Heathens, Pagans and Witches discussion

Here is the place to post your thoughts about the current book of the month, which is a fictional offering that has proved rather popular, Neil Gaiman's American Gods

Happy reading!

I am at the end of my semester right now so I don't have the pleasure of joining in at this moment, but I have read this book before and must say I LOVED it! My first taste of Neil Gaiman too, I am ashamed to say.
Enjoy the read and season!

Fawn

Received it for Yule, so I'll try and dive into it shortly! :-)

Well, I've nearly finished the first part of the three-part, audio edition of American Gods. [My hard copy escaped me, so I opted for the audio version].

I have to say that I've not read, or listened to a book anything like this before - plot, characters, style of writing. I'm intrigued.

I've read negative reviews and, perhaps because I am pagan and curious about the gods, pretty much dismissed them finding the writing style engaging (imaginative even), and am enjoying the ride, along with Shadow, despite not knowing where I am headed exactly.

My only other encounter with Neil Gaiman was his collaboration with Terry Pratchett, Good Omens but American Gods is something different; a much darker feel to it, especially with the humour.

I wonder how other readers are faring with it?

Well, I finished it this morning. So glad this was chosen as a group read and I finally read (listened) to it, despite it being on my shelf for years.

I have reviewed it and I highly recommend it. I look forward to hearing the opinion of other members.

I just started it this past week, last month too busy to tuck it in there, but I am loving it. I really like the "Somewhere in America" stories.

I have been home the past couple of days, not feeling well and I have curled up on the sofa with the dog and cat and just reading.
Very nice. Apart from being sick, ha ha!

I have posted a review, which can be read here.

I have read this book several times over the years. I felt he did a stunning job of pulling in gods from all over the world. Last year he took part in a Goodreads discussion, answering readers' questions. I will see if I can track it down; it was interesting.

Found it: http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/3...

I liked it so much that I just bought a copy on Amazon and I am having them send it to a friend!

Thank you Mawgojzeta for posting that link; some interesting questions and now I have two more books to add to my "to be read" list following on from American Gods.

It's odd the mention of the absence of Jesus, because he does appear in the version of American Gods I listened to, but as an Appendix.

So glad you enjoyed it, too, Stephanie. These past two months, I've read two books which have astounded me but, for whatever reason, I had previously left floundering on my "to be read" shelf for years. I really ought to try harder.

I think that in a way there is a strong implication that Shadow is as Christ in the story. When they cut him down from the tree, "the body on the ground was cold and it did not breath. There was a patch of dried blood on its side, as if it had been stabbed with a spear." Then "Easter" brings him back to life....."come on its time to get up."
He replys, "...It was done, I was judged. It was over. You called me back..."
I think that you could see Shadow's taking it all on himself and to be willing to hang on the tree, knowing that he was going "to die" and he did it with an open and clear heart.

Quick note. I got about halfway through the book and then put it down. I found it to be slow and dragging and well, bland. I thought it would be a cool plot line, and was interested in it as I met the various Gods, but it wasn't really holding my interest.

I'm reading this now and am about two-thirds of the way through. I haven't come to the part that Stephanie mentions above, but have been wondering who Shadow is almost since the beginning. Maybe I should have resisted this thread until I'd finished :)

It's a good compelling read, although I can't quite suspend disbelief enough to see the gods as Gaiman depicts them in the story, especially Wednesday.

Well, I turned the last page last night. An amazingly clever and original book - magically conceived, intricately plotted, eminently readable and with a cast of more than any story could be reasonably expected to cope with, it works brilliantly.

I wouldn't have picked this one by myself (hell, it has 'International Best Seller' on the cover!) but it was a present enthused over by my lovely daughter, so I opened it, read the first page and was hooked.

I don't think I've ever read a book that brings all the separate strands of a complex story together so beautifully at the end, especially the meeting of Shadow with Odin in Norway - a master touch, and something of a relief too. The author tells the story without any judgement that I could detect, leaving me with a lingering vestige of curiosity about Gaiman's own viewpoint and beliefs.

Everyone should read this. I read it when it first came out but I really need to re-read it. I'm actually listening to the audiobook of Anansi Boys, which is in the same vain, only it's about Anansi (as you might have guessed). Seems somewhat like a prequel to me, so if you enjoyed American Gods you should give that one a go too.

Thanks for the recommendation, Julie - sorry to be so late in answering, but I tend to forget to check the threads that have slipped off the main page for new posts.

Anansi Boys is on my audio wishlist, ever since I read the expanded version of American Gods .