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A review by will_meringue
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
2.5
People believe, thought Shadow. It's what people do. They believe. And then they will not take responsibility for their beliefs; they conjure things, and do not trust the conjurations. People populate the darkness; with ghosts, with gods, with electrons, with tales. People imagine, and people believe: and it is that belief, that rock-solid belief, that makes things happen.
In his preface to this edition, Neil Gaiman wrote that, with American Gods, '[he] wanted to write a book that was big and odd and meandering, and [he] did.' Although too meandering at times for my personal taste, I don't disagree with him there, and it all came together in rhe last 150 pages in a way that really impressed me. However, that doesn't change the fact that I found significant portions of the book a slog to read. More than that, though, I couldn't abide the misogyny in this book. I know 2001 was a fair while ago now; it's not an excuse. And it's not because of the world the book occupies - the misogyny in this book is structural. Every single woman in this book is a misogyntistic stereotype, usually a highly sexualised one. Even when I thought I couldn't be surprised by the vitriolic misogyny, I would read something else and my jaw would drop. So, if you want to read this, be prepared.
In his preface to this edition, Neil Gaiman wrote that, with American Gods, '[he] wanted to write a book that was big and odd and meandering, and [he] did.' Although too meandering at times for my personal taste, I don't disagree with him there, and it all came together in rhe last 150 pages in a way that really impressed me. However, that doesn't change the fact that I found significant portions of the book a slog to read. More than that, though, I couldn't abide the misogyny in this book. I know 2001 was a fair while ago now; it's not an excuse. And it's not because of the world the book occupies - the misogyny in this book is structural. Every single woman in this book is a misogyntistic stereotype, usually a highly sexualised one. Even when I thought I couldn't be surprised by the vitriolic misogyny, I would read something else and my jaw would drop. So, if you want to read this, be prepared.