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Originally posted by Eldritch:
Fine. I was waiting for that green light. THE HUGO AWARD! Oh....well.....it does'nt suprise me. Afterall, how many cruddy novels get the number one new york times best saler slapped on it. I compare the anticipation, and actual experince of American Gods with Barker's Imajica.
I must say what it boils down to is a blind unduanting loyalty many fans hold for their favored writters.
Then there is the cold hard fact that many can't admite. Most individules are heard meterial. It's easer to settle, easy to have the mindset of enjoying it for what it is, and in doing so we delude are sleves, and shut-out what it lacks. I realize the signifigance, and amount of lacking exsist on a continume. American Gods was high on that barometer.
And it might be asked : what gives me the athority to dectate its lack. My qualifications to boast this seemingly outragous piousness rest on my taste, the way my creativity works. Gaiman and I have a scary similarity with imagination. I concived the title American Gods, and similure plot for a future book. The universe - behaving in mischievous Loki fashion - also provided Gaiman
with his vision. Perhapes this seems a little hard to swallow but if you knew me it would be thought a perfectly natrual acurance.

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Dude, do you know how to spell more than three words in the English language? I don't think I can take any critique seriously coming from a guy so non-fluent in English that he may just have bought and read the wrong book by an accident of illiteracy.

joe

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Originally posted by joet:
Dude, do you know how to spell more than three words in the English language? I don't think I can take any critique seriously coming from a guy so non-fluent in English that he may just have bought and read the wrong book by an accident of illiteracy.
joe

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please refrain from attacking the person behind an opinion instead of the opinion

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Originally posted by GMZoe:

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Originally posted by joet:
Dude, do you know how to spell more than three words in the English language? I don't think I can take any critique seriously coming from a guy so non-fluent in English that he may just have bought and read the wrong book by an accident of illiteracy.
joe

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please refrain from attacking the person behind an opinion instead of the opinion

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The opinion comes from a person who seems to be too illiterate to even know if the book he read is AG. There has to be some accountability for the fact that, no matter what you have to say, the way you say it goes a long way towards establishing any credibility you may have in speaking on the subject. If you speak like an elementary school dropout with a second grade reading level, why should anyone even care what your opinion is?

joe

Eldritch, You mentioned in your first post; that you, could of written a better story than AG.

(Now, to no offense do i mean to cause to your emotional side or physical, (only because i dont know you, nor do i know how or what you think.) but i feel i must express this, due to what i feel).

1.) You cant spell, nor in anyway, can you (in these posts) set-up 100% proper paragraphs, or even sound smarter than you are.

If you claim to write a better novel than Niel, im expecting to see a book from you written by, Eldritch, with as many awards, and as much positive feedback as Niel has gained from AG. Then will i beleive that you can write better than him.

Secondly, I personally like the book, and its ok that you dont, alot of people hate books that they cannot pick up on. (i.e. hints, logical things, etc.) And as i said before, this is not to hurt your feelings, i just feel this should be said.

I want to validate something you said, about not knowing much about literary awards, and i do not either, heck im only 16. But however, i do have this beautiful ability, to read something and know its stand-points, and can see all angles of the story, from each characters point of view, as well as i have a big imagination, and very open-minded being, which gives me the ability to do that, (and in no way am i a good writer) but write short stories, that have depth to it (plus editing skills).

This story can and most likely would not be simply understood from only Shadow's point of view and how he feels. Try re-reading the story, looking through Mr. Wednesday's point of view, or Mr. Nancy, whomever is another character besides Shadow. It may show a whole new side to the story you may find fun.

Also, Read each paragraph slowly, in every paragraph their are hints, and other easter eggs, that tell you the end of the story. (im only on Chp. 8 and I have a decent idea on what happens.)

I don't think I could say it was horrid. I was just a bit disappointed. I never connected with Shadow. Not like I did with R. Mayhew, Coraline, Door, Wednesday and even Laura. It was very discriptive and the journey alot of fun. I found the payoff a bit short changing. Not because of the result either.

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Originally posted by Gremlin:
1.) You cant spell

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You know, I just have to do this...

Gremlin? It's "Neil"... not "Niel".

____________________
-=- Saint NightWalker -=-

Tex: "Well, if you don't appreciate it, I can just kill you right now."
Church: "No you can't! I'm already dead, bitch! I guess the joke's on you!"

I'm really, really, surprised by the negative comments (as well as the creative spelling within said negative comments).

I came across American Gods in February 2002 and fell in love with it. I will freely admit to listening to it as an audiobook from my library (do yourself the favor of listening to it if you have the opportunity--the narration by George Guidell is perfect, and there's a nice studio interview with Neil at the end).

Since then I've read the book several times and have bought a few copies for friends. I've even visited The House on the Rock (weird) and I passed through a town in northern Wisconsin this summer that I swear could be Lakeside (a place called Minocqua on Highway 52).

I knew who Neil Gaiman was before AG, but I had never read any of his other works. Since then, I've read Neverwhere and Good Omens, and I keep meaning to get to Coraline and Sandman. But I think American Gods is an absolute gem, and I like it much more than the other work of his that I've read.

Maybe I had a low expectation for this book--opposite from the original topic creator who was so expecting so much and was disappointed. But I do know for a fact that I appreciate this book a little more each time I read it.

Sorry for the long post, but I've got strong feelings about this book.

I don't understand how you can hate a story so much yet read it all in one afternoon. In fact, I'd bet that it was all those pointless little meanderings (that very much inforce the point, in my opinion) that kept you reading. I can't believe that it was one of those "look at that car crash, it's so grusome but I can't look away" books for you--if you really want to read one of those, try James Patterson. I work at a bookstore and am forced to read all sorts of crap so that I'll "have an opinion". But, if it was, I'm very curious to know what you DO read that compares so favorably to Gaiman.
Also, do you actually think you can write better or was that just written to be insulting in some way?

Sorry about the missing "t".

I think Eldrich ran away for good. He/she hasn't posted since April.

I too would have been interested in what works that person thought good.

- Cho

I started AG six months ago and still haven't finished it. It hasn't 'bit' me yet...

It wasn't my favorite either, though i suspect this comes from me having certain expectations (having to do with the Platonic ideal of the Great American Trip), rather than any serious flaws in the story or writing.

Then again, i didn't find it as engaging as Neverwhere, and i didn't find it as immediate and gripping and complex as Sandman.

I think it might have fared better in graphic novel form, now that i really consider it--he could have paced it a little more evenly, done away with some of the description (why contemporary authors spend so much space describing things is beyond me), and maybe fleshed out Shadow a little more.

I tried AG again and gave up on page 125. I just can't get absorbed in it. I'm having the same problem with Necronomicon.

Eldritch,

I have no problem with you disliking this book; you are entitled to your opinion, and you have every right to express it. However, I don't see why you feel the need to compare yourself to Neil Gaiman and state that you could do better. Frankly, it makes you look very immature.

Beyond that, I can't imagine that you could write a letter to the local news better than Neil Gaiman, much less a novel; you are functionally illiterate, if your posts are any example of your writing. I honestly can't understand the point that you are making much of the time because your sentences do not make sense, and you consistently misspell words or replace them with similar sounding but incorrect words. If you can write better than this, you should, as your writing alone has caused me to disregard your opinion.

Further, I'm offended by your inability to obey simple instructions; this forum is for the discussion of the book, without giving away plot points. In your argument, you give away major plot points. I have not finished the book yet!

Feel free to critique all you want, but avoid comparison to yourself unless you can put your money where your mouth is. And please, take vital plot information to the appropriate forum!

What a very sensible reply you have written here. Perhaps a sprinkle of humility would make Eldritch's commentary a bit easier to swallow...for I have no trouble chewing American Gods, whereas, American Arrogants are pure gristle.