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4.05 AVERAGE
4.05 AVERAGE
Loved this. Sometimes you read a book at the exact moment you needed to read that book, and that’s what happened with this one. Mr. Gaiman worries in the epilogue that Americans will be mad at him for writing a book about America when he’s not originally from here, but I don’t think someone who was originally from here could have written a book that quite did what this one did, and what this one did was important. It’s weird to read a book that captures the soul of America twenty years ago in the very late 90s, because it’s both not a long time ago, and yet it’s before some of the most defining events of recent history, ones that have shaped everyone’s lives since then, and my entire adult life. In some ways the America Mr. Gaiman has captured here doesn’t exist anymore, which is what makes the central conflict of this book feel like a breath of fresh air. It kind of hurts, and it’s kind of supposed to, but you sort of need it to.
slow-paced
Meh. This was just not my thing. I read it mostly because of the new TV show but I didn't feel very compelled by the story itself. It didn't carry me emotionally at all and the gods themselves were more befuddling than engaging. Shrug emoji. I'm surprised I didn't give up.
So unique and interesting. A few times some of the British terminology really took me out of this otherwise very American story, and I thought the last third of the book lacked the focus and the interest of the first 2/3rds. (I read the tenth anniversary edition, so maybe that’s a problem unique to this edition with added text.) The first 2/3rds of the book I really loved, though, it had almost a Twin Peaks quality with the mysticism hidden in plain sight, but I took special joy in the book being mostly set in “my parts” of the Midwest. Overall, a good book!
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I have, up until this point, avoided Neil Gaiman's work. I didn't think he was an awful writer, the opposite in fact. I knew I'd fall in love with his beautiful words. And I have. What I hadn't known was how whimsical and descriptive his writing is, and how creatively he breaks sentences - in such a way it doesn't matter because it makes you understand the emotion of a scene more fully. This book is beautiful. And descriptive, and perfectly American.
I enjoyed this book a lot. I loved how the gods from all religions became American gods and that it explained how that worked.
I found the dream sequences a bit trippy which is not something I enjoy but other than that this was a good book.
It was interesting to find out about some of the lesser known gods and definitely feeds into my love of mythology
I found the dream sequences a bit trippy which is not something I enjoy but other than that this was a good book.
It was interesting to find out about some of the lesser known gods and definitely feeds into my love of mythology
Okay, I confess. I haven't actually finished this book. I was really enjoying it, but I had to get some other stuff read and things happened, I lost my place, and I just can't get back into it. Grrr. I hate not finishing. I hope to get back to this and I'll just have to start it over.
Before I quit reading, however, I was really enjoying this book. I loved that all the "old gods" from other religions were represented as people who are in the "new world" and just fighting to keep their existence. It was an intriguing premise. The story had a lot of stuff going on, but it was all interesting to me. There is quite a bit of bad language, and I know that puts some people off, so that's my only warning.
Before I quit reading, however, I was really enjoying this book. I loved that all the "old gods" from other religions were represented as people who are in the "new world" and just fighting to keep their existence. It was an intriguing premise. The story had a lot of stuff going on, but it was all interesting to me. There is quite a bit of bad language, and I know that puts some people off, so that's my only warning.
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Usually I love Neil Gaiman books for their whimsy & magic. This one was a little too meandering and definitely the most adult I’ve read from him so far. It wasn’t bad, but it didn’t keep me riveted.