Neil Gaiman has always been one of my favorite authors. I first read this when it came out and it was just as to be expected. I was grateful to received this extended edition through the author himself and appreciated having it as part of my collection. It did take me some time because my TBR is massive! But still, I am finally getting to reviewing it. Loved it and still a great book.

Neil Gaiman’s "American Gods" is a thought-provoking novel that delves into the heart and soul of America, weaving together mythology, Americana, and the supernatural into a gripping narrative. At its core, the story follows Shadow Moon, a recently released convict whose life is upended by the sudden death of his wife, Laura, in a mysterious car accident. As Shadow struggles to find his footing in a world that has shifted beneath him, he encounters the enigmatic Mr. Wednesday on a plane, setting off a bewildering chain of events t

Mr. Wednesday, who claims to be a former god and a king in America, draws Shadow into a world where gods and mythic beings walk among mortals, struggling for relevance and power. The journey they embark on is both literal and metaphorical, taking them across the landscape of the United States, from small-town diners to forgotten roadside attractions, each locale rich with its own peculiar magic and significance.

Gaiman’s narrative is richly layered, with interludes that provide glimpses into the lives and struggles of other gods who have made America their home. These vignettes add depth and texture to the primary storyline, illustrating the conflicting nature of belief in a land defined by its melting pot of cultures and traditions. The old gods, brought to America by immigrants, find themselves in dire straits, overshadowed by the new gods of technology, media, and globalization. This clash between the old and the new serves as a powerful allegory for the cultural and existential crises that define modern American life.

"American Gods" is more than just a fantastical road trip; it’s a meditation on the nature of belief, identity, and the changing face of America.
The characters in "American Gods" are vividly drawn, each with their own unique quirks and complexities. Gaiman’s exploration of America’s soul is unflinching and often unsettling, revealing a country haunted by its past and uncertain of its future.

Compelling, complex, and darkly funny.

When shadow is released from prison early for his wife’s funeral, he finds that the life he knew no longer exists and he forms new ties with a group of powerful ancients preparing for battle.

This story weaves together modernity and Shadow’s search for meaning with many different ancient legends and their lingering place in the collective consciousness. The storytelling is superb and propulsive. The only thing that could make me put it down was searching for information online about the various tales and legends mentioned in the text. Superb!

This is a difficult one to rate and review. So much is happening all of the time. It’s largely graphic, violent and dark, and there are parts that were A Lot (and maybe I could have done without reading) but all told the story was So Interesting.
One thing I can say for sure, if you are reading this story, the more annotated the edition the better. At least for me. There are so many references I would have entirely missed.

An absolute joy to revisit this book after it was made available during lockdown. One of my favourite Neil Gaiman novels.

This story holds up, revisiting the characters a second time many years later. I’d love a follow up story!

Simply... perfection. One of my favorites, whether in print or in audio. Never boring, always full of interest, suspense, and intrigue. I love the new way to think of the old gods.

American Gods follows Shadow Moon, someone who was imprisoned several years ago. It's near the end of his sentence and he's ready to get back to his life and his wife. But he ends up being released a few days early when his wife dies in a car crash. On his way home, he is recruited to be an errand boy for the mysterious Mr. Wednesday. Shadow quickly learns that there is an escalating struggle between old gods and new ones.

This is the second Neil Gaiman book I've read, and I'm currently not 100% sure his books are for me. I can see why other people would love them, but there's something about his style that keeps me from feeling fully invested in what happens. If you've read anything else by Gaiman, I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. There's a certain atmosphere that has been present in both of the books I've read by him, though both books have been very different.

A lot of the other problems I had with this book stem from some of the language being extremely dated, even for the revised 2011 edition.

I received an ebook copy of the tenth anniversary edition of this book back when Neil Gaiman and HarperCollins shared it to NetGalley at the beginning of the pandemic.

One of the most interesting of Neil Gaiman’s books! I Speaking as an ultimate fan of his, this ranked as my second favorite Neil Gaiman’s book.

So glad Neil made this available in quarantine, a real treat and a big chunk of a book to read in those endless days.

American Gods is my all time favorite book. Neil Gaiman does such an amazing job with mythology and world building! I have read and re-read this novel at least 12 times in the last fifteen years!

Absolutely adored it. Neil Gaiman has a way to create character that I find absolutely fascinating, and his writing style is such a delight to read. His humour has always been my favorite, and this book has once again proved it to me. The notion of gods has always interested me, and it was interesting to see Gaiman's take on it. Especially the power struggle between tradition and modernity.

I read American Gods when it came out in the 2000s and loved it. I re-read it (actually listened to it on audio) 20 years later and had a bit less patience for it, but overall I still enjoyed it immensely. The sprawling story of America and its gods as told through the road trip of Shadow, a man recently released from prison, reeling from the news of his wife's death, is a meandering tale into side alleys of fables and folktales, while the main road visits grifter and warring gods, their human aides, a mysterious serial killer in a small Wisconsin town, and more.

My favorite quote from the book: "The more accurate the map, the more it resembles the territory. The most accurate map possible would be the territory, and thus would be perfectly accurate and perfectly useless. The tale is the map that is the territory." This is a great summation of both this book and most books in general.

I got this after Neil Gaiman talked about it on twitter. I really enjoyed it! I love the different figures from different mythologies, and I'm excited to start watching the show.

I've loved this book for years, and the fact that Neil Gaiman shared it here for free is why I joined NetGalley at all! <3

Neil Gaiman is always an outstanding author, and it's been great to revisit this after watching some of the show translated to the screen. Fantastical ideas from one of my favourite writers

Real sweet of Neil Gaiman and the publisher to make this available during quarantine! Had a good time reading it.

American Gods is one of those timeless books. If you haven't read this book yet, I highly encourage you to. And then watch to HBO Series, because it's just as brilliant!

Obviously love this, and honestly I downloaded it when given the chance during the early days of COVID-19 just so I could have it as a digital copy to read on my Kindle, as my big-ass paperback is inconvenient to lug around. Will read and love (almost) anything Gaiman. Also recommend his Masterclass for those who are interested in writing - I found it really inspiring, as is his fictional work.

Neil Gaiman was giving away this book to his fans a few months ago and used netgalley to do it. I have not read it yet but expect I will enjoy it. I don't think he or the publisher is expecting a review here.