"American Gods" by Neil Gaiman

 Giving Gaiman a whirl -- 4 stars

To the best of my recollection, I’d never read any books by Neil Gaiman. Since I love fantasy and Gaiman is much beloved by his fans, I decided to give him a try with “American Gods.”

“American Gods” is based around the concept that religious belief systems and philosophies have undergone great transformations over time, and whether they want it or not, the various gods from all our collective yesteryears have experienced similar changes. Now, mere shadows of their former selves, these gods struggle to survive in a realm of accumulated, assorted beliefs.

Endangered by the emergence of the strange new “gods” of the modern era, the old ones depend on Wednesday (a.k.a. Odin) for their redemption. And Shadow, an ex-convict who is grappling with his wife’s death, becomes entangled within this supernatural conflict.

“American Gods” is both entertaining and amusing, and Gaiman delivers these doses of cleverness and humor while also imparting a touch of melancholy. The book takes you on a journey across America (circa 2001), visiting diners, motels, and small towns. This reader noted the contrasts, and everything felt familiar and yet foreign simultaneously, as if “America” is both an old acquaintance AND a mystery. And just when Shadow finally feels at ease in a particular small town, he uncovers a harsh reality.

Shadow was an interesting character. He remains haunted by the terrible mistake that sent him to prison. And yet, through this, he learns the importance of sacrifice and bravery. He begins thoughtful and introspective, but somewhat naive. As he eventually uncovers “the truth,” Shadow grows bolder in his actions.

While not one of my favorites, I found “American Gods” to be, overall, an enjoyable book. As it went on, it strayed from its main plot a bit, but by the end, Gaiman pulled it all together. I think I may check out more of Neil Gaiman’s work in the future.