Reviews

American Gods by Neil Gaiman

the_gandy_man's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.5

I like the premise. It's like Percy Jackson, but it feels more real. The gods are more loose and mysterious and there's so many. If the gods were actually real, I would expect it to be more like American Gods than Percy Jackson. I like meeting new gods and maybe I've heard of them maybe I haven't. I like the ways different gods manifest themselves in America. Lots of stories take place in America, but this one feels especially American. I also like the idea that the
whole story is maybe not exactly actually happening, and is just a creative representation of reality. The thought that it isn't actually real makes it feel more real.


The plot is weird. It's pretty simple. It's slow and meanders a lot.
I like the whole Lakeside part, but it doesn't really contribute to the overarching plot. Nothing contributes to the overarching plot, we're just in a perpetual lead-up to a war, until Wednesday dies.
And it's too long. I don't care enough to find out, but I wonder I'd like the original version of this book better, because it feels like it could use some trimming. I think I would've like it less had I read it instead of listened to it.

Shadow is pretty lame. Most of the time he's just going with the flow, I can't think of any choices that felt entirely his. And that's addressed in the book.
His wife says that he isn't "alive".
He still isn't very interesting.

coolowlzy's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes

3.75

notdanross's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

meegmog's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark mysterious slow-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

4.0

guppyur's review against another edition

Go to review page

1.0

Everyone likes this book but me, it seems. There's nothing wrong with it, exactly, but I liked it more when I read the same ideas by different authors years ago. This treatment of them is nothing special.

emhanc's review against another edition

Go to review page

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

2.0

asolo's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark funny mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

cosymilko's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

Not finished this but couldn't push on. Will definitely come back to it.

ghamblock1's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

Perfectly fine but not great. I want to like this book more than I do. Reread 2022, originally read 2002.

mishasmum's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny informative mysterious reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

I like the mythology aspect and the look into American history and culture but the first half of the book is really slow and was hard to get through.