American Gods (American Gods, #1) in Ask Amanda Palmer and Neil Gaiman

Aug 01, 2012 Old Man Aries rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantastico

Onirico, avvolgente, inquietante, appassionante. Questi sono i primi aggettivi che nascono pensando ad American Gods, mia prima incursione nel mondo letterario di Neil Gaiman, conoscevo gi�� l'autore per aver letto alcuni episodi del suo mai troppo lodato capolavoro a fumetti Sandman (in corso di ripubblicazione ORA, tanto per mettervi una pulce nell'orecchio) ed ero pertanto curioso di testarne le capacit�� su un romanzo ben definito. Curiosit�� assolutamente soddisfatta con mia somma gioia, de ...more

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Oct 27, 2011 Clare rated it it was amazing

I listened to this book as an audiobook, the 10th Anniversary Edition Full cast version of American Gods. I think I enjoyed it more than I would have reading it.

For one thing, I have found that I *really* enjoy listening to Neil Gaiman read aloud. He doesn't read the whole book, he just reads the legends, the forward and the afterward, but he's in there and when he's reading he's just marvelous. Also, the different voices really helped me stay with who was who. The deep voice of Shadow, *was* S I listened to this book as an audiobook, the 10th Anniversary Edition Full cast version of American Gods. I think I enjoyed it more than I would have reading it.

For one thing, I have found that I *really* enjoy listening to Neil Gaiman read aloud. He doesn't read the whole book, he just reads the legends, the forward and the afterward, but he's in there and when he's reading he's just marvelous. Also, the different voices really helped me stay with who was who. The deep voice of Shadow, *was* Shadow... so I didn't ever have that moment when reading dialogue when I was going... so *who* is talking here? Also the various gods were very distinctive as well, and the acting was wonderful.

I do know that I will have to "read" or listen to this again. Preferably after finding a study guide somewhere because this book makes me feel stupid. It's so totally complex and has so many different plot lines and things going on underneath what's actually going on in the main plotline that I felt like I was really missing a lot of symbolism. (If anyone has a good guide or explanation of the themes of American Gods feel free to PM me!)

I did find it absolutely fascinating. I've always rather thought of "God" as a form of energy... so the idea that people brought their gods with them when they immigrated, then forgot about them and then their gods just sort of wandered around, "forgotten" in America was really interesting. And the idea that we are now putting our collective mental energy into creating "gods" of "Internet" and "Credit Card" was also quite interesting-- why not? If you put your energy into it, if it is what you truly value... why would it not be your "god"? It was a very interesting thing to ponder. Something I never would have thought about before reading this book.

And then the manipulations of the gods, by the gods... just-- Oh. My. Word.

Just Wow. Mr Gaiman, you are amazing. Every time I think that you cannot get more interesting or surprising, yeah... you do.

This book will remain a favourite and will be re-read, and re-listened to. I even bought it and donated it to my local library so others could read it. Thank you for being you Mr. Gaiman, you rock, Sir.

Now publish "Chu's Day", because it looks WAY CUTE and I want to read it really, really bad. ...more

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Nov 08, 2011 Sarah Kennedy rated it liked it · review of another edition

While not my favorite Gaiman book, it was a good read.

The concept behind the entire book was very clever and original; America, the "young" nation, as a melting pot of cultural idols and Gods brought over in the minds and hearts of their people who traveled to this new land. But with the new land, the old Gods are forgotten. They become only what people believe them to be; they become washed up, regular people, whose only powers lie with the people who believe in them.

And then there are the new ...more

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Feb 03, 2012 Juan rated it really liked it · review of another edition

A wonderful book on gods, legends and folk-heros set in the United States. At times dark other times fantasy, Neil Gaiman's American Gods is just more than just its protagonist Shadow finding himself in middle America, but the clash of the old and new beliefs in America. ...more

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Jul 26, 2012 B-zee rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fiction, zee-s-library, favorites

This is brilliant. It's not just that long-bulky-book with long story, long journey or anything, it's a contain-everything-you-have-to-know masterpiece. Gaiman really worked on it, he put everything, EVERYTHING. That made this book so complicated.
I'll make a proper review soon. ...more

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