You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.05 AVERAGE
4.05 AVERAGE
American Gods is exactly the kind of exploration of American culture you'd expect from Gaiman - a strange mix of mythology, reflection, and compelling narrative. The novel follows Shadow as he crisscrosses america for his strange employer, drawing him into a conflict between the ideas and symbols of old world and the new american gods. The first half of the book seemed a bit slow to me, but once it takes off it's a potent concoction of imagination, reflection, and excitement. Gaiman's ability to stay enjoyable while exploring big questions is always impressive.
“I think I would rather be a man than a god. We don’t need anyone to believe in us. We just keep going anyhow. It’s what we do.”
well I have to say this was pretty disappointing after all the prizes/rave reviews etc. All I can really say is it was ok. It is supposed to be dealing with grand themes etc but in the end I just got distracted by the little 'murder mystery' in the middle which was so blindingly obvious that I wondered what on earth the point of it was. In the end it was all a bit silly and I wouldn't recommend bothering to read it...and it was FAR TOO LONG!
Spectacular. I listened to the full-cast recording of the author's preferred text. Such a great story with great characters. Definitely recommended, especially for those who like mythology (not Greek and Roman mythology).
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
All is not as it seems, seems like it NEVER is, and every time you think something is finite there is double bottom somewhere in there.
A lot of short stories through the book are added to get familiar with some of the characters of the book, so it is worth keeping that in mind if you looking for a recommendation.
Pacing can sometimes slow down, but just when it seems like it will not, the book picks up the pace or a twist.
Personally im not sure if i liked all the interludes that the book has, but overall as a whole the book is a fun little adventure, worth giving a try if mythology and different pantheons are of interest to you
A lot of short stories through the book are added to get familiar with some of the characters of the book, so it is worth keeping that in mind if you looking for a recommendation.
Pacing can sometimes slow down, but just when it seems like it will not, the book picks up the pace or a twist.
Personally im not sure if i liked all the interludes that the book has, but overall as a whole the book is a fun little adventure, worth giving a try if mythology and different pantheons are of interest to you
This is just a slog to get through. Pointless narrative and passive forgettable characters. Mainly Shadow. He has no personality and I feel like the narrative style contributes heavily to that. I might pick it up again but probably not.
2.5 stars for concept, I made it to page 282 and just lost interest.
2.5 stars for concept, I made it to page 282 and just lost interest.
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
While you don't need to have a good understanding of world mythology and religions, it would have been helpful to know more about them in order to understand some of the characters you meet while reading. I found the characters interesting and compelling, but the story does move somewhat slowly. Even though it moves slowly, I did want to continue reading to find out what would happen next. There's a little bit of mystery, a little bit of fantasy, a little bit of romance, and a little bit of everyday life in this book, but there's also a fair amount of graphic violence and sex.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, Violence
Definitely a good read, surprised I never picked up a Neil Gaiman book before... and now I want to road trip from the House on the Rock to Lookout Mountain!