zumakroom's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Blood, Drug use, Cursing, Animal death, Drug abuse, Torture, Violence, Car accident, Child abuse, Confinement, Cultural appropriation, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
sierranevada005's review against another edition
5.0
I've always said that Neil Gaiman was my favorite author, just because I absolutely adore The Graveyard Book. So this summer I decided to explore more of his works, and I have not been disappointed. If Stardust was wonderfully whimsical, then American Gods was incredibly grounding, humanistic, and just as beautiful. I can confidently say I love Gaiman's writing style, the sort of meandering, not totally on-topic prose that connects through the pages is just amazing. It's my favorite thing ever. The style combined with the message of the story, the weight of humanity and the influence of higher powers... I JUST LOVED IT!! Five stars.
sticks_33's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
This is a book that I've been wanting to read for a while and finally picked it up this year. It's a good book but not great. The saving grace was the lead character, Shadow. He is the sole reason I rate this book as highly as I do.
To be fair, if you are well-versed in mythology, you will probably enjoy this book much more than I did. I'm not a mythology fan and the references/behaviors of the gods were mostly lost on me.
If you haven't read a Neil Gaiman book, I highly recommend Neverwhere as a first read instead of American Gods. It's an amazing book. Unfortunately, I can't say the same about AG.
Spoiler
I found the gods, particularly the new gods, to be a depressing commentary on our society. There was very little to like about any of the gods. I found myself not really rooting for any of them.To be fair, if you are well-versed in mythology, you will probably enjoy this book much more than I did. I'm not a mythology fan and the references/behaviors of the gods were mostly lost on me.
If you haven't read a Neil Gaiman book, I highly recommend Neverwhere as a first read instead of American Gods. It's an amazing book. Unfortunately, I can't say the same about AG.
talon1010's review against another edition
4.0
This was a very strange one. On rereading, I know I learned something, I just don't know what, which seems fitting. This was a book which rewards precious contextual knowledge, which isn't my favorite quality, but it's certainly an interesting time, with or without.
Very bizarre, elusive, ethereal magic. If nothing else, Gaiman seems exceptionally worthy to write stories like these for the evidently enormous stock of research he put in. I always love to see gods made material, and though this one renders them more as afterimages than agents, it did a great job at whatever it was meant to do.
Very bizarre, elusive, ethereal magic. If nothing else, Gaiman seems exceptionally worthy to write stories like these for the evidently enormous stock of research he put in. I always love to see gods made material, and though this one renders them more as afterimages than agents, it did a great job at whatever it was meant to do.
leonoor's review
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
nicolarivera's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
hopeful
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual content, and Xenophobia
Minor: War
jncvee's review against another edition
2.0
Kinda boring. My first book I’ve finished since HS. I wanted more Percy Jackson vibes from it, but didn’t get it. It was cool to see a deep pantheon of gods represented.
joannabooks23's review against another edition
4.0
2 month long journey with this book. A worthwhile read and intensely strange masterpiece.
Of the 5 Gaiman novels I've read this was the most intense and involved.
Wow!
Of the 5 Gaiman novels I've read this was the most intense and involved.
Wow!
kmt7413's review against another edition
5.0
It sticks with you. It's convoluted, wild, slippery and beyond strange. I can't get enough of it and I can't bring myself to read it again.