From the Bookshelf of Irish Readers…

American Gods (American Gods, #1)

Neil Gaiman

Start date: April 1, 2011

Finish date: April 30, 2011

Discussion: MONTHLY GROUP READS

Why we're reading this: Winner of April 2011 Group Read Poll
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MONTHLY GROUP READS

* January Read - The Sisters Brothers
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last updated Feb 25, 2012 04:50AM

* December read -The sense of an ending
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last updated Jan 25, 2012 09:22AM

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What Members Thought

Jul 21, 2011 Chris Morey rated it it was amazing

Highly recommended. An interesting, dark fantasy that has you fall in love with the strangest characters. Only achievable by a master like Gaiman.

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Mar 18, 2012 Mick O'Dwyer rated it it was ok · review of another edition

I’ve decided to stop reading Neil Gaiman’s American Gods. Actually, it wasn’t really that much of a decision, it just happened in the way that you forget to do something you kept meaning to until you realised you haven’t missed not doing it. I was a bit more than half way through, at the point where the main character, Shadow, is holed up in some small town apartment in winter, buying groceries and organising a car and all sorts of other everyday bits and bobs. And then I put the book down somew I’ve decided to stop reading Neil Gaiman’s American Gods. Actually, it wasn’t really that much of a decision, it just happened in the way that you forget to do something you kept meaning to until you realised you haven’t missed not doing it. I was a bit more than half way through, at the point where the main character, Shadow, is holed up in some small town apartment in winter, buying groceries and organising a car and all sorts of other everyday bits and bobs. And then I put the book down somewhere I didn’t remember for a few days, and when I found it again it was just all a bit too meh.

Gods is an on-the-road story, taking in stops at various places so stuff can happen. And stuff does happen. And it is interesting, sort of, as is the premise of Gods being brought over to America by immigrants beliefs in them. But, it just doesn’t happen often enough, or quickly enough, or to a character I give a damn about. By its nature it’s an episodic tale, which is what can be a little trying with on-the-road stories; they can and do survive without much by way of plot or development if they have a companion who makes the ride a hell of a lot of fun, and, in this case, Shadow doesn't.

The problem for me was that Shadow is too shallow and resigned to his fate, whatever it is. It's very hard to feel empathy for someone who doesn't have much substance to them, everything just happens and Shadow is no more than a device that links things together. All that's left is a bunch of cameos and some tall tales, which are fine but even they feel stretched thin. There does seem to be a nod to this by way of introducing a character who pops up and needs ‘rescuing’, even this feels like its been shoe-horned in to give Shadow something to work towards. It doesn't read like he cares that much either way about what happens, and if he doesn't then I can't be.

And that's what's surprising given Gaiman's natural inventiveness and ability to drive a story at a frenetic pace when he wants to, it just feels so tired and jaded, as if it's weighted down by the concept and never allowed to fully take off. ...more

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