American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Reviewed by: Laura Warren, Adult Services Manager
Genre: Fantasy
Suggested Age: Adult
What is this Book About? The story begins with our main character, Shadow, pushing through the last few days before he is released from prison. Before his release date comes he is pulled into the warden’s office and told he would be released early to attend his wife’s funeral. Shadow lost his wife and his best friend in one tragic car accident. As Shadow re-enters civilian life, he knows things will never be the same, and the eccentric traveler, Mr. Wednesday, makes sure of that. Our main character then embarks on an epic road trip which will change his life, and possibly the fate of the world forever. A host of legendary characters and places will lead him down a fascinating and scary road full of magic and stories, where the line between myth and reality is never very clear.
My Review: I love this book and have read it multiple times. Each time I learn something new and see something in a different light. The blending of the old and the new is stunning and makes the reader really consider history, life, and culture. America as a diverse, expansive, and sometimes tragic place is written beautifully. The characters are compelling and the road trip is magical, yet literal. Neil Gaiman writes about all types of places in America. Each of them is a real place and somewhere on the map, though many difficult to find. Though not from America, Gaiman manages to nail the American experience of many with expert precision. The stories of many great and small are told while following Shadow on his personal journey. Neil Gaiman is a fantastic writer and he is at his best writing American Gods.
Three Words That Describe This Book: powerful, mythological, thoughtful
Give it a Try if You Like: Neil Gaiman’s Sandman or Mythology
Rating: 5/5
About FDL Reads
FDL Reads is a series of weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library.
