The Book Wheel

Books, Politics, & More

  • Genres
    • Sortable Archive
      • Reviews by Author
      • Reviews by Genre
      • Reviews by Title
    • #30Authors
      • #30Authors Reviews
      • Lineup
    • Fiction
      • Historical Fiction
      • Mystery/Thriller
    • Non-Fiction
      • Biography
      • Economic
      • Memoir
      • Science/Tech/Psychology
      • True Crime
    • Political
    • More Options
      • 1001 List
      • Classics
      • Diverse
  • Book Club Picks
  • Lists
  • Other
    • Blogging
    • Career
    • Discussions
    • Lifestyle
    • Productivity
  • About
    • Accolades
    • Advertising
    • Policies
    • Resources
      • Authors
      • Contributors
    • What is a ‘Book Wheel’?

Gaiman Strikes Gold in ‘American Gods’

September 16, 2014 by Allison Hiltz 10 Comments

Gaiman Strikes Gold in ‘American Gods’American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Also by this author: The Ocean at the End of the Lane
Published by Headline Review on 2001
Genres/Lists: Fiction
Pages: 658
Read synopsis on Goodreads
Buy the book: Amazon/Audible (this post includes affiliate links)five-stars


A few weeks ago, I asked my Facebook and Twitter friends to tell me what book to read next. My options were The Goldfinch, A Prayer for Owen Meany, and American Gods, but American Gods received an overwhelming number of recommendations when compared to the other two (I did, however, also read Owen Meany and you can read that review next week). Although I’d previously read Neil Gaiman’s The Ocean at the End of the Lane (read my review) for Dewey’s 24-Hour Readathon, I must confess I went into American Gods not knowing much about the author. Since then, I’ve started learning a little more about him (did you see his Ice Bucket challenge?) and admit I’m an instant fan. That said, let’s move on to the book.

American Gods is, at its core, a social commentary on the things Americans worship. The story follows Shadow, a man who takes a job with Mr. Wednesday immediately after his release from prison. He’s not entirely sure who Mr. Wednesday is or what he does, but he crisscrosses the country with him and meets some interesting people along the way. What the reader learns, along with Shadow, is that the people he meets are the physical representations of various gods that are kept alive by people’s belief in them. Years ago, as people migrated to the United States, they brought their folklore and belief systems with them. Unfortunately, as people become more “Americanized” they begin to worship new things, such as the media, technology, and transportation. These “new” American Gods are also represented by real people, and the old is at war with the new for their place in the world.

If I haven’t lost you yet, let me be clear that this book is absolutely stunning and that you shouldn’t judge it based on my summary because it’s such a layered book that it’s difficult to explain. American Gods takes a look at what Americans worship today and how these new preoccupations affect our personal histories. It begs the question of whether our ancestors and their beliefs matter, and it mocks the the “gods” that Americans worship today. More than just as social commentary, however, Gaiman strikes a chord in the hearts of readers with his incredible character development and fast-paced storyline. Despite its length, American Gods is impossible to put down and will leave you wanting more.

Recommended for: Fans of subtle social commentaries and a bit of the fantastical. 

What was the last chunkster you devoured?

Related Posts

  • Same Genre
  • 5 Star Books
On Mystic Lake by Kristin Hannah Takes the Obvious Path
Last Night At Twisted River
Last Night In Twisted River by John Irving (Book Review)
Conquering the Classics: The Canterville Ghost by Oscar Wilde
Searching for Sylvie Lee by Jean Kwok
Family Secrets and the Search for ‘Sylvie Lee’
Anthem by Ayn Rand
Conquering the Classics: Anthem by Ayn Rand
black earth by timothy snyder
‘Black Earth’, The Holocaust, and Why We Need to Heed the Warning Signs
‘American Rust’ a Remarkable Debut
the mothers by brit bennett
The Mothers: A Judgment Free and Mesmerizing Novel
AJ Fikry
‘The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry’ Is Stunning (Book Review)
bad feminist
I Am a Bad Feminist and That’s Okay (Book Review)

Filed Under: Best Bets for Book Clubs, Book Reviews, Fiction

Best Bet for Book Clubs

Email Newsletter

Sign up to get new reviews in your inbox the day they go live.

  • Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Tumblr
  • Twitter

Upcoming Reviews

Allison's books

Searching for Sylvie Lee
Searching for Sylvie Lee
by Jean Kwok
A Woman Is No Man
A Woman Is No Man
by Etaf Rum
The Leavers
The Leavers
by Lisa Ko

goodreads.com

Trending Now

Why Men Have Nipples and Other Strange Body Facts

The Reality of ‘When Science Goes Wrong’

‘Caramel and Magnolias’ Captured Me

Gudenkauf’s Haunting Portrayal of Parenthood (Book Review)

SheReads Pick: Orphan Train

Love and Marriage Intertwine in Fates and Furies

‘Rules of Civility’ is the Cat’s Meow

Content may not be reposted in full or without permission. This site includes affiliate links.

Copyright © 2021 · Magazine Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in