American Gods (American Gods, #1) in Building a SciFi/Fantasy Library

Jun 26, 2011 Stephen rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook, favorite-ideas, mythstories-and-legends, 6-star-books, 2000-2005, fantasy, all-time-favorites

My literary promiscuity being what it is, I have read and loved a lot of novels in many different genres. However, among the beau coup books that I have loved long time there are a select few that hold a special, hallowed place in my pantheon of favorites…American Gods is one of these elite.

Gaiman’s writing is both subdued and poetic. It is deeply emotional, but without a hint of melodrama. His descriptions are elaborate yet not drawn out. He tells a huge, complex, eternal story, one small ...more

192 likes · Like · see review

Aug 05, 2010 Stephen rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2000-2005, mythstories-and-legends, favorite-ideas, fantasy, award-nominee-mythopoeic-fantasy, award-nominee-british-sf, award-nominee-nebula, award-nominee-hugo, multiple-award-winners, award-nominee-world-fantasy

6.0 stars. One of my ALL Time favorite novels. Neil Gaiman is on my short list of "favorite" authors and this novel is my favorite of his, followed closely by Neverwhere. An absolutely superb novel filled with MEMORABLE characters and a world just beyond our perceptions. Nobody tells a story like Mr. Gaiman and this is him at his very best.

Winner: Bram Stoker Award best Horrow Novel
Winner: Hugo Award Best SF Novel
Winner: Nebula Award Best SF Novel
Winner: Locus Award Best Fantasy Novel
Nominee: Wo ...more

21 likes · Like · see review

Aug 15, 2008 Stephen rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 6-star-books, all-time-favorites, award-nominee-bram-stoker, award-winner-bram-stoker, award-nominee-british-sf, award-nominee-hugo, award-winner-hugo, award-nominee-locus, award-winner-locus, multiple-award-winners

6.0 stars. One of my ALL Time favorite novels. Neil Gaiman is on my short list of "favorite" authors and this novel is my favorite of his, followed closely by Neverwhere. An absolutely superb novel filled with MEMORABLE characters and a world just beyond our perceptions. Nobody tells a story like Mr. Gaiman and this is him at his very best.

Winner: Bram Stoker Award best Horrow Novel
Winner: Hugo Award Best SF Novel
Winner: Nebula Award Best SF Novel
Winner: Locus Award Best Fantasy Novel
Nominee: Wo ...more

19 likes · Like · see review

Oct 24, 2008 Stacy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: books-read-2009, reread, books-read-2006, favorites, books-read-2012

My all-time favorite Gaiman book. Old gods struggling to survive clash with the new gods of technology and commerce. All the while its protagonist, Shadow, struggles with the infidelities and death of his wife.

2 likes · Like · see review

Feb 23, 2009 Heather rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: scifi-fantasy, horror, own, 2009, neil-gaiman

I was looking around on the Goodreads site for ideas on what to read from the Hugo award winning books, and it happened that my husband has this book; I enjoyed Gaiman's Coraline so I figured I'd give this one a shot too.

It has somewhat the feel of Stephen King's The Stand and I found it quite an enjoyable read. Dark humor, but that is a positive for me. Great imagery, really good character development. I did not expect the reveal at the end of the book. Great twist.

This was a fun read. ...more

Like · see review

Aug 25, 2008 Lanica rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed, to-re-read, read-in-2008, fantasy, paranormal

This is one of those books I walked away from thinking, "What the hell was that?" I can't say that I liked it, I can't say that I didn't, I can just say that I am glad I read it and put it straight into my 'to re-read' stack.

Shadow is a big man with a good heart inside and darkness surrounding him. He gets out of prison and is immediately embroiled in a war between the old gods and the new. His wife dead and his future in tatters he walks through events without much care about their outcome. He ...more

Like · see review

Dec 31, 2009 Frank Taranto rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy

I listened to this on tape and enjoyed being told the story. Old Gods and New Gods clash.

Like · see review

Jun 22, 2008 Chanda rated it it was amazing

THE BEST BOOK EVER. I've spent 3 years in a liberal arts English program getting my passion for fantasy thoroughly beaten out of me, but this book is one of the few I get irrational about. I'm not so much a fan of anything else Gaiman's written - it's okay, not fantastic - but this one is...mmmm... everything I could ask for in a book. Especially good for mythology nerds like me. ...more

Like · see review