I just recently reread the book and marked down a few things that I wasn't 100% positive I understood. As for others, they probably weren't ever mentioned, but then, maybe I missed it somehow. If someone will explain them to me, thanks! Sorry, long post.

Lakeside/Hinzelmann:
1) What was the debt Hinzelmann owed Wednesday?
2) What was the purpose of calling Laura to Lakeside - how would it have gotten Shadow away? I understood that the Burton widow and Sam were to contact the police, but Shadow's dead wife?
3) How was Hinzelmann able to block Shadow's presence? Was it simply because Lakeside was his town and he had total control?

Police Chase and Backstage
1) How did the local/state? police get involved? Was it some kind of mind trick that perhaps, Mr. World used, or was it some other more plausible reason, such as Town flashing a badge and demanding help?
2) What exactly was the mechanical spider and the bones & candles scattered around it? I know Wednesday said the spider was something like a search engine, but could someone explain that a little further? I think I know exactly, but I'm not positive.

Gods
1) When the Gods die, do they simply go *poof*, like the kitsune shot by the sniper did, or is there a body left behind, presumably for the helicoptors to pick up and take to Jacquel?
2) Harry Bluejay wasn't Whiskey Jack's blood relation, right? Just someone Whiskey Jack felt like calling uncle.
3) As for Hinzelmann, when he talks about his father, grandfather, etc., those are really him? He just somehow pretended to die and come back?
4) Pg. 365 in the paperback ed. Shadow picks up the disconnected phone and hears ppl talking and laughing. The new gods?
5) Pg. 470 in the paperback ed. Shadow meets Zorya (the moon one) when he dies. She mentions that the coin liberated/saved him twice. How?
6) Pg. 559 in the paperback ed. This is when Hinzelmann pulls Shadow out of the lack. Whiskey Jack, the buffalo man, and the thunderbird all walk away and seem to give up on him... Why?
7) Was there a main factor that Laura finally wanted to die, even though she knew that Shadow knew there was a way to save her (eagle stones, I think)? Or was it simply a time passes, change my mind thing?

Finally,
Shadow
Okay, he's Wednesday's son, he's the main character, his vigil gives Wednesday the power to come back as a ghost, he's able to do stuff with his mind... But why exactly is he so important, that everyone wants him on his side? And why does he have everybody upset? quote by Easter. Of course, all pertaining to before Shadow figures out the two-man con.

Wow, all these questions hvae made me see just how LITTLE I remember of AG... Coz I just devoured it and would stay up until dawn reading, but I don't think my brain was registering the words...

Anyway, I'll attempt the last question only, namely, Shadow's importance.

There's some threads about it (I don't remember their titles, though), but the main thing is, Shadow is important in that he's the son of an Old God, but an American -he wasn't brought over, but born/raised there (I don't remember, was Shadow born in the US or somewhere else and then brought up therE?). Also, on his mom's side, he's (likely) either black or Native American (it's not said directly, but there's references abuot him being "big" and "dark", so the consensus seems to be he was not 100% Caucasian).
At any rate, the mom's American, the dad's an Old God, so it makes him unique. I imagine that makes him very powerful, more powerful than the Old Gods, coz he won't be "rejected" by the land like they are. And more powerful than the New Gods, coz his heritage goes way back in time. (I also imagine a lot of the New Gods have a very uncertain lifespan, ie, there probably was a God of Atari at some point that wa sinmensely powerful but then he probably disapperead in a plop ).

In regards to Shadow I remember when he had the vision of the phoenix and the mountain of skulls - HIS skulls I believe. I got the sense that Shadow represented the key player in the timeless and ever repeating death and rebirth of the gods. But I'm not rock solid on that.



- what I want to know is who was the god who Shadow could never remember even after just talking to?

quote:

- what I want to know is who was the god who Shadow could never remember even after just talking to?

yea i have that same question. the name was never said, i believe.

There's a few threads around that tackle that question.

This is the most recent one

And the original, and rathe rlong, thread, "ho was that guy

Wow, I was sitting here wondering which Gaiman book to reread next. THanks! I need to reread this one! If your questions are still unanswered when I've finished, I'll try to help you out.

You're welcome.

I'll be waiting! hehe

I posted it on an older thread, but I'll put it here as well. I would love to crack the Case of the Un-Named God. I'm sure I haven't, but I'll put it out there anyway:

Okay, my vote on this is Elegua, an African God:

He's the Guardian of the Crossroads of Life. Whenever there are decisions to be made, he provides opportunities and second chances - if you're lucky. As a Trickster God, the childlike ELEGUA can sometimes make things even more complicated. At a whim he can turn a simple choice into a vast conundrum of paradox.

He's also messenger to the higher Gods, particularly OLORUN, and he does like to be noticed.

the debt hinzelmann owed wednesday was never stated outright, i believe. the reader is meant to use his imagination...
I think that yes, hinzelmann was able to block shadow's presence because Lakeside was his town etc.
I don't know about Harry Bluejay and Whiskey Jack...I think there's something more than meets the eye there...
Hinzelmann's grandfather and such - yes, that was him, who else could it be. he's a kobold...he probably doesn't have family. Not in Lakeside at least...
That's my input..