American Gods by Neil Gaiman

Title: American Gods
Series: American Gods
Author(s): Neil Gaiman
Genre: Fiction, Fantasy
Publisher: HarperTorch
Release Date: April 11, 2002
Finished: September 2009
Pages: 592
Challenges: None
Rating:

My Thoughts: The main character is a man called Shadow. He just made it out of prison and is excited to get home to his wife. Unfortunately, the night before he's released he finds out his wife died in a car accident with his best friend. Now Shadow has no ties to the real world, and he makes the acquaintance of a business man named Mr. Wednesday, who offers Shadow a job. Through Mr. Wednesday Shadow meets many strange and unusual people, but the funny thing is that Shadow seems to fit in with them.

I know there are a lot of metaphors and religious messages in this book, but don't look at me for what they are because I was not thinking that deeply while I read it. Mostly I enjoyed the book. The only time I didn't was when I felt I was supposed to know the people/Gods that Shadow or Mr. Wednesday were talking to. I felt a little confused at the ending; it felt like there was too many people in the pot.

As a character, I liked Shadow and related to him through most of the book except(warning this may spoil the ending for you) when he returns at the end. I just couldn't understand why he would come back after being done with the world. I just didn't see it happening.

In the end, I enjoyed the story and the characters, and I would read the sequels and short stories connected to American Gods.

About the Author: Neil Gaiman's books have won some amazing awards, including his just-released children's book The Graveyard Book, which won the Newbery Medal for 2009. Check out Neil's website, http://www.neilgaiman.com/, which includes a blog.