American Gods [TV Tie-In]

Interesting at the beginning but within first fifty pages I got lost, didn't know which direction the story was going. The novel has some interesting chapters scattered in between the main story but I got disappointed that they turned out to be independent stories with no connection to the main story. Some of the description of the so called gods, their clothing, their looks and the dietary habits was nauseating. Because of so many rave reviews I completed the novel and the question that I had in my mind 'what's the point?' remained unanswered.

This is the 10th anniversary edition that I'm reviewing, which means that there should be 10 years worth of reviews already, and anyone who is a Neil Gaiman fan will have already read it.That said, here goes: it an old idea that you've seen before in a couple of Star Trek episodes and who knows elsewhere: the Greek gods or some other gods (in this case, pretty much all gods, in any pantheon that ever existed) are (or were) real! They derive their power from being worshiped, and only die if they are forgotten.The twist: believers bring their gods with them when they emigrate. We have old world gods in the new world. New gods don't get along with the old ones, and a conflict ensues.We follow one individual, Shadow, who isn't himself a god, but who might be employed by one, on journeys to various odd locations in the U.S. which are focal points of power. Not knowing much lore, he nevertheless has to do his best to fulfill his employer's missions, feeling his way through potential dangers and political intrigue.

As the title of this review clearly states, I saw the TV series before I read this book, in fact I did not know this book existed and I was quite certain that it would not be a book I would enjoy reading, after all, the series revealed all the secrets.Well I was wrong this book is full of highways and byways, I touched in the series treatment and in fact has more depth than those eight epidodes could ever dream of and although it never got to the end of the book, in fact it did not even make it to the House on the Rock, the series was an excellent way for me to pick up something that I should have read years ago.The characters all fully drawn, the plot is well paced and the author is true to his premise throughout, which for me anyhow make this a five star book. When archetypes are needed they are used and used with a deliciously ironic effect. This is the sort of book I could put down and come back to, until of course I received the final chapters. Although the ending is foreshadowed more than once, and I will not spoil any else's enjoyment of this book by pointing it out, I was caught up in the narrative that I could not suspend my disbelief for long enough to puzzle it out. Although I look forward to another season of American Gods, knowing what I know now, will certainly allow me to cast a more critical eye on the transformation of this delightful adventure to the small screen, and I expect great things from the screen writers as they weave the rest of this tale into their streaming video offering.

As much as I enjoyed this book, I could go on and on about the characters and the grand way this road trip of a story draws the reader along as a sort of, well, Shadow. The best kinds of stories give you a character to sink into, see through, as a vessel through which you experience the story as the character also does, moment by moment. Gaiman does a lovely job of making Shadow's realization happen just before the reader can start to see and understand it, and that is what delighted me most about this rather odd story.Honestly, though, I wouldn't want to spoil the oddities and revelations for any reader who hasn't yet had the opportunity to read this. What I can say is that I am very glad I had started to watch the Starz TV series, then stopped as the book caught me up in its pace, and I set aside the show in favor of the book, and now I'll go back to see how the differences between book and series play out for me.I continue to be impressed with the way Neil Gaiman structures his stories, and I know I'll read more of them. His view of the world, as it is, as it could be, and the vast realms of reality and possibility, are what inspire me to see things a bit differently, too. That's what draws me back to his writing, and the stories of others like him, who see things from an unique and fascinating point of view.

Dear, dear how I've loved this book. After a long hiatus from reading novels, I picked this one up on the basis of others' reviews. It was everything that I could have asked for in a fantasy novel: a diverse set of compelling characters, a sense of mystery and doom, emotional connection, a sense of history intertwining with the present. Clearly a modern classic and, though it is set in America, a work that plays with the idea of interweaving history, fantasy, and action in a way that is reminiscent of the the classics of the fantasy genre. A beautiful book and a world and vision that I hope Gaiman continues to explore for years to come.

It really is all smoke and mirrors isn't it - what you see may not be real, what you see may be realer than you could ever imagine. The stoner kid who never seems to change who is always on the same spot in the park - is he really a stoner kid or an abandoned God, clinging on as best he can? That sweet little old lady in the local library that smells vaguely of cat is she just an old lady or something rather more dangerous? This seems to be the premise that Neil Gaiman has taken and run with in his, rather unique, style.I haven't watched the TV series of the book but a co-worker has and recommended it to me as being incredibly strange (I like strange). Me, being me, would rather have the book so I decided to take the plunge. Unfortunately, all the way through I kept seeing Ian McShane's face as Mr Wednesday - but I can understand why they cast him as he does irascibly dodgy so well. That aside, it took me a disappointingly long time to twig who Mr Wednesday really is - I know, I know shameful (especially knowing the author's love of Norse Mythology, in fact ALL mythology going off this book). I was also in the dark, along with Shadow, as to who his cell mate really was and it was all there in the open, we were just too blind to see it.What I did find interesting was how much crossover various Religions have (I can waffle for DAYS about the links between Ancient Egyptian belief and the Old Testament/Torah) but had never really considered Norse tradition, Slavic tradition - even Hinduism and Sikhism have crossovers. It's almost as though "names have been changed" in some cosmic documentary series. It even made me look further in to traditions and religions I had never given much temporal time to (Eastern European belief systems in particular) so probably took me longer to read because of this popping off to research the Zorya, etc..I found the book to be completely immersive - so much so I spent an entire day off work curled up on the couch in my pjs just reading, been a LONG time since my entire day has been about a book. The warp and weft of the story just captivated me and sucked me right in. I never really felt emotion for the characters though, which is decidedly odd for me; usually if I love a book it is due to character but this one was all about the plot for me. Although, if Shadow was anyone other than himself it just wouldn't have worked - contradictory I know.I'm not even really sure how to describe the plot - it just IS. There is also that little niggle in the back of your mind (the same one that The Stand gave me) that this could be real. When we create a belief system what happens when it's last adherent passes? Are we keeping the truly Ancient Religions alive by studying the cuneiform writings or the Hieroglyphics? By uttering Odin's name, or Freya's on a weekly basis are we keeping the God alive? By watching MCU movies are Loki and Thor being worshipped once more? Do Marillion have the power to resurrect Grendel? I think I am overthinking a fantasy novel rather too much - but I LIKE that it made me think, that it has entertained me mightily but also that it has given me something new to ponder on when I am cannot sleep.This is a strange book, this is true. This is a very charming book as well, it's charm coming from the normalcy of every peculiar encounter, dream and circumstance. Shadow just accepts what is happening around and to him with a peculiar equanimity that speaks more of personal serenity than gullibility. This is not a book for public reading though, you need to get comfortable and realise that hours will pass whilst you are under it's spell - not so good for a lunch break or commute.

Having read some of the glowing reviews and comparisons to Stephen King, I was more than eager to hand over my fiver and download the Kindle edition of this. It starts off with an exciting premise: the idea of gods being disgruntled at the fact they’ve been forgotten in the modern, materialist America.However, I found Shadow’s stereotypical “dark and brooding” routine quite tired. I didn’t care much for his character and that’s always a bad sign. Whether the lead makes me hate them or love them, I want to feel SOMETHING. With Shadow, I was indifferent. Not a good start. Then the long and drudging dream scenes felt tedious and, in some cases, entirely unnecessary. Some of the scenes with random gods (such as the god who feeds on men whilst they have sex with her), felt crass and forced, whilst not really adding anything to the narrative. Some of it was great. Mr Wednesday’s dialogue was often funny and poetic. I quite liked his time in the funeral home too. But overall, it just didn’t grab me the way I was expecting, and the climax felt utterly anticlimactic. It is well-written, of that there is no doubt, and it’s worth a read. It just wasn’t quite the knockout I had been led to believe.

Reading this novel a second time after more than 15 years does make for an enriching experience. I am made even more aware of Gaiman’s mastery of Nordic mythology and marvel at the way he has melded both the stories of folkloric gods and the lost luster of contemporary America. Bearing in mind the spate of superhero movies that sees these Nordic gods battling it out and wreaking havoc in America mostly came after Gaiman’s book reminds the reader how much of a forerunner the author is.Almost every character in this expansive work has a backstory and surprising connection to a mythical god and they form part of this alternative universe that main protagonist Shadow lands himself in after being let out of prison just a few days ahead of finishing his sentence for a grisly reason. He lands a job with a grifter and master conman Wednesday, who leads him on a psychedelic cross country quest that is as wild as Dorothy’s journey to the Emerald City laced with acid.The consequences of lost faith on the fortunes of gods who lose their significance are presented in a darkly humorous and allegorical way that only Gaiman knows how. Shadow finds out the true god identity of a former cell mate who explains his fallen mortal state: “You got to understand the god thing. It's not magic. Not exactly…. You take all the belief, all the prayers and they become a kind of certainty, something that lets you become bigger, cooler, more than human…. And then one day they forget about you, and they don't sacrifice, and they don't care, and the next thing you know you're running a three card monte game on the corner of Broadway and 43rd”.Richly entertaining and mystical - definitely worth the revisit.

Recommended by a friend after I finished never where... I loved every minute of it and barely put the damn thing down. Sometime there is so much going on it seems complicated but it is necessary and it all comes together eventually, in to one amazing storyline and ending.If you read anything this week read this.... Then watch the series....

TL;DR - This book is cleverly crafted, brilliantly written and endlessly entertaining. Once again Gaiman delivers a cracking read! A must have for fans of fantasy and myths.RAGDOLL RATING: 5/5 buttonsWhy I read it…I adore Neil Gaiman - he's one of my fave authors (I met him once at a book signing, it was tres hoopy). I'll read basically anything he's written and this has been on my list for a long while.Conveniently this happened to fit under the heading of "An award winning novel" for my reading  challenge - it won the Hugo, the Nebula and the Bram Stoker awards for Best Novel and the Locus award for Best Fantasy Novel.The Story…Shadow is finally getting out of prison. He' has a plane ticket home to his loving wife, a job lined up and things will finally start getting back to normal. Then his world falls apart.His wife and future boss both dead in the same car accident. Now he has a ticket to nothing, no future and no hope. Then he meets a man on a plane. This man, Wednesday, offers Shadow a job - it pays well, it's mostly legal and very important. With nothing else to do with himself, Shadow takes the job and is thrown head first into a world of Gods old and new, and a war for that could change the mythological world forever.The book is gripping and funny - it managed to win a fantasy, science fiction and horror award, which should give you some idea as to the quality of the writing. The version I read was the full ~700 page behemoth. I accidentally bought a French version which was less than half that size - I don't know what was removed from that version, but I'm certain it was missing out on some gold.The book is full of fantasy, gods and mythology, with twists and turns abound.What I liked…When I picked up this book, I didn't really know what it was about - I assumed American Gods was just a title, but as it turns out this book is brimming with Gods and awesome stories about how they came to America and what has happened since. That was a really awesome discovery.Gaiman weaves in elements of global mythology into his storytelling, and it is both fascinating and enjoyable to experience. Those of you who have read his book "Norse Mythology" will already be aware of how well Gaiman writes mythology, and for those of you that haven't, read it and this because both are superb examples of how to write about gods.The plot is extremely clever. It feels like it several stories, broken up with bonus short stories as a bonus. Gaiman leaves clues about the plot all the way through, but disguises them beautifully - by the end I was left wondering how I hadn't worked things out sooner and loving that the fact that I had been so blind. It is there for those with the eyes to see.I was hooked from beginning to end. It's a long book, and I read it in a few days because I couldn't put it down.What I disliked…Nothing stands out. It was excellent.Final thoughts...This book is outstanding, and also totally typical of Neil Gaiman. You know when you read a Gaiman novel it's going to be great, and this book did not disappoint.I would recommend this book to anybody who likes fantasy fiction especially - but also to literally anyone and everyone because it's great.___________________________________________Please note: I am in no way affiliated with the author or publishers. I bought this book with my own money for my own reasons. The opinions contained within are my own and have not been influenced by any external entity!