What I remember most about American Gods:
-Man-eating vagina
- An arab man performing oral sex on a (male) genie.

I can't believe how so many people said they liked this book! It was honestly the WORST book I've ever read. I could continue to point out the major flaws of this accursed book, but frankly, I don't want to waste my time any further on this piece of crap.

This was a decent read. The story progressed along well, although there really wasn't a lot happening along the way. Shadow is just kind of ho/hum most of the time.

I liked the dialogue between characters. In a lot of books I read I often ask myself, 'who talks like this?!'.

Gaiman also doesn't bore you with unnecessary descriptions of his characters. He keeps it short and stays on target.

The best part of the book was the Tiger ball story. I was expecting some kind of silliness, but I still found myself laughing out loud.

I thought that this book was majorly over-hyped. But then again, so is pretty much everything by Neil Gaiman. It's good, don't me wrong, but the characterization is far from great. The main character, Shadow, is totally flat and underdeveloped. He reminds me of Keanu Reeves in the sense that he comes across as totally emotionless/vapid... and for no good reason!

The mythology is interesting and there are a few trippy scenes in the book that were cool, but overall it hasn't really gripped me. I'm still only about 2/3 of the way through and this book has been relegated to the back-burner at least until I finish Sanderson's Way of Kings.

On the whole this list is far too dominated by traditional fantasy in my opinion. Nice to see this exception. Would also be nice to see Tim Powers somewhere on the list - easily the most underrated author in the genre. Though nice to see he is on the stand alone list.

I have to agree American Gods is truly one of the best novels (and not just fantasy) that I have ever read, and I read anything and everything written well that I can get my hands one. It is epic in scope and will completely devour your time and attention. I tackled this one after being so impressed by Gaiman's Neverwhere novel, which is also good. A great one worth having in your collection

I read the book, and since I'm into mythology, thought it was pretty interesting until the final third. The ending doesn't leave you very satisfied, and a lot of things seem dependent on the fact that Shadow's undead wife has somehow gained the ability to kill men with her bare hands. Other than the fact she's already dead and they couldn't hurt her. It's as if she's using the White Lotus on them.

Anyway, you'll probably wind up liking the book up until the end. *SPOILER ALERT*

The big "climax" between the old and new gods is settled by Shadow intervening at the last moment and explaining that it's all been set up. The gods then leave without fighting and the world is saved.

BOOOOO
HISSSS

I'm surprised at all of the reviews here of this book. If you are a Young adult or an adult and can relate to the world which is switching from the past to a world which is obsessed with technology this book has an amazing twist on that conflicting relation, traditional and modern.

Must respectfully disagree. to me this book's plot just went nowhere. I got bored and didn't finish it.

Great site!!

Inventive and exhaustively researched. It had to be, to tackle such a huge subject. I respect the work that went into this. Gaiman has an easy, whimsical style, that isn't quite as page-turning as it needs to be.

The book's ending seems...botched. I can't think of another word for it. I feel as if Gaiman wanted to make a change in Shadow, realized there wasn't really any cause for one, and sort of slapped on what feels like a bad clay mask over what should have been a much more moving, heart-felt climax. But then, my favorite character was his wife.

Still a very good book. Would recommend it to fantasy readers, or others, willing to suspend a little disbelief.

though it's a good book, just as its successor "Anansi Boys". But this has not to be listed here. It's not pure fantasy.
Else you would have to heave China Mi

This is one of my favorite Neil Gaiman books. I like the modern with its touches of fantasy. I love the thought of old gods vs. new gods. The book kinda of gives us a look at our selves. What do you believe in ?