I had to stop after about 10 hours. Before I used (wasted a credit) I carefully read the reviews then pulled the trigger. I'm not sure why this story has such glowing reviews. To me - this is a rambling, weird, bunch of disconected nonsense. I can't take it anymore, it's just too painful.

The full cast performance isn't really the problem for me. I forced myself to get used to it. I struggled with the story.

Strange, but compelling story. Great development of the main character, Shadow. The multi-voice performance was awesome. I'm pleased Gaiman left a potential meeting between Shadow and Jesus out of the body of the book (. . , to include such a meeting in the book would have been a real problem for me). In many ways, the story is a very interesting take of America and Americans, both historically and currently. In the introduction, Neil Gaiman indicates that people either love the book, or hate the book. I must say I liked the book and I want to listen to it again to uncover more of the hidden secrets of the complexity, but I didn???t love it. The basic story premise is actually pretty simple, the characters well developed, and the historic interludes are very informative and entertaining. This is a fast read, even with the complexity. Btw, I will never be able to watch ???I Love Lucy??? without thinking about the book (. . . I???m ruined for life!)!

The full cast performance was a work of art. It made determining who was speaking easy, the story more compelling and enjoyable. Having Neil do part of the narrating was a great decision, his voice was just the right understated English accent that it needed to bring his delight in the material to light.

I love to read, but I also love movies. The way it was presented made it a grand mashup of two media.

The climax about made me cry.

I've always wanted to read American Gods, but I never got around to it. So, I just figured that I would just listen to the Tenth Anniversary Edition, since it is much longer than the original. Although the story is good and Neil Gaiman is a genus with his commentary, I should had read the original first to know what was added to the new edition. I would had understood the story better and it's characters. When Stephen King first published The Stand in 1978, he needed to edited the book down to fit on one binding. Over a decade later, in 1990, he decided to published the extended version of the same book. From a reader that read both version, I can appreciate both Stands. I want to read the first edition of American Gods to learn what I'm missing.

Excellent performances, so essential when you are listening to a story but your eyes are still distracted by what goes on around you.

Engrossing characters, and effective use of the cultural images that we are not always aware of lurking in our brain. And I LIKE the idea of roadside attractions as seats of sacred power, the ultimate reason for a road trip.

There were so many actors that made up the narration of this book, all excellent, with distinctive voices that painted the characters for me.

No extremes other than a deep satisfaction.

the reading made what was already a great story - amazing. Was sorry when it ended. Would reccommend it to anyone who loves to imagine what what happen if everything was exactly as it seems.

The narrator and supporting cast really made the story.

I am always surprised when a really good crew can give that extra layer that you cant get from a book.

If it was the only game in town....

The Good:
A complete and satisfying story with a very complex structure, yet it was told and written with simplistic beauty. The characters are strong, multidimensional, & necessary they are all connected yet still individuals. The themes & symbols are seamlessly woven together. The timing of reveals and reversals made the book's pace perfect. The book's meandering plot was good, sometimes it was a bit much but the pay-offs made it all the better. The setting was amazing the use of Midwest American towns and their little gems is truly original. Overall, this is a masterful story of a hero's journey.

Things some people may not like:
There is gore, sex (one scene with homosexuals), and cursing in the book, although I thought Gaiman described them tastefully (as tastefully as one can, it could have been a lot worse). I found the use of these things necessary to present a true representation of the story world.

I've never read Gaiman before and I found this story to be a great introduction. I will read more from him and recommend his books to friends.

I loved this book mostly because of the comments made by the author. While listening I thought at times, "How dare he write this book!" And then Gaiman commented on that very thing at the end. He also commented on how some Americans criticized him for including some aspects of America and not others. I loved the inclusion of Rock City. I only wished he included other campy/quirky sites and ideas of Americana like the world's largest ball of string, South of the Border, the Fountain of Youth in St. Augustine, etc. But I can't complain too much since he mentioned the mermaids of Weeki Wachee! It just would have been more fun if he included more of our country's quirkiness, but I can't blame him since this is a large country. This is the first Gaiman novel I've read and if you're a little off like, I guess, I am you will enjoy this book too.

"American Gods" was absorbing and entertaining, keeping me company through long winter walks. The plot defied predictability. Was the result going to be insight or Armageddon?

The novel is structured as a roadtrip, in which the protagonist Shadow is introduced to the "old" gods, who are being recruited by his boss Mr. Wednesday to fight one last fight to regain their position at the center of American worship. Each stop is full of American folklore, tall tales, and petty criminal inventiveness. There is enough action to keep us entertained without devolving into meaningless car chases or bloody shoot-outs.

Gaiman's writing is vivid. Although the full-cast production was nice, occasionally the switching of voices for "he said" phrases disrupts the flow. Gaiman's writing is so clear that an excellent single narrator might have conveyed the story just as well.

As many have said before me, this book transcends genre -- it's a literary classic.

As this is an ensemble performance by a full cast of voice actors, it's going to be a bit different than the audiobooks you are used to. While I can listen to Neil Gaiman read his own work - or anyone's - for days, this full-cast experiment succeeds spectacularly. While all of the cast is at least fine - except Laura, I was never sold on her - I think the performer who read the character of Wednesday delivered like no other. He brought tones of aged wisdom and humor to an old Norse god making his living as a grifter in the New World. Oh - by the way - Gaiman does skilfully narrate a series of "coming to America" mini-stories, which make up a not insubstantial portion of the novel.

As far as the story goes, I can't believe that any person possessed of an imagination would not find Gaiman's work enrapturing. He is one of those rare talents who can craft wonderful story, with engaging characters, and express these with an elegance that blurs the line between prose and poetry. Give it a listen; you won't be disappointed.