American Gods: A Novel
by Neil Gaiman
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Book Reviews of American Gods: A Novel
Book Review: Thought provoking...makes you question your beliefs
Summary: 5 Stars
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...
Book Review: American Gods
Summary: 3 Stars
So far, I'm loving it. Hence the five stars. I especially like the story of Essie Tregowan. Gaiman is a fantastic story teller and I have come to the conclusion over the past few books I've read that it is the great storytellers, not the most verbose authors, who are best remembered. That is why The Alchemist has sold millions of copies and is one of the world's most beloved stories. And mine! I believe American Gods will be one of those.
Several days later.....
Well, I have finished reading American Gods, finally!! It felt like the story would just never end and if one is anxious for the story to be over so he can get on to the next one, then the book can't have been all that good.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed this novel of gods and men, it was just too tedious at times and a tad bit boring. And I thoroughly enjoy the subject of religion, so this should have been a dead ringer for me, but it wasn't.
As I said earlier, I loved the story of Essie Tregowan but after her story, I kept waiting for more like it and it just never came.
I love it when a novel is able to incorporate a lesson or when you are able to learn something from reading it. I believe that is one of the best ways to learn, when you don't even realize that is what you are doing because you are having such a good time. Entertainment can be educational as well.
The entire premise of this book though was that America, being a land of immigrants, in point of fact even for the Native Americans, that America's peoples brought their old Gods from the old lands with them and that over time when the old gods are forgotten, they die. Ok, that is not anything really groundbreaking, it's common sense really. The attempt to turn this premise into a story of the old gods wanting to fight a war with the new Gods for their very survival and incorporating the twist in the end whereby it was not really a war after all, but a bloodbath, just seemed kind of silly to me. The entire idea of the old Gods living human lives just seemed trite and boring. I like at least a semblance of reality in my fiction.
I didn't hate this novel, I was just greatly disappointed because I feel it had such great potential.
In a literary sense it also began to grate on my nerves how Gaiman just could not seem to describe a scene or a character without using the word gray. "The sky was gray." "His eyes were charcoal gray." "The rocks were gray!" I have heard such great things about Neil Gaiman and really enjoyed his short story collection, "Smoke and Mirrors" so I KNOW he has more creativity than this.
Book Review: Personification of America
Summary: 4 Stars
American Gods by Neil Gaiman is the story of a mysterious man aptly named Shadow. The story begins while he is in prison for a robbery gone badly, from the beginning cryptic messages and foreshadowing signal a running theme throughout the novel, the anticipation of the coming "storm." As the layers of the story unfold you learn what exactly the "storm" is, and the consequences as a result. The novel weighs in at over 550 pages, but moves very quickly. Gaiman's writing style is quick and snappy, pushing the action at a reasonable pace while explaining the pertinent points well.
The strength of this novel lies in its characters. Strange and mysterious, eccentric and funny, the strength of Gaiman's characterization is what makes the novel successful. Another strength of this novel is the characterization of America itself. The story takes place in few major cities, instead relying on a myriad of small towns in Middle America. He takes great care in describing the awe-inspiring size of the country and the thousands of small towns that dot the landscape. His description of the quintessential small town is spot on, and clearly the fruits of months of research. The novel is every bit the story of the country as it is as of protagonist, Shadow.
It is not without it's problems, however, the eventual climax is a bit underwhelming, though it does adequately answer all the many questions the novel posed. Also, the story is titled "American Gods", but doesn't adequately deal with the idea of God. The story certainly deals with Gods, but the author clearly has a problem in deal with the almighty, and for the most part, ignores his presence (or lack thereof).
The author did a great deal of research into the nature of fables and tales, of stories passed through generations and locked into the minds of the thousands of people who migrated to this country. In many ways the novel is a conglomeration of these tales. Gaiman is fascinated by the idea that America was founded and peopled by such a diverse set of people and ideals, each with their own set of beliefs and Gods.
Though it does have its flaws, American Gods is a riveting good read. It holds your attention from chapter one and the plot twists and turns definitely keep your interest. Unlike many novels that leave open endings and unanswered questions, American Gods does a wonderful job of tying up all the lose ends leaving a wholly satisfying experience. It is the perfect summer read for someone looking for an interesting, original, and well-paced piece of literature.
Book Review: A Better Comic or Graphic Novel?
Summary: 3 Stars
Neil Gaiman has long amazed people with his work in the comic book industry. His groundbreaking Sandman helped pave the way for the current mainstream acceptance of comic books as something not merely for children or meant to be an interest hidden from sight, so people did not judge you: Comics are suddenly more influential in the media, especially within the movie industry, than quite possibly any other creative form. When Gaiman crossed over into novels, many fans crossed over with him and his first novel, Neverwhere, met with some critical success.
Here, Gaiman describes the present day, but a behind-the-scenes look if you will. The premise is interesting, something straight out of a comic: America is teeming with gods, both the old, brought over with various peoples when they first came over to the United States, and newer ones, representing the exponential growth in technology. At the center is a man named Shadow, who is just released from prison and is the most important player in this struggle between the old and the new.
The plot is incredibly original and at the beginning, you really are drawn in. But then something goes awry: Gaiman creates an opportunity to dazzle us and really go into detail about these characters and creatures he has created, but instead leaves us with skeletal descriptions, leaning heavily on past conceptions of what these gods would have looked like in the present day. In some sense, you wonder if Gaiman's writing is too dependent on an artist that is not there to provide some sort of visual context.
I myself bought this book because I needed a fast read, which Gaiman does provide. It's mainstream fiction, something meant to entertain, but not challenge in any way. I think my disappointment comes from the potential Gaiman's opening pages creates to the sudden drop off and lackluster ending. You want something bold and visionary and instead you are left with "bleh."
Read this when you need a break, but don't think that going in you're getting something along the lines of Ender's Game or even the Lord of the Rings.
Some interesting quotes:
"The room was freezing. It smelled of people who had gone away to live other lives, and of all they had eaten and dreamed." (255)
"People only fight over imaginary things." (427)
"He wondered whether home was a thing that happened to a place after awhile, or if it was something that you found in the end, if you simply walked and waited and willed it long enough." (585)
Book Review: The Gods must be crazy
Summary: 4 Stars
The premise is brilliant: America, the immigrant nation, where old Gods had to be imported by the poor huddled masses because there were none already here, finds it has grown new Gods after all - styled after the new Americans' "worship" of their gadgets, media and consumerist lifestyle. The people now *consume* their idols: in the old days, the idols demanded it was the other way around - that was the sustenance of the Gods, and consequently we find the old Gods now worn out, power weakening, in the face of the new materialistic age. In a last ditch attempt to fight off destruction by distraction, Odin tries to rally the troops and co-opts, sneakily, Shadow, an ex con, to help him do it.
It's a great premise: as soon as I heard it I had to get a hold of the book, but when you reflect more deeply it's simply a great idea that runs out of gas, because, well, *then* what? A götterdammerung-style clash of the titans doesn't really work - what would be the point? How would you judge the result? Since that's the route that Gaiman takes his plot it's a dilemma he has, ultimately, to resolve, and how he does do it is a bit of a cop out.
The original edition of the work was something of a runaway success, and a bit like a now-famous film director, Gaiman's literary standing is such that he can go back and overturn editorial excisions to release a "Director's Cut". That's the version that I read - something like 100 pages longer than the originally published version, and with some modifications is largely reinstating material that some officious subeditor took out.
The problem is, I suspect the original subeditor was probably right: American Gods as reinstated feels flabby, over-populated with characters and events which aren't entirely mission critical to the plot or message, and too long. About a hundred pages too long, really. The resolution unfolds itself gently and carefully, and is deftly handled when it finally arrives. It just takes a little bit longer than it should to get there.
It's a striking book, make no mistake, and displays a depth of erudition on Gaiman's part which is never allowed to get in the way of a good yarn. But, at least in the version I read, this feels like a pretty good novel still uncut and in the rough, and in need of a editor's careful attention. Attention, that once upon a time, it apparently had!
Olly Buxton