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geenahreads's review against another edition
4.0
I was going to give this a slightly lower rating at first but I think my only real issue was how often I was lost within the story which, to be truthful, was my fault.
This is a book that I think is best enjoyed when finished in a few consecutive sessions rather than spaced out like how I did.
There’s so much information given on each page and if you have a shit memory like I do, it’s easy to forget details that later become relevant.
Again, I think the amount of time it took me to finish this is what caused it to lose its shine and charm but it’s very clear that Neil Gaiman, on a technical level, is a very talented writer.
This is a book that I think is best enjoyed when finished in a few consecutive sessions rather than spaced out like how I did.
There’s so much information given on each page and if you have a shit memory like I do, it’s easy to forget details that later become relevant.
Again, I think the amount of time it took me to finish this is what caused it to lose its shine and charm but it’s very clear that Neil Gaiman, on a technical level, is a very talented writer.
sklus's review against another edition
5.0
I don't know what I can really say about this book, except that I really, really loved it. Everything was magical but so incredibly every day and normal. Maybe it was because it was a "foreigner's view" of America, but it captured parts of America that I never thought of concretely before but always knew. I can see why there is a large contingent of people who dislike the book fiercly, because it's strange and morbid and borderline magical realism at some points but that's what makes me love it so much. Most of the characters were loveably unloveable and human but also gods, maybe? I just really liked this book and do and do not recommend reading it.
chrism6's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
sammyisobsessed24's review against another edition
4.0
An expansive, meandering, strange and absurd road trip. Though there is a war in this book, this is not a story about a war. It's about life and death, love and loss, the journey to somewhere new, and, of course, the Gods. Though it can drag at times, I thoroughly enjoyed American Gods, and I'm glad I read it. Shadow is a wonderful protagonist who I easily connected to and wanted to succeed. The complex, messy relationships between these characters are incredibly engaging. I know this is often considered one of Gaiman's masterpieces, and I can see why.
melmmh's review against another edition
5.0
This is the best book I’ve read in years. I absolutely loved it.
Can anyone comment on whether or not his other novels have a similar writing style?
Can anyone comment on whether or not his other novels have a similar writing style?
kdawn999's review against another edition
3.0
I listened to an impressive audio production of the author’s preferred version. Like all I’ve read from Gaiman, this book reads aloud well. I liked the main character, Shadow, though he’s a bit of a blank slate in the style of American Western male heroes. I kept getting him confused with the character Bobby Western since I was reading this alongside McCarthy’s The Passenger. Shadow likes coin tricks and is hung up on his dead wife, who, it turns out is only mostly dead. The parts of this I’m not sure I liked all that much happen to be the whole point of the book—the “American” gods who crossed to the continent inside the beliefs and heads of immigrants. There are several gods we encounter as roadside attractions on the big road trip Shadow and his boss go on. At the same time it feels like we probably don’t encounter enough or more could have been done with the mythologies of those there. My favorite bits were little storytelling chapters in between the main plot that gave us the stories of immigrants long ago, the ones who brought the gods. I wish we spent more time with these characters. I also really liked the murder mystery side plot in the idyllic town of Lakeside. The ending of the book, as the setting returns here, is satisfying.
There is something about the god bits that reminds me of Octavia Butler’s Patternist series—though Butler does the weird god bits better I think. Gaiman does go so far as to give us some grotesque sex scenes with goddesses, but I really didn’t want or need those. American Gods gives me the impression that Gaiman missed what he was on to in Sandman. Between this and Sandman, the latter is more captivating.
There is something about the god bits that reminds me of Octavia Butler’s Patternist series—though Butler does the weird god bits better I think. Gaiman does go so far as to give us some grotesque sex scenes with goddesses, but I really didn’t want or need those. American Gods gives me the impression that Gaiman missed what he was on to in Sandman. Between this and Sandman, the latter is more captivating.
artichuth's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
bungadinding's review against another edition
4.0
uh. keren banget. idenya, karakter-karakternya, plotnya... tapi sebenernya aku sebel sama (anti)klimaks dan endingnya >___< tapi, yah, sisanya tetep keren, tetep khas Gaiman. novel Gaiman paling bagus yang pernah kubaca malah, meski bikin mata jereng saking tebalnya :'|
rkragsdale's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75