American Gods [TV Tie-In]

By: Neil Gaiman

Narrated by: George Guidall

Length: 20 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's summary

Now a STARZ® Original Series produced by FremantleMedia North America, starring Ricky Whittle, Ian McShane, Emily Browning, and Pablo Schreiber.

Locked behind bars for three years, Shadow did his time, quietly waiting for the day when he could return to Eagle Point, Indiana. A man no longer scared of what tomorrow might bring, all he wanted was to be with Laura, the wife he deeply loved, and start a new life.

But just days before his release, Laura and Shadow's best friend are killed in an accident. With his life in pieces and nothing to keep him tethered, Shadow accepts a job from a beguiling stranger he meets on the way home, an enigmatic man who calls himself Mr. Wednesday. A trickster and a rogue, Wednesday seems to know more about Shadow than Shadow does himself.

Life as Wednesday's bodyguard, driver, and errand boy is far more interesting and dangerous than Shadow ever imagined. Soon Shadow learns that the past never dies . . . and that beneath the placid surface of everyday life a storm is brewing—an epic war for the very soul of America—and that he is standing squarely in its path.

©2015 FreemantleMedia North America. All rights reserved. Artwork © Starz Entertainment, L.L.C. Starz and related services marks are the property of Starz Entertainment, L.L.C. (P)2001 HarperCollinsPublishers Inc.

Critic reviews

Hugo Award Winner, Best Novel, 2002

Nebula Award Winner, Best Novel, 2002

"Read dynamically and emotionally by George Guidall - who gives more personalities and ethnicities than one would think possible... Brilliant dialogue and profound insights into American consciousness show Gaiman to be a visionary and a master wordsmith." (AudioFile)

"Neil Gaiman enters Stephen King territory...with American Gods." (New York Post)

"A crackerjack suspense yarn...juicily original...Wagnerian noir." (Salon.com)

"By turns thoughtful, hilarious, disturbing, uplifting, horrifying and enjoyable, and sometimes all at once." (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

American Gods by Neil Gaiman

Alright Neil Gaiman is brillant however I found myself enjoying this book less then some of his others. I much prefered Anasazi boys although this had wonderful parts in it and I was facenated most of the time, however the book seemed to go on and on for me, it wasn't the length of the book rather I would forget where exactly I was in the plot, the man in this book spends time in prison and although facenating it doesn't seem to hold the same riviting aspect of other Neil Gaiman books.

Blew Me Away

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I have. I recommend it to anyone who likes sci fi or fantasy, and especially if they've had an interest in mythology at some point.

What was one of the most memorable moments of American Gods?

Can't say or I'll reveal the end.

What does George Guidall bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I actually just read the book first. I downloaded this since I didn't have the book with me and wanted to re-read. I like Guidall's voice a great deal. I think though that any audio reading of this book changes the tone. The atmosphere of the first section of the book is slower and sleepier.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

i think when Shadow first encounters Laura.

Any additional comments?

People may be surprised to learn that the movie Stardust is actually based on a book by Gaiman. I absolutely love the way he weaves traditional stories into the modern world.

Gaiman at his best...

This is the second Gaiman title I purchased, after having been turned on to his work by two short stories that played like theater pieces engineered specifically for audio.

American Gods is a clever story that blends mythos, mystery, action, human frailty and a commentary on what we as modern Americans value.

It's one of the best listening experience I have ever had and a story so good I have bought every other Gaiman novel and short story since published (and even those previously).

For a refreshing story that follows an ordinary but falible human on his road to recovery and redemption, and how he becomes a central player in the epic battle between the gods of the old world and those gods we have gradually begun to worship in this new world, I highly recommend you pick up this great work of fiction.

Could Not Finish This!

I know this book got a gazillion 5 star reviews but I, for one, could not get through it. With 4 hours left to go, I just gave up! I Became very impatient with it and decided to stop torturing myself, let it go, and move on to something else.

Granted, there are a lot of really good parts to this story, and George Guidall (one of my favorite narrators) gives an excellent performance. However, while I thought the main part of the story was good, all the side trips off the main road that the author takes....! I guess they are probably integral to the whole, but I found myself just tuning them out as it all became a little too far out, convoluted, and just downright irritating! I may try again at a later date but for now...I’m done!

An all time great; MUST listen

This book is simply miraculous. I was not fully prepared for the depth and richness of the world Gaiman has created. It all...makes so much sense. It’s so grounded, so earthy, so tangible. Very few reading experiences have been as rewarding as this one. The narration is pitch perfect at every turn. I will treasure this experience as long as I live.

A Classic

What made the experience of listening to American Gods the most enjoyable?

Guidall really makes Gaiman's imaginative story come to life...it's the meeting of two terrific talents!

What other book might you compare American Gods to and why?

Anansi Boys...that's way too easy.
Another classic.

Have you listened to any of George Guidall’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

The Longmire series...he's guaranteed that I will never like the TV series. Lou P Diamond playing a 300 lb Indian? Ha, ha, ha, haaaaa!

Guidall is a pro...I'd probably enjoy listening to him read the phone book!

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Get Guidall to help cast it...he's brilliant!

Odd but original

I love other things by Gaiman, which is what prompted me to try this one. Overall I enjoyed it, and will eventually get around to the sequel, but there were some scenes I found quite disturbing. There is one memorable episode of a very graphic sexual nature which was all the more disconcerting because it seemed to come out of nowhere. I tend to choose entertainment that is weird or quirky, but this got a little too weird even for me. And yet, the writing was good, it's full of interesting characters, and I have to give very high marks for an original story. Ultimately I liked it, but I can't exactly recommend it.

A Good Story

I found this story difficult to hold my attention at first but I kept listening and in the end I enjoyed it tremendously.

Amazing

I loved everything about this book. The characters were complex, the pacing was perfect, the plot was unique, and the narrator was great.

Great book till the last 10 minutes

No spoilers here, and the book is well worth getting, but be prepared for a ridiculous tacked-on ending. The book gives some great stories about spiritual beliefs from different cultures, and Gaiman's gods embody them nicely. Guidall's narration is also engaging - I especially like his Russian accent. The characters are memorable and credible within the story, and it is an audible page-turner. But the ending does not do justice to the magnificent story that leads up to it.