Search - American Gods

This is one of those books that people either really hate or really love. Myself, I enjoyed it. Some reveiws on Amazon.com review how some readers thought it was hard to get through--somewhat slow. I can understand why people would think that, but I found myself trying to interpret what Gaiman is trying to say. Much symbolism abounds in "American Gods." Not a quick read, but for me, it was worth it.

I know this is blasphemy, but I don't really care for Gaiman's books. I want to love them like I loved his Sandman comics, but I am really rather blase about the novels and short stories. This one seems to be a favorite of everyone who reads it. I thought it was okay. Go figure. Winner of a Nebula award for best novel in 2002.

The story itself is entertaining, but I had a hard time getting into it. The second half was better.

This book is all over the place. A new setting almost every chapter, along with new characters. I never saw one character long enough to care what happened to him. It just didn't hold my interest.

Ugh. I didn’t get past 30-40 pages. I’m not a particularly prudish (or even particularly visual) reader, but every few pages had sex scenes or imagery that was simultaneously depraved and cartoonish, like something out of an adolescent boy’s imagination. This struck me as tawdry and gratuitous. Perhaps it wasn’t, ultimately, but it turned me off enough not to want to find out.

I enjoyed American Gods even though fantasy is not a usual genre for me. Shadow is about to be released from prison, but the wife and quiet life he looked forward to is upended by her sudden death in a car accident. Starting with his plane ride back from prison, there's a falling-through-the-rabbit-hole feel to his new adventures. Gaiman's prose is inspired, keeping the reader motivated to follow along with Shadow in what can be interpreted as a deeply allegorical tale. An American mythology, even. Instead of a slew of unanswered questions, I left with an appreciation of Gaiman's craft.