It has been a long time since i picked up a book and within 10-15 pages was totally hooked and did not want to put it down until it was done. This is one such book. I used to think that if i did not care about any of the characters within the first 100 pages, then i didn't care how the story ends and stopped reading. This story is the opposite. By page 6 i deeply cared about the protagonist and was pulling for him, and felt his sense of loss on page 12.

American Gods is a story about America (as in the U.S. of) and her gods (and other related religious personalities and objects). Because there are no truly native Americans (all humans migrated to North America at some point in their story) it is also a story about the world, the history and traditions of people, and what is brought with a people when they move to a new place. Through creative and well reasoned characters and situations, we read not only a history of ourselves, but also a critique of our present society, and a challenge for our future. The story is deeply engaging on many levels, and leaves the reader with much to think about related to what we believe, and why, and with both challenge and hope as it leaves off (it doesn't really end because the story is our story and our story is ongoing). I really loved this book, a well thought out and wonderfully told story.

This is my first full length novel by Mr. Gaiman. I had read an excellent short story of his entitled Goliath in The Matrix comics series and wanted more.

I also hope to catch the recent TV series adaptation.

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