5/5 Stars. (%100/100)

American Gods.
My first and favourite book from Neil Gaiman. One of very few books that I consider life-changing. American Gods is my biggest inspiration when I wrote my novel. After reading this book, I trust Neil Gaiman's pen with my eyes closed. I will try my best to review this book in some categories.

1-Old Gods
Despite being a fantasy novel, the most prominent quality of the book is mythology. Whether it is Norse, Greek, Celtic, Hindu or African, Gaiman definitely knows it all. Old Gods are the Gods that try to survive in a modern technological world full of non-believers. Times have changed and people prefer to sacrifice their time to technology. However, the Old Gods still live and when they unite, no one can stop them. Not even progress...

"People create gods when they wonder why things happen. Do you know why things happen? Because gods make them happen. You want to know how to make good things happen? Be good to your god. You give a little, you get a little. The simplicity of that bargain has always been appealing."

2-New Gods
The main antagonists of the book. Mr World, Media and Techno Boy. In a world technology exists everywhere, people created this modern Gods. Many of the Old Gods were forgotten and like mortals, they too die. The New Gods try to enlist some of the Old Gods and change them. "Inside every pearl there's a single irritating grain of sand." That annoying and stubborn sand grain is Mr. Wednesday and he will not go down without a fight.

"What happens if they all decide that God doesn't exist?"

3-Shadow Moon
Shadow Moon is the protagonist of the novel and like many mortal he does not have faith in anything or anyone. The story not only deals with the war between Old and New Gods but also Shadow Moon's quest to find faith. He starts working for mysterious Mr. Wednesday and his life changes completely. Shadow and Laura Moon's personal quests and desires are very impressive and fun to read. In an environment where legendary Gods fight, a simple man is on a journey for faith. Shadow is my favourite character in the novel. (Well, at least in terms of humans)

4-Mythmaking
As I mentioned above, Neil Gaiman has knowledge about every kind of pantheon out there. From his book Norse Mythology, American Gods and interviews it is safe to assume that his favourite is Norse pantheon. (Honestly same Neil) The interactions between Gods from very different cultures are very enjoyable to read. To create this kind of interactions are extremely hard. I remember spending weeks or even months to decide between some Gods to put in my novel. The Old Gods feel very natural. Like Neil Gaiman himself mentioned, these Gods are very unique and human-like characters that when you see them on the street you could say "Oh I know you". Though they are extremely powerful and fearsome, they carry emotions and sometimes they even behave like humans. The Gods from all kinds of different mythologies are interwoven into the story beautifully and this one of the reasons why this novel is so successful.

"What’s a god? Can we even know they exist? People believe things, which means they’re real. That means we know they exist. So what came first, gods or the people who believed in them?"

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