A review by farbooksventure
American Gods by Neil Gaiman

adventurous dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75

It's a meandering story, alright…

I'm happy to report that I actually enjoy American Gods more than I expect myself to. This can be credited to the fact that Neil Gaiman's writings are always a delight to read & I'm invested in Shadow Moon as the main character.

I still agree with my earlier assessment that a >500 pages book is way too much commitment for me. The fact that Shadow gives off himbo energy does a lot of heavy lifting in terms of incentivizing me to finish the book. If I find him annoying, I don't think I will finish American Gods at all. The many times various characters refer to him as a "big guy" who's often time too naive for his own good... Endless.

"A voice from behind him, in the shadows, said, very quietly, 'You have never disappointed me.'
Shadow did not turn. 'That's weird,' he said. 'I disappointed myself all the way. Every time.' - from page 575.

Not gonna lie I am this close (🤏) to giving up in the middle point. But the plot finally picks up at the last part of the story & I really enjoy all the revelations or twists that come with it. When Shadow's backstory came to light & a big plot twist happened, I found myself satisfied as a reader. The appearance of Gods from the Ancient Egyptian pantheon is another highlight for me.

Alas, it turns out I'm reading something exciting!