American Gods by Neil Gaiman: A Review

Honestly, I should have written this post forever ago, and in truth I should probably read the book again if this review is going to do any real justice to the novel, but that's not going to happen. My overall consensus: I'm glad I read it. I will probably never read it again.

Let's remember that American Gods was published fifteen years ago and has probably been reviewed God knows how many times since then, by reviewers much more qualified than myself. But when I initially posted the reading list on my blog, I told myself that when I finished one listed, I would review it here, even if it was just for myself.

In all fairness, I was warned by multiple peers that American Gods was not the way to go as my first foray into the world of Neil Gaiman. But I was aware the TV series by Starz was in the works and as I had every intention of watching it, I wanted to get the book under my belt. I also had a peer reference American Gods in a review they gave of one of my short stories; not having read it, I knew it was a compliment, but desired more context. So I ordered a cheap copy off Abebooks.com and got to reading.

(Coming to Starz 2017)

I was disappointed, as many warned me I might be.

Now, perhaps part of my disappointment lay in my lack of world religions and myths. Obviously I recognized the main characters/gods: Mr. Wednesday is Odin, Mr. Nancy is Anansi (thank you, Wishbone), Mr. Jaquel is Anubis. But a number of the smaller characters--the Zorya sisters, Easter, Whiskey Jack--those I had no reference for. It makes sense that much of the book's deeper meaning might be lost given that lack of reference.

But even as a story itself, I was disappointed. The pacing was slow, the plot a bit disjointed, the characters underdeveloped. Honestly, I can't pinpoint what exactly kept me reading. There was something. I'm not one of those people who feels compelled to finish a book just because I started it. If it doesn't hook me in some way, I put it down, and I don't feel guilty. So there was something about American Gods that hooked me, because I did finish it, and rather quickly too. But I didn't feel anything when I got to the end, except maybe relief. I didn't gain anything from the reading. There was no sense of resolution, no sense of finality. It just ended.

I think my main issue with American Gods, other than not relating to it, was that I didn't find it memorable. The part that left the biggest impression (warning: spoiler ahead if you haven't read it!) was the revelation that Hinzelmann was burying dead kids in the trunks of cars that ended up on the bottom of the lake. That's what I remember about the book. And there was a battle at the end, I think. I don't remember which side, if any, actually won. As both a reader and an author, that admission makes me sad.

The good news is my lack of love for American Gods hasn't put me off Neil Gaiman. I still have a number of his novels on my list of things I want to read. Thinking I'm going to give Neverwhere a go pretty soon. It, unlike American Gods, has been highly recommended.

So, if you've read American Gods, what are your thoughts? What am I missing? Does it deserve another read? Or did you not care for it either? Let me know. Because if there's anything better than reading a book, it's discussing said book with the rest of the world.