American gods is a 2001 hugo and nebulaaward winning novel by english writer neil gaiman. The novel american gods consists primarily of a linear narrative, though this narrative is occasionally interrupted by short segments called coming to america, which chronicle the lives of. Shadow is released from prison the day after his wife and best friend are killed together in a car accident. Gaiman has managed to tell the tallest of tales in the most heartrending and believable fashion, despite the storys truly mythic scale. Nobodys american, said wednesday, not originally p96.
There is a ton of amazing books available in the market but fewer of them are this much interesting. If youre interested, there doesnt seem to be an abridged version of american gods. Book discussion american gods by neil gaiman erika chung. Ive found that the best book club discussion questions are ones that are openended and that get people to share their personal opinions. Sign in or create your guardian account to join the discussion.
What i liked when i picked up this book, i didnt really know what it was about i assumed american gods was just a title, but as it turns out this book is brimming with gods and awesome stories about how they came to america and what has happened since. Reading guide for american gods by neil gaiman discussion guide for book clubs. As with a lot of great television, american gods started life as a novel. After years of hints, teasers, and mysterious omens appearing in the night sky, neil gaimans american gods is finally hitting the small screen. In large branches of waterstones there is a special room. I was confused that a book about gods skipped the figure all of us judochristianmusliminfluenced think of as god. Our discussion of american gods by neil gaiman october 27, 2016. It gained a positive critical response and won the hugo and nebula. He also said shadow would be going to chicago and there were some of the old gods that were minor characters in the first book, that will be more of a focus in the second one. Gaiman makes it clear this wasnt an accident, since the most common swear word in the book is something like jesus christ. With most of these, the link to the realworld is very clear either by being named outright or characteristics that are easily researchable, but im having trouble identifying which god one particular character represents. You can find it on the far west end of franklin street in chapel hill, nc.
American gods summary from litcharts the creators of sparknotes. American gods study guide contains a biography of neil gaiman, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Several people had read american gods in 2001 and read the tenth anniversary edition containing the authors preferred text for our meeting. As youll see in the pictures, it lives up to the name. As pablo neruda once said of another worldclass novel, not to read it is the same as never having tasted an orange. With most of these, the link to the realworld is very clear either by being named outright or characteristics that are easily researchable, but im having trouble identifying which god one particular character. This category contains all characters in both the 2001 neil gaiman novel american gods and the starz television series american gods. When he is informed of the death of his wife and friend by the warden of the prison, shadow seems numb, unable to process the information. American gods topics for discussion neil gaiman this study guide consists of approximately 62 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of american gods. Topic topic starter replies views rating last post.
A couple of other, shorter works are more sequelish, though they appear in anthologies of unrelated short stories. Sep 19, 2012 welcome to the very first installment of our american gods reread, a rambling literary road trip through neil gaimans hugo, nebula, and locus awardwinning novel soon to be an hbo series. All he wanted was to get back to the loving arms of his wife, laura, and to stay out of trouble for the rest of his life. Topics about this book topics that mention this book. May 08, 2016 assuming that odin doesnt reveal the gods true identities to shadow because he doesnt think shadow will believe it right away, why does gaiman not reveal the gods identities to the readers. It also takes inspiration from the detective novels of dashiell hammet and raymond chandler in shadows noir. Okay, now that weve gotten rid of the american gods virgins, here we can discuss more in depth topics.
Aug 21, 2017 ive been in a lot of book clubs, and i know its not always easy to get a conversation going on a book. American gods is one of those books that has a potential to make more sense to the reader after finishing it and doing some research into who the characters are. Sams speech to shadow about her beliefs was a high point. American gods season 1 book spoilers discussion bald move.
Welcome to the very first installment of our american gods reread, a rambling literary road trip through neil gaimans hugo, nebula, and locus awardwinning novel soon to. With american gods, im at the end of the phone or at the end of an email, or even around for a meeting if people can come and find me, and im always willing to offer advice and help, but its. It was so freaking sad, and poor shadow was going to have to leave prison all alone. After wednesdays death, the old gods band together to avenge him, finally agreeing to fight the new gods. It is our intent and purpose to foster and encourage indepth discussion about all things related to books.
Sep 01, 2014 book discussion american gods by neil gaiman erika chung. He said that he would definitely be spending more time with the new gods. I dont know about you, but after i read the line when laura died i started to get tearyeyed. The novel is a blend of americana, fantasy, and various strands of ancient and modern mythology, all centering on the mysterious and taciturn shadow the book was published in 2001 by headline in the united kingdom and by william morrow in the united states. No new content, discussion topic does anyone live at or near any of the locations in the book. Unfortunately, many people who ask me for book recommendations arent exactly avid readers and american gods isnt for the faint of heart.
American gods 2001 is a fantasy novel by british author neil gaiman. American gods study guide from litcharts the creators of. Shadow insists on sitting wednesdays vigil as he had promised to, which means being tied to a tree for nine days. This subreddit is dedicated to the television series american gods on starz and the book series it is based on by neil gaiman. Nancy and is largely unrelated to the american gods storyline. This summary of american gods includes a complete plot overview spoilers included.
A few of my thoughts on american gods and how gaiman cant seem to write a. Relevant and prescient, american gods has been lauded for its brilliant synthesis of mystery, satire, sex, horror, and poetic prose michael dirda, washington post book world and as a modern phantasmagoria that distills the essence of america seattle postintelligencer. Do you think that an author must be a native born american in order to accurately write a great american novel or what it means to be an american. An exconvict is the wandering knighterrant who traverses the wasteland of middle america, in this ambitious, gloriously funny, and oddly heartwarming latest from the popular fantasist stardust, 1999, etc. If you havent read the book and want to be surprised, then dont read this blog. The question and answer section for american gods is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel ask your own question. Discussion spoilers american gods by neil gaiman book.
Were considering expanding this synopsis into a fulllength study guide to deepen your comprehension of the book and why its important. In a sense the questions raised relate to the nature of reality. He also said shadow would be going to chicago and there were some of the old gods that were minor characters in the first book, that will be more of a. Februarys book of the month was neil gaimans american gods, which we will now look at in a noholdsbarred, spoilerific form right here. Book discussion american gods by neil gaiman youtube.
American gods contains both the magical and the mundane, a fantastic world of divine beings and bizarre happenings and a world of prisons, rundown roadside attractions, and quaint small towns. American gods contains both the magical and the mundane, a fantastic world of divine beings and bizarre happenings and a world of. How does he manage to make their coexistence believable. But half the time, its more talking about weird, heavily symbolic things that make me wonder whats happening even inuniverse. American gods symbols, allegory and motifs gradesaver. This study guide consists of approximately 62 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of american gods.
It also takes inspiration from the detective novels of dashiell hammet and raymond chandler in shadows noirlike character and the mystery of the town of lakeside. Released from prison after serving a threeyear term, shadow is immediately rocked by the news that his beloved wife laura has been killed in an automobile accident. The entire book is a discussion of the power of thought and persuasion. Going by what was restored in the american gods tenth anniversary edition. Sep 02, 2003 shadow moon spent three years in prison, keeping his head down, doing his time. How is gaiman able to bring these worlds together in the novel. If you plan to watch american gods without first reading the neil gaiman book that its based on, youre probably going to have a lot of questions. As such, remember, we will be spoiling the book left and right. American gods follows a man named shadow moon who, at the beginning of the tale, is a convict in prison. An active book discussion forum for both fiction and nonfiction books including forums for religion, philosophy, science, politics, current events and more.
Does anyone agree or is there something wrong with me. Join us as we discuss american gods by neil gaiman. The novel is an urban fantasy story that mixes ancient mythology with americana, reimagining gods of old legends and inventing a new pantheon of deities of the modern world. It was one of those books i almost couldnt stand the entire time i. As an american road trip novel that unearths the forgotten sides of america, american gods has some aspects in common with jack kerouacs on the road, though american gods has a far more optimistic and fantastical outlook. It is, quite simply, an outstanding work of literary. The novel is a blend of americana, fantasy, and various strands of ancient and modern mythology, all centering on the mysterious and taciturn shadow. He was not wednesday, because wednesday had went on to change, grow or diminish, and become something different after he was brought to america. Content includes books from bestselling, midlist and debut authors. Apr 27, 2017 after years of hints, teasers, and mysterious omens appearing in the night sky, neil gaimans american gods is finally hitting the small screen with a premiere on starz at the end of the month. My first was neverwhere, so it was an easy jump to american gods, imo. Neil gaiman on good omens, sandman film rumours and his.
The book was better the second time having read it before, even long ago, made the plot a little more understandable. American gods introduction shadow moon spent three years in prison, keeping his head down, doing his time. Those who listened to the fullcast recording on hoopla digital through lld really enjoyed it. Shadow insists on sitting wednesdays vigil as he had promised to, which means being tied to. In neil gaimans american gods novel, many of the gods and other mythological creatures are recognizable from realworld cultures. American gods, a fiction fantasy novel by neil gaiman, concerns shadow moon, who is in prison. Discussion spoilers american gods by neil gaiman this entry was posted on may 8, 2016. I recognize im woefully late to this conversation, but if youre still listening, i just want to thank the both of you for your insights. The tribe soon forgets about their mammoth god as they create new gods on american land.
Shadows road story is the heart of the novel, and its here that gaiman offers up the details that make this such a cinematic book the distinctly american foods and diversions, the bizarre roadside attractions, the decrepit gods reduced to shell games and prostitution. The book is full of fantasy, gods and mythology, with twists and turns abound. But just a few days before his release, he learns that laura has been fatally injured in a car accident. The odin met at the end of the book, on the other hand, was the original, the template from which wednesday was molded. Its supposed to be a road trip novel and less of a young adult thing than his other books. All he wanted was to get back to the loving arms of.