American Gods

Neil Gaiman understands something about the collective unconscious and the way Gods form within it. He also knows something about the way these Gods interact. I think the reason his books resonate with so many (I mean heck there are more than 700 reviews on this site alone), is that he speaks truth within fiction.

I love the TechnoGod, the brash kid and the conflict between the old and the new. This is real folks, more real than you can imagine.

Wow! This book took me a long time to read. Although, we did move into a new house and my book was in some box for at least a week, maybe longer...

I have been wracking my brain for the words to describe this book and to adequately describe its beauty and profundity (especially for those of you who have read the book); unfortunately I am just going to have to write my thoughts either way...

This book was my introduction to Neil Gaiman. I have to say that the writing style was absolutely exquisite. This is probably the first book that I could describe what was happening without having to think about it when asked what part I was at. Gaiman has a way of drawing the reader into his world and not letting go until he is ready.

The book begins with the main character, Shadow, in prison for a crime that is described, piece by piece, throughout the entire book. Shadow is up for parole and released a few days early due to a tragedy that I found to be quite predictable.

On the way home, Shadow meets Mr. Wednesday, who presents Shadow with an offer of employment. At first, Shadow refuses, but ends up conceding to the proposal. The contract between employer and employee is sealed with three glasses of mead and a bar fight.

Shadow, through his link with Mr. Wednesday, finds himself in a plethora of situations he could never have anticipated; some of which being dangerous. The myriad of people Shadow is introduced to are vibrant, wacky, familiar, and strange all at the same time. He also finds himself face to face with a person from his past whom he never thought he would see again.

Gaiman's concept of the existence of Gods is both unique and thought provoking. Interspersed throughout the story of Shadow and his many adventures with Mr. Wednesday are the details of how each God came to exist in America. These stories are both ancient and beautiful in their magnificence.

The book is a question of faith. An idea that beliefs can shape realities. Worship and obsession have the ability to immortalize. In the end, we all have to face our pasts, witness our beginnings, and welcome our endings. We have to decide where to draw our lines and when to take a stance, no matter how powerful the opposition. It is ourselves we answer to, the power of our beliefs give and take energy and ability from those some people hide from in fear of retribution. Our Gods and our lives are our own making.

To describe the book too thoroughly would rob the reader of the pleasure that is reading Gaiman's work. So I must leave my review here, though I highly recommend this book be added to the top of the reading list of those of you who have not read it...

I read this because a colleague loaned me her copy and asked me to. I have never read a more uninteresting book. I didn't like any of the characters, nor did I care what happened to them. Before you buy this one, please skim the beginning chapters at the library or online. The book is apparently free online (I can see why) and know that it doesn't get any better from there- one long, boring road trip...a random string of events LOOSELY tied together with a "plot." Ug. What a waste of my valuable reading time.

The old gods walk through the pages of Neil Gaiman's "American Gods." They also drink, curse, fight, scowl, gamble, and struggle to make a living as prostitutes, grifters, morticians, and taxi drivers. Life is hard for immortals when the masses who once worshipped them have forgotten them - or worse have embraced newer, shinier gods (like TV and technology).

Gaiman's novel is like a Salvatore Dali painting - a wickedly warped distortion of America that crystallizes the essence of this strange, unique nation. It's a complicated blend of mythology, folktale, horror, mystery, and literature. Throw that into a blender and add one part road movie and you've got "American Gods."

Gaiman pokes jagged holes into the nature of American beliefs and the transitory nature of American convictions and culture. America is a patchwork of beliefs here - a giant, moldy quilt. But it's this mish-mash of beliefs that make the United States unique and a difficult place for ancient gods to make a living.

Gaiman takes readers on a journey through the heartland. The story features hard-luck Shadow, a sharply intelligent, but quiet-tongued loner. He's sprung from prison where he spent the last few years paying off his debt for a crime commissioned by his wife (which went horribly sideways when his partners betrayed him).

He's released a few days earlier so he can attended Laura's funeral. His wife has been killed in a car wreck with his best friend - while Laura was giving him oral sex before the crash. It's this betrayal of his true love that numbs Shadow into an emotionless shell through most of the book.

An old con-man named Mr. Wednesday latches on to Shadow and offers him a job as a bodyguard. His prospects grim and his future bleak, Shadow reluctantly takes the offer. Here's where the book transforms from finely crafted crime novel - to the fantastic. Mr. Wednesday, you see, is the American avatar of the Norse god Odin, the All-Father.

Mr. Wednesday represents the old gods who came to America with the early immigrants - people from Norway, Denmark, Russia, Ireland, North Africa, China, etc... These old gods have been cast aside by new gods for technology, TV, transportation (and, yes, even Jesus, although Christianity plays only a minor role in the book). Mr. Wednesday travels across the country recruiting gods to join him in a battle against the new gods. The metaphor of a storm approaching sets the tone for the story.

Much of the joy in reading "American Gods" comes from identifying the old gods Mr. Wednesday and Shadow encounter on their journey. There's Anubis, the Egyptian god of death and embalming; Czernobog, the Slavic god of death and evil; and Wisakedjak, a trickster god of the Algonquians. Readers get to discover a mystic underbelly to America that's fascinating to explore.

Since it was published in 2002, "American Gods" has picked up critical acclaim and won several major awards including the Hugo, Nebula and Bram Stoker awards for best novel. Gaiman, a former comic book writer of the "Sandman" series, has become the toast of the literary world - a new breed of celebrity writer (with geek overtones - as he's prolific blogger and tech head).

Yet while "American Gods" is a beautifully scripted novel - and a compelling read (I'd be hard pressed not to recommend it), the novel does have its flaws. The build up to the epic battle among the gods is intense and yet the final battle happens off stage. Readers don't get to experience one blow of the fight. Gaiman is playing with our imaginations here, but it's still a disappointment.

There's also a lot left unsaid and Gaiman expects a lot from his readers in the way of mythological education (I'm lucky that as a teen I practically memorized the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons book on deities). A bit more detail and information about the gods and their companions would have been helpful.

But ultimately "American Gods" is a fantastical journey. There's an intricately woven sub-plot about children murders in a small town in Wisconsin where Shadow hides during his off-time with Mr. Wednesday that's particularly satisfying.

"American Gods" delivers the goods -- and puts fantasy onto the shelf with high literature. Not bad for a comic book guy.

Read more "Literate Blather" at the Dark Party Review [...]

the story is rich with several layers. It touches the senses like the increasing smell from the walking dead woman wko loses her job because of complaints. drags a little at the end when the stories are all wrapping up.