September 2019 American Gods (No spoilers, please!)

[Kateblue, 2nd star to the right and straight on til morning]

Please comment with no spoilers here.

[Oleksandr, a.k.a. Acorn]

Thank you for starting the thread. I read this novel about ten years ago and plan to re-read it with the group

[Kateblue, 2nd star to the right and straight on til morning]

No prob. It had been Sept 1 for an hour or so here, and I am Eastern Daylight time zone US, so I did it.

[Kateblue, 2nd star to the right and straight on til morning]

No prob. It had been Sept 1 for an hour or so here, and I am Eastern Daylight time zone US, so I did it.

I don't know if I will get to this because I have too many other things to read. I will read them first and then restart American Gods in the middle where I quit the last time. I remember exactly where that was. And Kindles help with that!

[Antti]

I read American Gods something like a decade ago, and my memories are a bit hazy, but I'll see if I have anything to contribute to the discussion.

Not going to re-read, since I have too many other things to read right now.

[Cynthia]

Ditto what Antti said for me.

[Rebecca]

I'm also of the already read it camp, and I did a reread before the series came out, so not re-reading either (I'm not done with my August list!) there is something I'm curious about that I'll ask in the spoiler thread.

[Oleksandr, a.k.a. Acorn]

All people have read it than who voted for it? :)

[Kateblue, 2nd star to the right and straight on til morning]

:-) well. there were many more votes than those of us who are talking now. . . and I was about 1/2 through on a reread last year when life interfered . . .

[Ryan]

I read maybe a third of this many years ago and stopped because I wasn't interested. It has such a good reputation that I'm going to give it another try. We'll see how it goes.

[Kalin]

I voted for it. It's been on my TBR pile since February but its size is intimidating! So this will be the kick in the pants I need.

[Sylvie Helen]

I voted for it lol, it's on my shelf ready to go but I don't think I'll get to it this week... I'm looking forward to it although Neil Gaiman has been a bit of a mixed bag for me before so I'm also a little wary of it.

[Cynthia]

Neil Gaiman has also been a mixed bag for me. American Gods was one of his best IMHO. But the mythical traditions he draws on are from around the world, brought to America by immigrants and enslaved persons, so don't expect a coherent pantheon.

[Ed]

Rebecca wrote: "I'm also of the already read it camp, and I did a reread before the series came out, so not re-reading either ..."

Ditto. I have only read the related book Anansi Boys one time, and I loved it, so maybe I'll re-read that someday. But not now.

[Kalin]

Cynthia wrote: "Neil Gaiman has also been a mixed bag for me. American Gods was one of his best IMHO. But the mythical traditions he draws on are from around the world, brought to America by immigrants and enslave..."

Hasn't Gaiman also said in interviews and such that he strictly focused on primarily European immigrant mythologies because he didn't feel he could do justice to those from other cultures and traditions? (saying this as someone who hasn't started the book yet)

[Kateblue, 2nd star to the right and straight on til morning]

The thing about this book that I remember is, that I really liked it, all of it, but that it seemed longer than it needed to be. As I started my reread a year or so ago, it struck me again that it doesn't seem repetitive, like it's telling you stuff over an over as so many books do. Instead, it just seems--measured. If that makes sense.

[Caitlin]

i got started a bit late on this book but I'm about halfway through and I'm really liking it so far. i gave up on Synners i just couldnt get into it.

[Ryan]

I'm almost three-quarters done. Is the answer to the question "Why did Wednesday choose Shadow to be his errand boy?" a spoiler beyond the beginning of the book? I've been wondering for a while.

[Oleksandr, a.k.a. Acorn]

Ryan wrote: "I'm almost three-quarters done. Is the answer to the question "Why did Wednesday choose Shadow to be his errand boy?" a spoiler beyond the beginning of the book? I've been wondering for a while."

The answer is at the end, so yes, spoilery

[Ryan]

Thanks

[Kalin]

Still haven't started, I'm committed to finishing The Windup Girl before starting this, so I may be missing this monthly read.

[Kateblue, 2nd star to the right and straight on til morning]

Kalin, American Gods is one of those books that is well worth reading but long. So it may not fit into September for you. But even if it doesn't, when you get to it, come back and discuss. This happens in this group sometimes, and it's always fun to have someone catch up.

I get completing what you are reading first because I still have not finished Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell. I put it down in August to read other things and have never gotten back to it.

[Art, Stay home, stay safe.]

American Gods makes me understand why everyone loves Gaiman that much. It drew me in and even though I'm only 15% in I'm enjoying it already.

I'm reading the anniversary edition, it apparently has 4,000 words that did not make it into the original publication (the complete version is the one he likes the most). Also I never knew but apparently he stopped cutting his hair and shaving until the moment he finished writing it!

[Art, Stay home, stay safe.]

Will probably have to reread it at some point because I'm fairly certain that many references go straight over my head.
I'm pretty sure that I got who Mr.Wednesday is and the leprechaun references failed to slip past me (/flex), but there were other times where it was clear that there was a "there" there and it was just as clear that I want getting it, hehe.

If anybody has any clues or comments regarding their finds feel free to share here or in the spoiler thread. I'm at 30% now.

[Rebecca]

I'd be happy to identify anyone you're struggling with. Will watch for the spoiler thread or message me

[Art, Stay home, stay safe.]

I hate giving this book 3 stars, it was a 3.5 read for me but I had to take off a few points for the pet peeves that I couldn't get past.

Also it seemed heavily inspired by Pratchett's Small Gods and some Zelazny. I'm looking forward to read something by Gaiman that has his own voice and character, he is an amazing author it's just there is always something off for my tastes.

[Oleksandr, a.k.a. Acorn]

Art wrote: "I hate giving this book 3 stars, it was a 3.5 read for me but I had to take off a few points for the pet peeves that I couldn't get past. "

Post why in spoilers, please!