Rating: 
Summary: Sad
Review: Hard to believe that the Hugo Award is going to such a mediocre book.
Rating:
Summary: If every other Gaiman work were condensed into one book
Review: .. this would be that book. Unfortunately, I already own every other Gaiman work, so this was rather of a retread for me. Just about all of the ideas incorporated into American Gods have already been used elsewhere in his ouvre. The thing is, since most Americans aren't too familiar with graphic novels/comics, they've never read his more prominent work, the mythological excavation/eulogy The Sandman. Neither, apparently, have they read his collaboration with Terry Prachett of several years ago, which tackled the Christian Apocalypse with entertaining aplomb, or the short story "Murder Mysteries" which covers no less than Creation and the Fall itself. The absence of Christian imagery was almost the only innovation here, considering the way his prose works have been so positively dripping with it. While I don't expect or want Gaiman to abandon his mytho-religious obsessions, it's really too bad that he has to recycle ideas into novel form to get any appreciation for them. Terry Prachett didn't invent the "Small Gods" concept, incidentally. It's a well-worn idea. See also Tom Robbins' "Jitterbug Perfume", or the fabulous pulp novel "God-Stalk" by P.C. Hodgell. Anyway, since the plot has been well described, I will conclude by noting that while there are many terrific set pieces in this novel, they don't quite form a strong whole. Perhaps Gaiman is too enured to episodic storytelling, after years of comics and television series (in which both Stardust and Neverwhere, respectively, debuted). This may also explain his strange reluctance to describe the physical characteristics of his characters. I think Gaiman's a gifted writer who will go far, I just don't think this book is quite up to his level of craft. I almost wish he could move back to Britain and so end the futile and somewhat pretentious task of diagnosing the modern American psyche. His writerly temperment, eloquently dry, sensibly romantic, is more suited to the elder statesman England than the rowdy teenaged America, which hasn't yet settled into itself enough to be definitively defined.
Rating: 
Summary: no meat in this one
Review: the idea of gods in modern times is not new, and even if it was, i'd expect the author to give us some substance whether it be in the skilled use of scientific or historical info, but there is nothing of interest here, no intracacies or complexities. i expect the book won the hugo on the popularity of the author's graphic novels.
Rating: 
Summary: Another winner
Review: My first exposure to Neil Gaiman was his critically acclaimed Sandman comics, and I never expected him ever to match that achievement. With American Gods, I think Gaiman has proven me wrong. We see a colorful and engaging story unfold through the eyes of Shadow, a man who emerges from prison expecting to return to his loving wife and some semblance of normalcy. Instead, he finds himself embroiled in a struggle among gods. Along the way he meets ancient gods surviving on meager whispers of belief and getting by as laborers, grifters, or prostitutes. He also encounters the new gods, representing the internet and mass media, who expect to supplant the old gods entirely. Yet what makes American Gods so successful is its blend of the supernatural with "mundane" Americana. Most of the story takes place on the road in the heartland of the United States, in small towns, in motels, or at tourist attractions. The most touchingly drawn characters are the mere mortals who play a role in the tale. In fact, the only character who seems underdeveloped for much of the novel is Shadow, the protagonist. However, Gaiman explicitly addresses this issue, and it does not detract from the sense that Shadow is a real person, albeit a quiescent one. With its imaginative premise, intelligent plot, believable characters, attention to both the epic and the intimate, and an adroit writing style that is neither too esoteric nor too blunt, American Gods is worthy addition to the pantheon of Hugo Award winners. You should read it.
Rating:
Summary: Weird and Wonderful
Review: Ideally, a reader would pick up "American Gods" and jump right into it without the "benefit" of any reviews. It leads you on such a strange and winding journey through many odd places and meeting many odder people (some of whom aren't really people), that it's best done with no other guide than Shadow, whose humor and practicality and abiding love for his dead wife hold us with him throughout. The reader catches on as the book progresses, and learns a lot along the way. As the Nike ads might say, Just Read It.
Rating:
Summary: nothing new
Review: This book was certainly a page-turner, but it was nothing new and left me feeling dissatisfied. The basic idea of competing gods with alternate "realities" like the "backstage" idea of this book comes straight from Heinlein's "Job: A Comedy of Justice." This book would be good for folks who have not read much science fiction, because then they wouldn't know that it wasn't recycled. I'm very surprised that it won a Hugo.
Rating: 
Summary: Fascinating and entertaining
Review: A truly interesting read. Neil spins a rollicking, twist filled adventure tale full of colorful character. Wednesday alone is a reason to read the book. A good story. Great entertainment; however while this book spins a great yarn and fascinating history, it does not present its characters with as many levels of complexity as say, Neil's Sandman works. The characters are interesting and not mere black and white, but the they firmly stick in their allotted shade of grey without shifting much. Still, the plotting is near perfect. Recommended.
Rating:
Summary: jaw droppingly good
Review: I thought this was an amazingly complex and wonderful read. Neil Gaiman manages to tie in bits of dozens of fables, myths, and legends, and make it all work together. I finished this book, thinking- it all makes complete sense. We create gods with our thoughts, and some day (if they haven't already), they're going to be offended by our lapses in worship and our promiscuous jumping around from "religion" to "religion". One day, they're going to battle it out for supreme leadership over us. Every day, is a battle between these beings, and none of us mortals will ever know or understand. Except for Shadow. The book builds up splendidly to a frightening encounter between the old and new gods of the world. But before all that, we are following the journey of Shadow, a con who was granted an early parole of a few days because of his wife's tragic death. Shadow's a simple, solid guy. He just wanted 3 things when he got out of jail. To take a bath, be with his wife, and stay out of trouble. He had no idea what he was going to walk into. It's an intriguing world that Gaiman unveils, one that you almost could believe was real- one that you want to believe is real, because the alternative just makes the world seem so much paler and ordinary in contrast.
Rating:
Summary: Gaiman ....
Review: I took this book on holiday to Ireland with me recently. I started reading it on the trip over over and finished it on the way back!!! Unfortunately I enjoyed this book so much I saw very little of Ireland in between!!
The reason for this is the amazing effect mr Gaiman's writing had on me. The quality of writing is both fantastic and enthralling and the charachter development is truley wonderfull I especially enjoy Shadows Total nonchalence about the crazy things going on around him
This is a fantasticly original concept and a thoroughly well thought out story. a Must for anyone but not one to take on holiday with you (at least not if you want to get anything done!).
Rating:
Summary: [...]
Review: T[...] With American Gods, Gaiman has accomplished more than I can put into words. [...] American Gods was a great book full of interesting, likeable characters that DID undergo stages of development--much to the contrary of what other reviewers have said. If you like dark fantasy...[...] if you like reading great books, do yourself a huge favor and read American Gods. End.
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