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4.05 AVERAGE
4.05 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I honestly was glad when this journey was over. Maybe I've read too much of the Beat generation authors and had my glorious adventure on Rte 66 to find this story lacked everything. There was nothing daring in there and the author's angst to add the Jesus encounter or not was just pathetic. I love Mr Gaiman's early work but since Norse Mythology and this I see a lost creative soul trying to find his muse again.
Buy This Book Now! (5 out 5)
British born Neil Gaiman (who now lives in America) has written what is considered one of the greatest modern American novels. American Gods, winner of multiple awards, utilizes mythology, urban and rural landscapes, and magic realism to ask the questions of what does it mean to be an American and how has the concept of “being an America” changed over time? Don’t think for once that this novel is about patriotism. These questions bubble out of the violent war between the old world gods versus the modern day gods (e.g., Media and Internet) that have controlled the landscape. In the middle of this war is Shadow, an ex-convict, betrayed by his cheating (now dead) wife and best friend. Looking for work, Shadow becomes the bodyguard of Mr. Wednesday, who we later learn is one of the old gods, Odin. As they travel across America, we get a darker vision of America – a land that feels like a tortured soul having trouble finding its sense of “self.” What makes this book intriguing is Mr. Gaiman’s ability to create characters that feel very real and alive, including the land. I’m fascinated by his parallel of the characteristics between Shadow and the American landscape. Sacrifices are made at the end, but for whom? And, do the sacrifices make any difference to humanity and the future of America?
British born Neil Gaiman (who now lives in America) has written what is considered one of the greatest modern American novels. American Gods, winner of multiple awards, utilizes mythology, urban and rural landscapes, and magic realism to ask the questions of what does it mean to be an American and how has the concept of “being an America” changed over time? Don’t think for once that this novel is about patriotism. These questions bubble out of the violent war between the old world gods versus the modern day gods (e.g., Media and Internet) that have controlled the landscape. In the middle of this war is Shadow, an ex-convict, betrayed by his cheating (now dead) wife and best friend. Looking for work, Shadow becomes the bodyguard of Mr. Wednesday, who we later learn is one of the old gods, Odin. As they travel across America, we get a darker vision of America – a land that feels like a tortured soul having trouble finding its sense of “self.” What makes this book intriguing is Mr. Gaiman’s ability to create characters that feel very real and alive, including the land. I’m fascinated by his parallel of the characteristics between Shadow and the American landscape. Sacrifices are made at the end, but for whom? And, do the sacrifices make any difference to humanity and the future of America?
Wasn't for me. So many interludes to the story that to me just felt like distractions. The initial plot had intrigue and then I lost interest in the midst of all of the coin tricks and road trips and random interactions with people supposed to be gods. I guess I missed the point.
Reread this after watching the tv show. Not at all like the show. Really didn’t remember anything from the last time I read it, so I got to be surprised all over again.
I didn't enjoy this book at all. I didn't like the characters, didn't enjoy the plot, didn't learn interesting things about gods or mythology. I don't recommend it.
Perhaps it's because I've never enjoyed creation myths or mythology in general. But it's also because the situations of the gods in the book seemed so unrealistic. It's called compound interest. Why are all the gods so poor? If you have half a brain and an ounce of the power Gaiman's characters have, you'll be wealthy beyond belief in a few hundred years, let alone several thousand.
Yes, wealth for them is measured in worshipers. But why then does Gaiman spend so much time describing the horrible material conditions they all live in?
One minor detail of many that I didn't like about the book.
Perhaps it's because I've never enjoyed creation myths or mythology in general. But it's also because the situations of the gods in the book seemed so unrealistic. It's called compound interest. Why are all the gods so poor? If you have half a brain and an ounce of the power Gaiman's characters have, you'll be wealthy beyond belief in a few hundred years, let alone several thousand.
Yes, wealth for them is measured in worshipers. But why then does Gaiman spend so much time describing the horrible material conditions they all live in?
One minor detail of many that I didn't like about the book.
*Disclaimer: Vile Author*
Sexual assault, abuse of power, rape
Sexual assault, abuse of power, rape
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
So, I sorta get it. This was definitely an epic. But I probably should have read it, instead of doing the audiobook, because it is VERY long, very detailed, and excessively described. I'd have given it three stars up until Shadow starts hanging on the tree, at which point I expected the story to end... but it didn't, and it didn't, and it didn't. So by the end I was just kind of frustrated and also annoyed with myself for not paying better attention so I could make some of the neat connections that I was sure were there.