this post was submitted on 22 Jul 2023
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Fantasy books, stories, ＆c
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I don't get why American Gods is always recommended. Neil Gaiman takes the coolest ideas in principle and finds the most underwhelming ways imaginable to flesh them out. That and Neverwhere were really disappointing to me for those reasons.
I liked American Gods but also can't find it in myself to disagree with this take.
I think that's why I can never get through his books, but seem to always like the movies and TV shows made of his work.
Perhaps it's some artifact of starting in news and comics? Starting out as a writer who collaborates with others? He's great at that. Just can't get through his books on their own.
Sounds more like you have a particular preference for big bold YA style narrative ENDINGS vs. real life endings where those that survived soldier on, what does "The End" even mean, and "what was the point of it all anyway?", style of existential and humanist literature. If you feel this way about Garman's endings, you should also avoid Kurt Vonnegut, Albert Camus, Milan Kundera, and Ursula K. Le Guin.
I get where you're coming from, but I don't think that's it. The entire book was kinda milquetoast, which wasn't a deal breaker. It was just underwhelming no matter was going on. I found myself interested in continuing the story, but I just didn't really care about any of the characters by the end.
Contrast that with something like East of Eden or Crime and Punishment, which are favorites of mine. I'm about a third of the way through blood meridian, which is fantastic so far. I'm actually a huge fan of Vonnegut fwiw.
Good analysis on your part, but Gaiman just falls flat for me.
Fair enough. I liked the sequel, "Ananzi Boys" better. And if I'm being honest, recently I've become more a fan of Neil Gaiman reading stories than the actual printed word. And for what it's worth, I'm also a big Steinbeck fan. Not sure I fully understand how a narrative could be milquetoast, but the protagonist of American Gods certainly was meek and easily dominated throughout.