From the Bookshelf of Book Lust Reading Guild…

American Gods

Neil Gaiman

Start date: April 1, 2017

Finish date: April 30, 2017

Discussion: BOTM Lengthy Discussion Space

Find A Copy At

Group Discussions About This Book

Showing 2 of 9 topics — 24 comments total

BOTM Lengthy Discussion Space

October 2018 - Frankenstein: Prodigal Son
By Sarah · 5 posts · 28 views

last updated Nov 01, 2018 08:22AM

September 2018 - Whose Body
By Sarah · 1 post · 10 views

last updated Oct 10, 2018 08:51AM

What Members Thought

May 03, 2019 Amirography rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: novels

I read the extended version. So there was a lot of unnecessary parts to the story. which was interesting but at the end was not useful to the stories' plot. I enjoyed the book, however, the ending was a disappointment as it was too "usual".
The nice idea of the book was phenomenological gods. The gods that were not the cause of humans but the emerged from them. ...more

9 likes · Like · see review

Apr 09, 2017 Nafisa Choudhury rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

I would've given it 5 stars - I'm still not sure actually - but for the ending of the novel. No spoilers; I just felt like it left me hanging and unsatisfied.

This was a long, sprawling read for me and I liked it that way. It was okay for me that the pacing was super slow because: A. I enjoyed the writing and the subject matter, and B. I never felt like any words included were irrelevant. The novel builds up to the topics it wants to discuss, and it does so very well, through the vivid experience I would've given it 5 stars - I'm still not sure actually - but for the ending of the novel. No spoilers; I just felt like it left me hanging and unsatisfied.

This was a long, sprawling read for me and I liked it that way. It was okay for me that the pacing was super slow because: A. I enjoyed the writing and the subject matter, and B. I never felt like any words included were irrelevant. The novel builds up to the topics it wants to discuss, and it does so very well, through the vivid experiences of our narrator. I do realise this is a super subjective point: not everybody will enjoy the pacing. It takes its time unfolding the pieces, and can often feel directionless.

However, I'm happy the novel takes its time. It explored belief, religion, and most importantly America's diversity, its 'melting pot'. In a time when America, at least from an outside pov, seems to be lacking self-awareness of its hodge-podge origins. I felt like a more grounded picture was unravelled through the character in this novel. Gods or otherwise, their histories and origins play a vital role in the plot and over-arching theme. The well-crafted fantasy is perfectly related back to culture in an extended symbolism, touching upon the themes of history and different kinds of people that make up America. It journeys through different states, covers cities and small towns and wilderness. It feels like an attempt to define America, and it never felt awkward or presumptuous. It grounded itself in the people, in the personal.

I really like the main narrator. I was fascinated by his silences, the huge lack of information we have about him, but still able to relate to his responses. I really cared for him, and he was also the perfect perspective for the themes the novel explores. I think his arc was satisfactorily tied off at the end. The issue that I have is with the questions the novel has hitherto asked throughout, and then seemed to completely discard and ignore.

I guess I didn't feel like the 'climax' was climactic according to these questions, and they sort of deflated. I expected more after that build up. There was some conclusion, but not enough.

Nevertheless, American Gods is still a great novel that I thoroughly enjoyed: intelligent, imaginative and insightful. ...more

7 likes · Like · see review

Jan 31, 2021 Mariana rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: united-kingdom

I've been putting off reviewing this book for a simple reason: I thought it would be an easy 4 stars and it ended up being a basic 2, and I didn't feel up to summarizing all the reasons why. Then I realized I don't owe anyone an explanation, so I'll give a very quick review.

This book was written by a man and it really shows. If you understand what I mean by that, it probably won't be the book for you. If you don't, or the concept bothers you, then the things I hated about the book will probably ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Apr 14, 2017 Mary rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction

For a lot of people, this is a love it or hate it book. It is long and rambles. Shadow has no idea what is going on for most of the book. Characters come and go and reappear later, but they often were not that memorable and I had to focus to remember who exactly they were.

Like · see review

Jun 18, 2017 Sam rated it it was amazing

One of the best books I've ever read! Highly recommended! ...more

Like · see review

May 07, 2017 Sarah rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, reread

This is the new, expanded edition, but to be honest my memory of my first read almost a decade ago is so shaky that I couldn't even remember the whole plot of the book, let alone the new bits! ...more

Like · see review