hiphopscholar
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« on: November 02, 2011, 03:24:11 PM » |
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I am not a big fiction reader but somene suggested the book American Gods by Neil Gaiman. Any thoughts on this book...
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eigen
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« Reply #1 on: November 02, 2011, 03:53:31 PM » |
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It was... Interesting.
I personally felt that he tried too hard to make everything symbolic, and I found the writing style tended quite far towards black humor.
I didn't dislike it, but I didn't really like it either.
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« Last Edit: November 02, 2011, 03:54:45 PM by eigen »
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larryc
Hu hatin'
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Posts: 18,285
Eschew the hu.
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« Reply #2 on: November 02, 2011, 03:57:33 PM » |
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I read it. Enjoyable if you like that sort thing.
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hiphopscholar
New member
Posts: 5
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« Reply #3 on: November 02, 2011, 04:00:30 PM » |
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I think I might as well labor through it...The same person referred me to A Brave New World and that book was outstanding....
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voxprincipalis
Foxaliciously Cinnamon-Scented (and Most Poetic)
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Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 17,443
Has potentially infinite removable wallets
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« Reply #4 on: November 02, 2011, 04:22:03 PM » |
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It ended badly.
VP
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If you need me, I'll be hiding under a rock until mid-August. Try not to need me, unless you come bearing Chinese food.
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egilson
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« Reply #5 on: November 02, 2011, 08:37:27 PM » |
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American Gods is not too bad. I really prefer Michael Moorcock to Neil Gaiman for fiction that mixes the mythic and the mundane, though. Moorcock is less "professional" and sometimes flat-out sloppy, but he incredibly inventive. Gaiman's probably too staid for what he tries to do.
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To anyone who is not a blockhead, all the sciences are interesting. - Marc Bloch
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egilson
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« Reply #6 on: November 02, 2011, 09:05:19 PM » |
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(Unlike me, Moorcock can also use verbs like "is." Grumble.)
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To anyone who is not a blockhead, all the sciences are interesting. - Marc Bloch
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janewales
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« Reply #7 on: November 04, 2011, 09:48:50 AM » |
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I think it's a great book; in fact, I teach it sometimes. Gaiman might be an acquired taste, but I find him to be one of the most interesting contemporary writers of fantasy. Some of his shorter books are, I'll concede, tighter, but I think the awards this one got are well-earned.
I can heartily recommend Good Omens, co-written by Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. It's a hoot.
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obprof
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« Reply #8 on: November 04, 2011, 10:49:48 AM » |
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I hated it. It moved so slowly, and was kind of boring.
All the way through, it just felt a bit too "look at me! I am subversive!!"
Maybe my expectations were too high.
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onthefringe
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« Reply #9 on: November 16, 2011, 10:17:49 AM » |
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I want to like it, because I'm a bit of a Gaiman fangirl (and definitely agree with janewales that he's one of the best of the current crop of fantasy writers), but it's definitely not one of my favorites.
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flotsam
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« Reply #10 on: November 23, 2011, 08:32:25 PM » |
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I certainly second janewales's endorsement of "Good Omens." I liked "American Gods," and I have become a huge fan of Gaiman -- Am Gods was the first thing I'd read by him -- but I agree that this isn't his best. Nevertheless, it's still pretty good, as is its "sequel" (not exactly, but set in the same general milieu) "Anansi Boys." I loved "Neverwhere," which is much better than the television show that its story orginally appeared as, and the delightful fairy tale "Stardust." Also, I'm a big fan of the "children's books" (Gaiman sometimes disputes the label) "Coraline" and "The Graveyard Book."
I don't think Gaiman is insurmountably great, but he does write well and tell a good story -- marvelous for light reading (but not dumb reading) of the sort that can carry you through long airplane trips and what not. Also, if you saw him on last week's episode of "The Simpsons," he's really fantastic and funny.
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