From the Bookshelf of The Sword and Laser…

American Gods (American Gods, #1)

Neil Gaiman

Start date: December 9, 2007

Finish date: January 22, 2008

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Feb 03, 2014 Barondestructo rated it liked it

Shadow, our protagonist, is released from prison early so that he can attend his wife’s funeral. On his way back home, he is approached by the enigmatic Mr. Wednesday who offers him a job working for him. And so begins Neil Gaiman’s head-spinning masterpiece about life, death, faith, and deific survival. An epic narrative that twists and turns, confounds and surprises. To quote my second grade teacher Mrs. Vowels: “It’s time to put your thinking caps on!”

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Dec 13, 2010 Adrienne rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, owned, mythology, wisconsin

Overall I enjoyed this book (once I got into it!), but I didn't love it. I found that it meandered until we got to Lakeside, but I imagine that's representative of Shadow's lack of focus.

I felt too detached from Shadow, even though that was somewhat just his character at least according to Neil Gaiman, to end up caring too much about what happened to him. The only times I got any sense of emotion from him was in his interactions with Laura.

I did like reading about all that parts that took place ...more

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Feb 28, 2008 Tegan rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, urban-fantasy, fairy-tale, favorites

This is one of my all time favorite books. I re-read it every few years, though I have discovered that I must keep the readings of American Gods and Anansi Boys spaced out as I have found that reading them too close together sours my enjoyment of the other. It is a book about America but not really about anyone's life in America, rather it is about what lives have created. The writing is clever and thought-provoking, and has kept me re-reading this title for over 10 years.

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