First published in 2001, American Gods became an instant classic, lauded for its brilliant synthesis of 'mystery, satire, sex, horror, and poetic prose' (Washington Post) and as a modern phantasmagoria that 'distills the essence of America' (Seattle Post-Intelligencer).
It is the story of Shadow -- released from prison just days after his wife and best friend are killed in an accident -- who gets recruited to be bodyguard, driver, and errand boy for the enigmatic trickster Mr. Wednesday. So begins Shadow's dark and strange road trip, one that introduces him to a host of eccentric characters whose fates are mysteriously intertwined with his own. For, beneath the placid surface of everyday life, a storm is brewing -- an epic war for the very soul of America -- and Shadow is standing squarely in its path.
Staff Choice: Iris
When someone asks about my favourite authors, Neil Gaiman is always in the top 5. For some reason, though, I'd never felt particularly compelled to pick up American Gods until I decided I wanted to read it before watching the TV adaptation.
This book is about an epic battle which is brewing between America's "old gods", the ones from religion who were brought over by all kinds of peoples inhabiting the continent, and the "new gods": TV, technology, highways, the internet...
The main character Shadow Moon, a seemingly ordinary guy who manages to get himself caught up in this, plus Neil Gaiman's incredible talented to spin a story, makes for a wonderful, vivid reading experience.
Staff Choice: Jonna
Even though American Gods is a thick book, it didn’t feel like it. The world feels real, and the characters, although gods or other mythic creatures, feel real. The main character is very likable. He just goes with everything that is thrown at him and completely accepts the situations he finds himself in. This is a story about a big scam of a battle while there is also another mystery taking place.
