When I picked up ‘American Gods’ by Neil Gaiman, I was unsure of what to expect. I had been eyeing off his books for months and heard good things about his work. So, with courage built up, I took the plunge.
‘American Gods’ is about a man named Shadow who is set to be released from prison when he finds out his wife is dead. On his way home, he meets a strange man who calls himself Wednesday. Together they embark on an adventure across the United States, running in to deities old and new along the way, all the while preparing for the coming supernatural storm ahead.
I enjoyed this novel because it examines belief whilst still maintaining a sense of magic and mysticism that is believable. Throughout the novel there are references to gods from all manner of religions and regions of the globe in the form of interludes. These short pauses in the main plot only serve to reinforce the concept that the gods are human creations. Gaiman infers that by believing in them in the first place, we created them and granted them power. When belief in them began to wane, so to did their power, and in the United States, which he paints as hostile towards gods, this loss of power can be lethal. Jealousy drives the less powerful to do desperate things to maintain their power and fear drives them all. It shows them to be painfully human.
Overall, ‘American Gods’ is a good read and if one can read the subtext of the narrative, an interesting take on modern belief.