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American Gods: A Novel

Average rating: 4/5

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American Gods: A Novel

by Neil Gaiman

HARPERCOLLINS PUBLISHERS | June 20, 2011 | Hardcover

First published in 2001, American Gods became an instant classic?an intellectual and artistic benchmark from the multiple-award-winning master of innovative fiction, Neil Gaiman. Now discover the mystery and magic of American Gods in this tenth anniversary edition. Newly updated and expanded with the author?s preferred text, this commemorative volume is a true celebration of a modern masterpiece by the one, the only, Neil Gaiman.

A storm is coming . . .

Locked behind bars for three years, Shadow did his time, quietly waiting for the magic day when he could return to Eagle Point, Indiana. A man no longer scared of what tomorrow might bring, all he wanted was to be with Laura, the wife he deeply loved, and start a new life.

But just days before his release, Laura and Shadow?s best friend are killed in an accident. With his life in pieces and nothing to keep him tethered, Shadow accepts a job from a beguiling stranger he meets on the way home, an enigmatic man who calls himself Mr. Wednesday. A trickster and rogue, Wednesday seems to know more about Shadow than Shadow does himself.

Life as Wednesday?s bodyguard, driver, and errand boy is far more interesting and dangerous than Shadow ever imagined?it is a job that takes him on a dark and strange road trip and introduces him to a host of eccentric characters whose fates are mysteriously intertwined with his own. Along the way Shadow will learn that the past never dies; that everyone, including his beloved Laura, harbors secrets; and that dreams, totems, legends, and myths are more real than we know. Ultimately, he will discover that beneath the placid surface of everyday life a storm is brewing?an epic war for the very soul of America?and that he is standing squarely in its path.

Relevant and prescient, American Gods has been lauded for its brilliant synthesis of ?mystery, satire, sex, horror, and poetic prose? (Michael Dirda, Washington Post Book World) and as a modern phantasmagoria that ?distills the essence of America? (Seattle Post-Intelligencer). It is, quite simply, an outstanding work of literary imagination that will endure for generations.

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Reviews

    • Was this review
      helpful to you?

    Rating: 5/5

    Read to me, Sandman

    Ink Wires

    5 months ago

    My first introduction to Gaiman was his award-winning Sandman graphic novel series, and I fell in love both with his characters and the author. This book did not disappoint, even in comparison to the series (although, since I'm a picture-book sort of girl, I would recommend his Sandman series first at any time).

    With Gaiman`s signature style of prose, I felt like I was being a read a story from the Sandman himself. The fantastical story line knits together an eclectic mix of gods from different eras and cultures, and with his dark imaginings even conjures up a new gang of gods in town. It speaks of honour, tradition, inevitable changes, and sacrifices must always be made for anything you do.

    This is an epic saga squished between two humble covers. While the trend these days is to produce a light series, this book is dense and savoury, and I enjoyed every morsel.

    This reviewer also recommends:
    • Was this review
      helpful to you?

    Rating: 5/5

    Simply Amazing

    Monica

    • Top Book Reviewer

    8 months ago

    Wow, did I ever love this book! I started it, not knowing what to expect, only to find that I couldn't put it down.

    Gods may be forgotten, but they don't just cease to exist. What happens when gods are forgotten is that rituals are lost, symbols become unreadable, and those forgotten gods are forced to live lives of mediocrity among humans, doing what they have to do to keep some memory of themselves alive.

    Then there is the coming of the storm. Where new gods are determined to kill off the old gods. And then we have Shadow, who suddenly finds himself having to believe in concepts and gods and goddesses he's only ever dreamed of.

    Really, there is so much going on in this book that only the surface of the words can be mentioned in this review. Gaiman has written an amazing book, one that I'll be remembering for a long time to come and that I'll be recommending whenever I have the opportunity.

    • Was this review
      helpful to you?

    Rating: 3/5

    Worth reading if you're a Gaiman fan

    Stacey Madden

    9 months ago

    The first Neil Gaiman book I read was Neverwhere and I loved it so much I immediately became a huge fan of his. So of course I wanted to read American Gods as well. I will say I have a slight bias because nothing compares to Neverwhere for me personally but I still enjoyed this book. I felt that I had a bit of a decline in interest when I read the first few chapters; I found it a little difficult to get in to. Once the story line picked up however, it became something I didn't want to put down. As usual, Gaiman shows his brilliance when it comes to imagery and suspense in this book. The story is very well told but in my opinion the main character, Shadow's story did not interest me enough to make it one of those books you can't put down.

    • Was this review
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    andrew justice

    Rating: 5/5

    awesome

    andrew justice

    8 years ago

    This book was an amazing mix of modern times and the ancient gods, the twists are great, unexpected, but accepted by your mind as another element of the imagery, characters, and plot of this
    adventure. If you're like me and you like to think about things, understand the abstract, etc, philosophy, or crazy interesting topics, you'll love this book, and it'll certainly leave you sommething to think about. Fantasy/sci fi, and thought provoking, how can you ask for more?

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From the Publisher

First published in 2001, American Gods became an instant classic?an intellectual and artistic benchmark from the multiple-award-winning master of innovative fiction, Neil Gaiman. Now discover the mystery and magic of American Gods in this tenth anniversary edition. Newly updated and expanded with the author?s preferred text, this commemorative volume is a true celebration of a modern masterpiece by the one, the only, Neil Gaiman.

A storm is coming . . .

Locked behind bars for three years, Shadow did his time, quietly waiting for the magic day when he could return to Eagle Point, Indiana. A man no longer scared of what tomorrow might bring, all he wanted was to be with Laura, the wife he deeply loved, and start a new life.

But just days before his release, Laura and Shadow?s best friend are killed in an accident. With his life in pieces and nothing to keep him tethered, Shadow accepts a job from a beguiling stranger he meets on the way home, an enigmatic man who calls himself Mr. Wednesday. A trickster and rogue, Wednesday seems to know more about Shadow than Shadow does himself.

Life as Wednesday?s bodyguard, driver, and errand boy is far more interesting and dangerous than Shadow ever imagined?it is a job that takes him on a dark and strange road trip and introduces him to a host of eccentric characters whose fates are mysteriously intertwined with his own. Along the way Shadow will learn that the past never dies; that everyone, including his beloved Laura, harbors secrets; and that dreams, totems, legends, and myths are more real than we know. Ultimately, he will discover that beneath the placid surface of everyday life a storm is brewing?an epic war for the very soul of America?and that he is standing squarely in its path.

Relevant and prescient, American Gods has been lauded for its brilliant synthesis of ?mystery, satire, sex, horror, and poetic prose? (Michael Dirda, Washington Post Book World) and as a modern phantasmagoria that ?distills the essence of America? (Seattle Post-Intelligencer). It is, quite simply, an outstanding work of literary imagination that will endure for generations.

About the Author

Neil Gaiman is the New York Times bestselling author of the novels Neverwhere, Stardust, American Gods, Coraline, Anansi Boys, The Graveyard Book, and Good Omens (with Terry Pratchett); the Sandman series of graphic novels; and the story collections Smoke and Mirrors and Fragile Things. He is the winner of numerous literary honors, including the Hugo, Bram Stoker, and World Fantasy Awards, and the Newbery Medal. Originally from England, he now lives in America.

Hardcover

480 Pages, 6.3 x 9.3 x 1.4 in

June 20, 2011

HARPERCOLLINS PUBLISHERS

English


0062059882
9780062059888

From the Critics

"American Gods is like a fast run downhill through a maze -- both exhilarating and twisted." (Jane Lindskold, author of Changer and)

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