LITTLE BOOK CLUB discussion

AND SO IT BEGINS! What are your first impressions?

*SPOILERS DOWN BELOW*

Alright, this is my first Gaiman-Book and I'm not sure yet where the story is heading and whether I like it or not ... I'm just a bit confused after the second chapter on. But the writing is nice and I dont even mind it taking a while to introduce the characters.

Can I just say..the end of chapter 1.....what the heck was that....it was....disturbing.....like what the heck...hahah

I'm on page 95 or so...I hope to be done chapter 5 by tonight so I'll have more to say tomorrow

I feel like this is a good quote that sums up this book so far from Shadow "I feel like I'm in a world with its own sense of logic. It's own rules. Like when you're in a dream and you know there are rules you mustn't break. Even if you don't know what they mean. I'm just going along with it, you know? "

I just finished chapter 5.

I'm hoping it picks up soon. I feel like we're sort of floundering a bit. I need the plot to move along.

I love this story. I'm about 120 into it so far and excuse my language bit this story has been a complete mind fuck so far. It's like i understand but at the same time I don't. Like what to us is completely mind bending is normal to the characters. Gaiman is so good at setting up an unusual, but at the same time, normal world.

Just finished chapter five, and this book has thoroughly captured my attention. I'm reading the expanded 10th-anniversary edition, but I hope the chapters are the same as the original edition.

Some of the old gods/spirits/people of legends I recognize, but others I have no idea who are. Wednesday was particularly recognizable since he's one of our old gods, and in my language the day "Wednesday" is named after him. But what is he up to, gathering the old ones?

I just finished chapter five, I like the book however but on the other hand I can't help wonder where it's going quite yet.

I'm on the same lever with Tracie, I understand what's going on but yet don't. I feel like I might have to put and extension on it at the library. I keep needing to put it down to simply think about what I just read.

I'm listening to this book on audio and I'm starting to think I should have gotten it in text because I'm having a little trouble following along. This is the first Neil Gaiman book I have read so I'm not really sure what to expect going forward. I started reading this book with no idea what it was about. I so really like the writing even if I do get kind of confused at times.

tharcblack wrote: "Kayla wrote: "Can I just say..the end of chapter 1.....what the heck was that....it was....disturbing.....like what the heck...hahah

I'm on page 95 or so...I hope to be done chapter 5 by tonight s..."

SAME. I just got to pg 155 and I kinda understand what's going on but not really??

I have to agree with some others on this; I understand what's happening, but I also don't understand it.
Being Dutch and reading this in English, I feel that this book takes a lot of my energy and every time I get the feeling I'm not getting any further in the book, while when I put it down, I usually have done quite some reading. This book is gripping in some way, but I don't know yet how and why. I haven't completely made my mind up yet...
One thing I find a bit odd personally, is that Shadow doesn't seem much confused, or if he is, makes decisions that I would have NEVER made if I were to be in his situation. Like, wtf is going on? And Shadow is going along with it, so it seems to me...

I have 'the author's preferred text' btw, which is the long, original version. I don't know how it is different from the shorter version.

I really like it so far, but then I've also read Gaimen's Sandman series, so this basically just feels like an extension of that in a way.

Spaceagetoaster wrote: "I really like it so far, but then I've also read Gaimen's Sandman series, so this basically just feels like an extension of that in a way."

There is definitely a connection in tone and theme between this and the Sandman series.

Favorite lines so far and somehow they are all by Wednesday.

"You want coffee? We're going to rob a bank."

The conversation about Liberty.

"Nobody's American," said Wednesday. "Not originally. That's my point."

"This is the only country in the world ," said Wednesday, into the stillness, "that worries about what it is."

As an American, there are a lot of times I go, "Yep. That's true."

I really enjoyed the Chicago scenes. I was rather miffed that Chicago was so accurately compared to a migraine. It's my second favorite city in the world, though, yes, it is migraine inducing. The talks about the meat packing district were fascinating to me because it is so connected to how and why Chicago became such a huge city and talking about just how brutal such a business can be and just the duplicity involved with a city of skyscrapers built upon brutality.

I am wondering if Native American mythology is going to be brought up as well as colonialism and imperialism.

I'm taking this book a little slowly, because I feel like it needs to be savored. I just wanted to jump in and say a few random things.
First of all, I really liked how this book started (with the exception of the end of chapter one. Still not sure how to feel about that). I liked the weird conman vibe it gave off, but then it turned into something that I'm not quite sure why I didn't expect, having read a few of his other books. It got really weird, but I'm really loving it. I specifically liked the ending of chapter four, with the tale of Essie Tregowan. For some reason, I really enjoyed reading that, and, even though I'm in the middle of chapter six, I've gone back and reread three times. Did anyone else get that?
Also, are there any other fans of the Blacklist in this group? Cause Wednesday was seriously reminding me of Raymond Reddington for the longest time.

I just finished chapter 5, and I'm confused about a LOT of things. Though, it's the good i-need-answers kinda confusion that makes it impossible for me to put the book down.
I keep expecting more of a reaction from Shadow. Especially when they meet Mr. Czernobog, and he talks about the "old times" and what not. It's kinda frustrating me, because there's all these magical things going around him, and he mostly never questions it.

I was not sure if I wanted to join read along this month but found the authors preferred text in a second hand book store so took the sign and brought it home with me :)
I am absolutely loving the writing style. I love the mystery of not knowing where the story is going and stumbling along with Shadow. Some very interesting characters so far too. I love Mr Czernobogs phrasing it makes it so easy to hear the accent! "Is good" :)

I have read the first of the Sandman chronicles and I agree there are similarities.

I'm a big fan of Gaiman's work, so I got the extended edition (not sure how it differs from the standard) and this is actually one of the few which I'm NOT listening to on audiobook. I can still kind of hear Gaiman narrating it in my head while I read though, which is both a little strange and really great. I read Anansi Boys earlier this year and was pleasantly surprised to see a familiar face in this book (anyone with me on that??). I'm loving it so far! I can't wait to see what other mythologies are represented, and how.

After reading chapter 3 I had to put down the book for awhile to process what I just read. I also felt like the plot wasn't going anywhere so I've been neglecting the book until I picked it up again to finish a couple of more chapters. After reading 5 chapters I'm still confused as to why Wednesday robbed the bank. This is a really bizarre story so far.

I just finish the 5 first chapter and I still don't know whats going on, but I am hook up. It is the first Neil Gaiman book's I read. I love the writhing style of the book.

I really liked the beginning of this book.