to reread it.

I'm in and looking forward to the discussion. I've always liked the modern interpretations on the ancient gods.

This will be my first Gaiman, always room for one more.

I have my copy of American Gods so I should have it read in plenty of time!

I'm actually halfway through American Gods! I'm a bit of a slow reader, so I started it about a month ago. This is the first Neil Gaiman book I've read, and I'm very fond of the book so far; all the good things I've heard from friends certainly came through! I'll probably be done with American Gods by the time discussion comes around, and I don't think I'll plan to re-read it so soon afterwards {going to start The Ocean at the End of the Lane } but I imagine I will certainly be participating in the discussion, at least!

I read this two years ago and while I won't be rereading it, I'll be looking forward to the discussion.

As far as the editions go, I started with the original version but when the physical book had to go back to the library, I was able to download the ebook of the extended text. Going to the next chapter it seemed to be a pretty seamless transition and not at all like a different version. An interesting read.

I read this last year and I doubt I will reread it unless the discussion is so interesting that I will be tempted again.

>10 krazy4katz: Tenth Anniversary expanded text.

Evidently, Gaiman went back to his earlier unpublished draft, used parts of it and edited it some more....sounds rather convoluted to me. Whatever, that's the kindle-ized version I bought for my iPad. It has an audio version built in! Strange!

Oh. And I'm Susan...read Dorian, now I've started Gods. So far Gaiman is weirder than Wilde, for sure! but I think it is a better read...though I think Wilde needs to be kept in his time to be appreciated for what he wrote about.

>28 bsquaredinoz: are you channelling me?
;)
I feel the same way. So I will be joining in too.

12,000 extra words sounds rather a lot to add in.

Yesterday I picked up a pristine used copy of the hardcover Tenth Anniversary Edition, so I will try to join in. Someone recommended American Gods to me when I complained about the portrayal of women in Sandman . . . so we'll see how this goes. (I loved The Graveyard Book, but wasn't really fond of Sandman.)

Okay, off to remind myself of when this starts and whether I need to read it before a certain date . . .

I might lurk. Read American Gods with twitter bookclub #1book140 in 2010 and loved it. Do you mind lurkers?

>45 KymmAC: Not at all! You're welcome to lurk, and chime in (or not) if you feel like it!

I began the book yesterday and so far I am enjoying the story.

Joining. I'm me.

Very interested in the Gaiman read, does library thing supply the book?

>50 H.HillHouse:

Nope - you get your book where you want. LT just supplies the space for the discussion.

I've never actually read any Gaiman. Not really sure what to expect, really, at all. Exciting!

Although I didn't like The Ocean at the End of the Lane, I have the unedited (shorter) version of American Gods & started it today. I'm only 4% in, but enjoying it very much & will join in the discussion.

I just got my copy from the library and started reading last night. Good so far.

I started reading a few days ago, haven't got far enough in to have much of an opinion yet.

I'm in- Read Anansi Boys last month- wonder why I waited to pick up Gaiman. Found my copy of American Gods.

I'm sure there is an appropriate thread for this question, but American Gods is only my 2nd selection for discussion. But when is the chosen book for April posted (or maybe it is and I just don't know where to look)?

Much thanks - back to reading AG now. :-)

I'm joining in the read, possibly in the discussion. I've wanted/not wanted to read this for some time, based on conflicting recommendations, hence the delay in reading it. I'll probably finish it this weekend. I have read and enjoyed for the most part several other books by Gaiman, as well as some of the Sandman series.

#44 - I can't imagine someone recommending this for its portrayal of women, but I'll save that for the discussion thread.

I read it a couple of years ago, and had been thinking of re-reading it so this is excellent timing! I'm not sure how much I'll contribute to the discussion, but I'm very much looking forward to following along at least :)

I am joining the discussion. I have read several of Gaiman's works and enjoyed them all for various reasons. I just finished listening to Stardust while on a road trip. I loved American Gods and immediately read Anansi Boys and liked it as well. There is lots to talk about in a Gaiman book.