American Gods, by Neil Gaiman, is the story of Shadow, a large man, just released from prison, who suddenly finds himself a central player in a brewing war between the forces of old power and new power.

Gaiman is a very clever writer, and there are ideas and imagination aplenty here. All in all I found this novel to be very entertaining. I will admit that it took me a little while to become involved with the central character of Shadow. He’s kind of an enigma even to other characters within the novel who we expect to know things we don’t. This leads to a kind of remoteness that is sometimes a little hard to overcome.

The story is sprawling as the characters travel to and fro across America. There are many characters introduced seemingly at random meetings who then re-appear later and we learn that the earlier meeting was far from random. I would recommend staying alert while reading to best be able to make all the connections. Also, there are many scenes involving mystical experiences where the line between reality and un-reality blurs.

I personally found it very amusing that one of the climactic moments occurs at one of those uniquely American tourist attractions at the Tennesse-Georgia border called Lookout Mountain. I visited there a few years ago with a friend and remember the experience well.

This would be a great read for anyone who has an interest or fascination with pagan or other world religions and is entertained by stories built around those differing religions. As well as being a fun book for anyone who simply enjoys a good adventure.