Reviews tagging 'War'

American Gods by Neil Gaiman

51 reviews

miayukino's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense slow-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? Yes

5.0

Helped me get over some big book fear. I love Shadow so much, which is saying something because I never tend to feel so strongly about protagonists. This book comforted me as I chugged through it, slowly, probably over a year. But it was worth it, and l imagine I’ll be reading it again when the time is right. It was wonderful to finish this book in time for spring. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Car accident, Child death, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Vomit, Colonisation, Death of parent, Death, Gore, Murder, Sexual content, Body horror, Torture, Slavery, and Violence

Moderate: Cancer, Terminal illness, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, and Cursing

Minor: Fatphobia, Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, and War

greenglass67's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This is one of my all-time favorite books. It’s a combination of a detective mystery, a thriller, a romance, and more. The mythology behind this story is so detailed. Little hints and clues are laced throughout the whole book. It’s got a very American feel, as the title implies. It’s a fascinating commentary on belief, culture, faith, and worship. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Injury/Injury detail, Racial slurs, War, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, and Infidelity

Moderate: Classism, Suicidal thoughts, Car accident, Blood, Alcohol, Colonisation, Murder, and Police brutality

Minor: Terminal illness, Gore, Cursing, Gun violence, and Injury/Injury detail

marialilypotter's review

adventurous challenging dark funny hopeful informative mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual content, and Xenophobia

Minor: War

szote's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, War, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Alcoholism, Body horror, Animal death, Addiction, Death, Genocide, Animal cruelty, Sexual content, Vomit, Racism, Gore, Infidelity, Suicide, Torture, Car accident, Gun violence, Murder, Rape, Slavery, and Suicidal thoughts

leapyear_reader's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

It feels as if i have taken an extraordinary roadtrip through Gaiman’s inner woorkings of his imagination and source of creativity. A book filled with complex, layered characters, each compelling enough to be a protogonist, yet Gaiman slices through tales and trips like butter on pancakes served in a motel diner.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, War, Murder, Child death, Physical abuse, Rape, Death, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Slavery, and Animal death

Moderate: Gore, Alcohol, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Grief, Genocide, and Vomit

Minor: Car accident and Miscarriage

navayiota's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book.. wow. When I started it, I didn't expect to fall in love with it as much as I did. This story is definitely going to stick around in my mind for a while, especially the next few days, since I can't stop thinking about it or bring myself to start another book. Maybe Norse Mythology. Wednesday was one of the best parts of the book, and I know it's what he's most interested and knowledgeable in. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Car accident, Death, Kidnapping, Violence, Blood, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Child death, Death of parent, Infidelity, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Slavery, War, and Racism

Moderate: Alcohol, Cursing, and Alcoholism

Minor: Suicide

antimony's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.0

for the most part i really enjoyed this! writing was really good and i really loved sam! sometimes i thought the pacing was kinda weird like it sort of pools and lingers on things in the middle of the book that don’t feel quite so important but then again this edition is rather expanded. i also read this faster than most of what i’ve been reading lately despite it being probably twice as long so that definitely counts for something. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Death, Violence, and War

Moderate: Child death, Racial slurs, and Suicide

Minor: Fire/Fire injury and Death of parent

sukidookie's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

While I can appreciate Neil Gaiman's descriptive writing and unique ideas, I found the actual plot to be very meandering and difficult to follow. The characters all had similar voices and I struggled to differentiate them. I liked the part where the buffalo man was revealed to be the "land", America. The concept of this book was excellent, but I did not enjoy the way it was written.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death and War

Moderate: Sexual content

bebidocrimes's review against another edition

adventurous challenging mysterious fast-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? It's complicated

4.5

I can't believe a British man captured the charm of the US so well. Holy places being roadside attractions and small towns was such a good decision, and I love that Gaiman makes sure his characters are fed and you know it. Makes me hungry. I can definitely feel where his voice shows up in Good Omens now. I can also see where this book inspired other creators I follow (Erin Morgenstern, Alex Hirsch maybe). Took a minute to care about Shadow, but he really is such a sweetie and it shows in the littlest ways like caring for Bast before he really decided he believed in gods and cheating a coin toss to lose so he would have to pay for Sam's meal. I can tell it's been too long since I've been in a literature class because the foreshadowing drove right past me, even when it was literally in all caps and bolded, smh. Kinda surprised at how easy the resolution seemed, but overall it concluded very well. Loved it so much, I bought Neverwhere before I was halfway through this one.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Excrement, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Sexual content, Colonisation, Cursing, Alcohol, Car accident, Child death, Blood, Violence, War, Death, Gun violence, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Confinement, and Grief

eni_iilorak's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual content, War, Alcohol, Blood, Child death, Death, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Torture, and Car accident

Moderate: Slavery, Colonisation, Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, and Racism