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Summary: A Writer for the Highly Literate
Review: Take a wonderfully warped and dry British sense of humor, add a liberal dose of literary and historical allusion, sprinkle in pop culture with a poetic voice, and stir with a fine sense of sarcasm and you have Neil Gaiman's latest novel. (In fact, that describes darn near everything Gaiman writes!) That's Gaiman! AMERICAN GODS is a delightful romp across Americana and a close look at why we shouldn't take ourselves too seriously on this side of the pond. Imagine the gods of the old countries coming over with the immigrants. Imagine Odin as a cross country con man traveling salesman. Thoth and Anubis running a funeral home in (where else!) New Orleans. Think of America as the microcosm and imagine what the macrocosm might be. This is imagery that stays with you and sets you chuckling to yourself months later. Gaiman may not be for everyone--if you like simplistic adventure in soundbytes and special effects don't even try him. But if you are well read, have a highly developed sense of humor, and an appreciation of fine language coupled with wit--Gaiman is your man. Neil Gaiman's writing is the stuff that will stand the test of time. And when you've finished AMERICAN GODS, go read GOOD OMENS!
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Summary: A Great Read God Lovers
Review: Finally finished reading American Gods! I didn't want to put it down once I started reading. I love the theories about Gods ... how they came to exist ... the "humanity" of them ... beauty! I wish there were more books like this.There is a conversation between Odin and Eostre where he is trying to win her to his side and she points out that Easter is still celebrated. Odin asks their waitress what the word Easter means and the waitress replies that she is Pagan and doesn't know anything about that Christian stuff! *pelts waitress with Ostara eggs* "I think it's like Latin or something for 'God has risen', maybe." Odin then asks her who she worships and the woman couldn't name a single goddess ... she says the female principal or some such thing. Mother, that gave me a laugh! "Say 'Nevermore,'" .... There was alot of humor in this book. Not at all expected, considering the serious events, deaths, incarcerations and persecution, but most definitely appreciated. A sub-plot mistery was rather obvious from nearly the start of it, but not in it's entirety. Major plot twist towards the end that seeemed obvious throughout the book, but only once they began to reveal it. Definitely a good read. I'd definitely recommend it ... in fact my husband is reading it right now. I feel a bit bereft now that it's over. If this is a fair representation of his work, I'm going to have to pick up another Gaiman book.
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Summary: Awe inspiring
Review: Neil Gaiman just keeps getting better. Ironically, we have to look to an Englishman to write the best book on American culture in many years. What I like most about Neil Gaiman is his ability to incorporate fantasy and myth into his novels while retaining a feel that is intimate, and while creating characters that you come to deeply identify with and care for. No matter how far out his novels get, they remain deeply human, and that is an incredibly difficult task for a writer.
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Summary: Interesting concept
Review: This book was interesting, especially if you are a little familiar with folklore or mythology. The ending left me a little disappointed, but the getting there was great.
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Summary: First novel in 4 years I left unfinished
Review: I've read maybe 90-120 novels the past 4 years ranging from classics like Shakespeare's plays and 19th century Russian novels to Tolkien and Stephen King. For some reason American Gods left me with an utterly disgusted feeling after 70 pages. I threw the book in the trash at Seattle airport. Maybe it was a way too realistic description of our time and society.
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Summary: I'm Usually Able to Summon Enough Suspension of Disbelief...
Review: I was really expecting more out of this book; the incredible premise behind it is probably much too difficult to live up to. Jesus is referenced only once in the entire book...two lines are used to describe him as a 'lucky son of a virgin'. Little details about all the deities takes up most of the space in the book and not enough attention is paid to the 'modern gods'. And why would gods like Odin and the rest even remain at all? The only example of a modern day pagan god that seemed believable in the slightest was that of Eostre, which was humorous in depicting our fascination for mumbojumbo (I wonder if she is in league with Deepak Chopra?). Nope, sorry, I just can't swallow this whole theory of the importance of mythological characters. Greed, technology, media have ALWAYS been important to people. The way many of the mythological gods are treated seems a little too precious as well. There really wasn't much of a reason to care about the protagonist either.
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Summary: Slow, But Worthwile
Review: This dark story was slow at first for me, but I became more and more engaged as the story progressed. Gaiman does a wonderful job of creating fantastic characters that drive the story along.
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Summary: Gaiman and the Successful Epic Novel
Review: I approached this book with some trepidation. Although I'm a huge fan of Gaiman's writing, I was afraid that the scope and length of the novel would leave something wanting - it clocks in at nearly 600 paperback pages, close to twice as long as his next-longest book. I was scared that like so many other authors I have enjoyed in the past, he had succumbed to the terrible author's disease where they write in bulk and all their editors are scared to make any cuts. I was wrong. Neil Gaiman shines again, cementing himself firmly as one of our best modern authors, and one with a tremendous range. "American Gods" has elements to appeal to fantasy, horror, mystery, and spiritual readers, as well as a plot evoking the classic road novel. I would normally be frightened to utter all those genres in the same sentence, but Gaiman makes it all gel together. It's a vast work that will leave you awed. That's not to say I don't have a few slight criticisms. Although the book is very tight and doesn't have a lot of padding, I can't give it five stars because I simply start to feel overwhelmed by books over rughly 400 pages...I, as a reader, start to lose steam, which ultimately makes me lose some interest. Also, it's worth pointing out that those new to Neil Gaiman should read something -else- first..."Smoke and Mirrors", "Stardust" (novel or graphic novel version), or my personal favorite, "Neverwhere". These are equally fascinating, but less lengthy or intense, works that are simply more accessible. You might even try a couple of "Sandman" collections (to which, it must be admitted, this novel bears the most similarity). On the other hand, if you've read a couple things by Gaiman already, this is a great book to try. It makes a lovely summer or holiday read, and it's tremendous fun to play "identify the old-world god" as you go along. Here's hoping Neil Gaiman continues to experiment, and to enthrall us with his incredible imagination. Very recommended.
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Summary: drivel
Review: It's hard to believe this book could win any award. I found the characters mostly wooden and not believable. The plotting mediocre and nothing intellectually very interesting either.
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Summary: pretty darn cool
Review: Neil Gaiman's new fantasy novel, American Gods, is filled with myth, magic and disturbing insights into American values. The novel is well-written, fast-paced and entertaining. Gaiman (Neverwhere, Stardust) creates believable characters in unbelievable circumstances.
The story begins with Shadow, a man finishing a three-year sentence in prison, who wants only to return to his loving wife, Laura. Two days before he is to be released, the warden tells Shadow that his wife and best friend were killed in a car crash, and releases Shadow early for the funeral.
On the flight home, Shadow meets a mysterious old man that says he has been waiting for him. The man, who introduces himself as Mr. Wednesday, knows Shadow's name and many intimate details about his life. Mr. Wednesday offers Shadow a job as a bodyguard and errand boy. Shadow reluctantly agrees, since the job he had lined up for himself after prison died with his best friend.
At the funeral, Shadow and Wednesday begin a cross-country adventure on which Shadow discovers that Wednesday is really Odin, the All-Father of the Norse religion, brought to America by the Vikings. Wednesday is trying to unite the other "old gods" in America for a battle against the new gods of technology like television, the media and the Internet.
Throughout the novel, Shadow becomes acquainted with American versions of gods from various religions. With no one making sacrifices to the gods or even believing in them, the gods became weak and had to find work, buy homes and start lives. The Queen of Sheba works as a prostitute; Wednesday is a con artist; and Mr. Ibis is an undertaker.
Gaiman's idea that gods are only as powerful as the belief in them is reminiscent of Small Gods by Terry Prachett, with whom Gaiman co-wrote the novel Good Omens.
The writing is descriptive and reflects Gaiman's dry sense of humor. "Shadow had heard of men who were barrel-chested before, but he had no image to accompany the metaphor. This man was barrel-chested, and he had legs, yes, like tree trunks, and hands like, exactly, ham hocks."
Gaiman's writing talent humanizes and brings life to his characters, even the dead ones. "Laura looked up at him with dead eyes. 'I want to be alive again,' she said. 'Not in this half-life. I want to be really alive. I want to feel blood moving through me- hot, salty, and real. It's weird, you don't think you can feel it, the blood, but believe me, when it stops flowing, you'll know.'" American Gods will satisfy both Gaiman fans and newcomers to his work.
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