Book Review: American Gods

Every once in a while I come across a book that feels a part of me and which makes me deeply grateful that I read it. And sometimes I have difficulty explaining why I like it. The last one I read which made me feel this way was “Of Human Bondage” by Somerset Maugham and “American Gods” by Neil Gaiman is the latest which I’ve had the honor to read.

I like reading fantasy, but I’m not sure if this book really qualifies. Unlike most fantasy books, it’s not “un-put-downable.” I read it leisurely each day before retiring for the night, and it made me feel peaceful. It made me think. And it immersed me in a world where a lot lies beneath the surface. Indeed, I felt as if I had stepped into a dream world.

Now those who read my book reviews know that I hate “fluff”. I like stuff to be happening all the time and I can’t abide by long boring descriptions of places. I like a good story over and above anything else. And American Gods never made me feel bored. Not once. I also normally hate detours from the main story line – I like action to be focussed on one individual, but I didn’t mind at all the two or three times that a detour took place in this book, which surprised even me.

What happens to gods when people stop believing in them? Over the ages, there must be hundreds of thousands of such deities – little godlings worshiped by small tribes as well as the big gods like Odin and Zeus who were worshiped once, but have no followers anymore. What happens when believers bring these gods to new countries and the following generations don’t keep “feeding” the god with worship and belief? “American Gods” deals with questions like this.

I was surprised to see some Indian gods as well. The goddess Kali (known as Mama-ji to the other gods) roams around in a red sari and at one point when the hero is in a sticky situation, a god with an elephant’s trunk and one broken tusk comes to him and says “if you had just invoked me at the beginning, things might have gone a little easier.” That of course, was Ganesh.

I’ve put off writing this review cause I wasn’t sure how to express my feelings for this book. I like it so much, but I’m not sure why. Perhaps it’s the surreal atmosphere, or maybe I just like the protagonist too much. He’s a guy called “Shadow” and I can’t help but genuinely feel for his situation. A good character really provides an anchor for the book and Neil Gaiman writes about Shadow in a way where he could be any one of us.

Pick up “American Gods.” It’s not a fast paced thriller. It’s certainly got a lot of supernatural elements and that makes it interesting. But the book makes you think. I really like that.