American Gods - Neil Gaiman

American Gods is one of Neil Gaiman's most popular works of fiction, thanks in part to the TV adaptation of the same name. It was the TV adaptation that I watched first in 2017 - 2021 (gasping in horror realising that 2017 wasn't just a couple of years ago). I enjoyed it, but I was left wanting real closure after the TV series felt haphazardly concluded. So I went to the source!

As is usually the case, there are several differences between the book and the TV series. And as is also often the case, the book was much better. Examples incoming, but no massive spoilers!

Generally speaking, the plot is the same in each and you meet the same key characters. That said, some of the characters differ in... well... character. The main protagonist, Shadow, is much the same broody likably guy. His wife, Laura, was a bit of an insufferable arse in the TV show (as far as I felt, anyway!), but is actually really endearing in the book and I ended up really routing for her happiness. The ending she's given is brilliant. Mad Sweeny and Laura don't have the same story arch in the book (they don't even meet), nor does the jinn and Salim after their first encounter. And the <no spoilers> discovery in Lakeside happens much later in the book, actually after the events that the TV show ends on.

While the differences mentioned here, and a few other minor differences, may sound mostly subtle on the surface, they actually feel quite impactful and contributed heavily to me enjoying the book far more than the TV series. The TV series ending the way it did was criminal. Criminal I tell you!

My only criticism is that it's pretty slow paced. It took my ages to get through it because I have the attention span of squirrel if I'm not constantly shown shiny things. But if you can handle a slow pace, or even if you are also a squirrel, read the book.

Plot or Character driven	Mix
Strong Character Development	Yes
Lovable Characters	Yes
Diverse Cast	Yes
Pace	Slow

Should I read it?

Yes

Favourite Quote

Click to expand

‘Do you know me, Shadow?’ said Wednesday. He rode his wolf with his head high. His right eye glittered and flashed, his left eye was dull. He wore a cloak, with a deep, monk-like cowl, and his face stared out from the shadows. ‘I told you I would tell you my names. This is what they call me. I am called Glad-of-War, Grim, Raider, and Third. I am One-eyed. I am called Highest, and True-Guesser. I am Grimnir, and I am the Hooded One. I am All-Father, and I am Gondlir Wand-bearer. I have as many names as there are winds, as many titles as there are ways to die. My ravens are Thought and Memory; my wolves are Freki and Geri; my horse is the gallows.’ Two ghostly-gray ravens, like transparent skins of birds, landed on Wednesday’s shoulders, pushed their beaks into the side of Wednesday’s head as if tasting his mind, and flapped out into the world once more.

- Wednesday (Odin)

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