Book tip – Isabelle reads American Gods
This book is a brick and I actually need your help cause I don’t know if I love it or just think it’s weird. I picked it up at the airport going to New York. A fellow fantasy lover aka the salesgirl at the shop told me it was the best book ever. Well I couldn’t put it down but the reading was slow.
It’s about Shadow. He just got out of jail when weird things starts to happen. Apparently there is war between the Gods – old ones like Thor and Odin and Shiva and Elves and what ever actually people believes in. Shadow is somehow in middle of all of this – like a shadow. Read a plot summary at the wiki page here and the NY times Review over here.
I like the idea of all the Gods in one place, one country – all these people in America believing in different things and sharing space. Both people and beliefs. And how does the Gods cope with getting forgotten and replaced by new ones? I believe in believing. I think it’s good to share and beleive in stuff but what you believe in is of less importance. If you get comfort by Allah it’s fine for me, if going to a football game and scream on your Gods – like Zlatan or Messi. If it does the trick for you it’s also fine for me. So this book was a good way to learn more about different myths, legends, Gods and Beliefs. Maybe I didn’t know enough from the start. Maybe the book was a bit of the same. Maybe my English isn’t good enough for this myths and paths and strains of thoughts? I don’t know.
But what I do know is that even if a book is hard to read I love when it linger and this is the case with this one.
Hbo is going to make a 6 season series of the book soon which could be great – I hope.
So have you read this book and what did you think about it?
xx
Isabelle
9 Comments
Join the discussion and tell us your opinion.
So yes, I’ve read it, loved it! I also lived in the location where the big final action takes place for fifteen years. And that made it all the more wonderful to go to it:)
I loved the idea of these gods trying to find their way in America after being forgotten. Most of them fall prey to some of America’s worst aspects: Eustre plumping up like a fat hen was probably my favorite.
Cassie – what you lived in the house on the rocks? or close by? Well I think I don’t know enough about religion overall and all the places in the IUs to maybe get this book in the way you could if you knew!
I lived in Chattanooga, TN, which contains tourism attraction from the 20’s Rock City!! It is considered to have one of the most successful marketing campaigns in the South US in the mid-20th century because they would paint the side of any old barn for free, but always with the logo, “See Rock City.” I grew up seeing these all over many states, I even own a barn cookie jar with this on the side. I am emailing you an awesome pic of this.
Fantastic- thanks. I love this. Getting to learn all of it! So much fun
This is my first comment but I love your site. It makes all the darkness in wintertime (I live in Iceland) seem a lot liter and brighter, and helps a lot when “I can´t be bothered” takes over.
I love Neil Gaiman and his stories, Coraline especially, I read it again and again, and The Graveyard Book. They have this gruesome dark humor and scary realities seen from the nonprejudicial eyes of childhood. It reminds me of Roald Dahls´ writing at times. Have you glimpsed the Revolting Rhymes by Roald Dahl, it is hilarious, a different look on the Grimm fairy tail classics f.exp. Goldilocks and the Three Bears http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BO2Ivw2S-BQ
Anansi Boys by Gaiman was confusing at times but I enjoyed it all the same, but I have not ventured in on the American Gods yet. Gaiman dose Comics as well, the Sandman series (about Dream) is his most famous. This Christmas I got one about Death, the older sister of Dream. I haven’t started it yet, I´m still grassing trough an awesome Comic series called Fables by Bill Willingham. It is about various characters from fairy tales (Fables) who have been forced out of their Homelands by an evil adversary. The Fables have traveled to our world and formed a clandestine community in New York City known as Fabletown. It is really good and funny.
Oh Elwo – fantastic- thanks for you comment it means so much! And also all your tips. Very nice. Will check it out at once1
Jeii :-)
I have just stumbled across your blog-very much enjoying it! And I loved American Gods, and all of Neil Gaiman’s writing. We’re big fans of Dr. Who, too, and N.G. has written a few episodes in the past few years.
I live in Wisconsin, a few hours from House on the Rock, it is one of my favorite places to wander. My son used to talk about sneaking in to live there, it’s his favorite place on the planet.
Thanks for the beauty and inspiration here!
Oh Tammy, thanks for Your words. And so cool to hear where you live and what you read!! Gonna check it out!