ani’s Reviews > American Gods > Status Update

In the end, I felt about it exactly the same I felt throughout it. It's a stellar book. And I frankly wouldn't be surprised if it will do a Baudolino, and it will become a favourite in retrospect. The plot was stellar, but in a soft way. I (throughout) THOUGHT it was brilliant, my emotions just didn't factor in that much. But the writing, the storytelling, the characters, the ideas—fucking fantastic. It's Gaiman.

I already know it's not gonna be a new favourite. I never wanna put the book down, all is good & well written & enjoyable but I'm also not necessarily emotionally involved with the narrative. It's not a lack of narrative distance that creates this emotional void, it's not even an emotional void per se necessarily, it's just not a story that has found it's way to my heart, & that's fine! I still love it, in a sense.

This is such a great representation of why I love Gaiman & how great an author he is. I've not been able to guess any direction where the story has gone but all has felt fitting & just. There is something so honest in his storytelling but also a greatness of simplicity. He knows precisely which words to use, & the way he writes plot is not all-consuming & never drags you with it but your interest always remains.

Damn have I been an idiot for ignoring this book as long as I have. It says a lot about Gaiman that though I can remember everything I read before so vividly but I'm still just as intrigued as if I were reading all this for the first time. Like I said the last time I started this, it reads as if Gaiman were to write a Stephen King novel, and I love it.