American Gods By Neil Gaiman Discussed July 2002 Buy American Gods

Discussion Questions

1. Did you like the book? Why or why not? Based on this book, would you want to read more Neil Gaiman?
2. What genre was this (urban fantasy, magical realism, "mainstream" fiction, etc.)?
3. What was Gaiman trying to say about gods?
4. What was the role of the God of the monotheistic religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam), if any?
5. Were the characters interesting and well-defined?
6. Gaiman is a British writer writing a novel about rural America? How did his Britishness affect what he wrote? Could an American have written this novel?
7. It wasn't a gay novel, but did the novel do well by gays?
8. What is the significance of the names (Shadow, Wednesday, Mr. Nancy, Wood, Stone)? Why didn't the fat boy have a name?
9. What did you think of the various roadside attractions that appeared during the book? Have you ever been to a place like these?
10. What is the significance of the various "Coming to America" short stories? Do they make the novel better or worse?
11. Did the ending work? Why or why not?