American Gods: Spoiler-free & Spoiler Review | 2 To Ramble

[@587monster]

I live in a town mentioned by name in the northwoods where shadow is hiding out, and I'm convinced the "nice place to live" is the next town over. They are deranged about this small town with a lake in the middle even though its nothing special and they no longer sink a car on spring melt but they still gamble on a tire dropping every spring. It's so creepy they have literally told me to my face it's a nice place to live.

[@davefirth7439]

The etymology of Wednesday coming from Odin is down to Germanic and old English spellings. The old English for Odin is sometimes spelt Wodan/Woden/Wotan. Woden's day has become Wednesday.

[@olemartinstangenlillevik422]

I usually agree more with Richard, but I find his bleak takeaway in the thought provoking section puzzling. Me not being american, when I read American Gods, I felt that he was showing America as he understood it as a brit living and working in America. From an outside perspective, I felt he really captured a sense of the spirit of America. Sure it may feel rootless, and sure it may seem like a real melting pot, but there is a spirit there, a feeling of being American, despite some saying that America doesn't have a culture, which is false in my opinion. Some things are bad, and capitalistic hyper consumerism is bad (not a uniquely american problem), but I feel like Shadow, once he actually becomes a proactive character, can be seen as a metaphor for how America can take charge of it's own future, and does not need to be hampered down by history and culture, and it is a magical everchanging country, full of a variety of cultures, sights and people. I think Austin has a pretty good read here. I wonder if Richard's interpretation is based on a feeling of his view of his country and culture is being ridiculed, but idk. Great review guys, keep up the good work.

[@2ToRamble]

Appreciate you watching! Yea, Rich’s point of view on it totally understandavle, but you make a good point maybe he saw it that way, and that couldve been a good question to ask during the video to see where his thoughts were coming from. Ill have to ask him about this

[@Chance.Dillon]

Here for the spoiler free-I will come for the discussion when I finally read this book. Otherwise; thank you gents for your consistency-I look forward to the Monday/Friday videos weekly

[@2ToRamble]

Appreciate it Chance 🙏

[@davefirth7439]

What I find interesting about the age gap extract mentioned is that I think we're meant to judge Wednesday for wrong doing: Shadow is us judging him and we're meant to see that it is bad. Although I'm not quite sure what Gaiman is trying to say by putting this in there, unless it is purely that old Gods have different morals. Maybe there is more in the book explaining why he would put that moment in, but it's been 2 or 3 years since I read it. 😅

[@nyxian_grid]

He might've had that intention for that scene, but there's another scene in the book where it's Shadow doing something very similar.

[@thellama3239]

First book I ever read that wasn’t for school. Got me started on my fantasy journey

[@2ToRamble]

Hell yea

[@tobyyasutake9094]

I strongly suggest Anansi Boys. It's among my favorite of all time, and it is Gaiman writing in a Pratchettesque style in the world of American Gods.

[@morganhyde3225]

Yall I watched the spoiler free part and was convinced, and I’m back two days later to say I loved it! Thanks for always introducing books to me! 🎉

[@2ToRamble]

Thats awesome!! Glad you loved it

[@Talking_Story]

This is on my all time fav list! You can see the seeds of this planted all the way back in Sandman.

[@2ToRamble]

Hell yea

[@fshattered2808]

"he was no longer scared if what tomorrow might bring, because yesterday had brought it " Neil Gaiman is one of my favorite authors because of the Sandman Universe, but after picking up this book and reading this from the FIRST page. I'm sold on Gaiman.

[@CasualTotoro]

I loved this book, and Austin captured the exact reason this book is an all time favorite of mine. I read this three years ago for the first time, and I legitimately think about the themes on a weekly basis. The thought provoking aspect of this books seems infinite.

[@2ToRamble]

Glad I could capture that - very much agreed and happy you love the book that much. It’s up there for me

[@k.enterante]

Yessss you shouted out the comma control, I love it!! 😂

[@swipitoemg7884]

Oh wow I literally just finished reading American Gods! 😆

[@2ToRamble]

Impeccable timing 🤝

[@matthewmckinnon9298]

Just picked this up at a library sale for a quarter. Excited to read it!

[@2ToRamble]

Curious what you think!

[@HollowDomain110]

I had to stop when you hit spoilers, but really enjoyed the content, as always. Back to reading. See you next Monday/Friday

[@PhreakPhantom]

Probably the first book I ever read twice.

[@nazimelmardi]

It worth checking how it was written- the journey Neil Gaiman took for the book and formed the idea. His longer interviews back then are amazing about it. Sandman easily tops this obviously but it’s a great book.

[@jaydakxdd975]

You guys should read the sandman by Neil gaiman if you haven’t already. It’s the best comic oat and one of the greatest fantasy stories ever told

[@loumorrison72]

OMG THAT SNEEZE WAS ADORABLE

[@BookishGecko]

The God of Mischief licked my hand when i gave him a belly rub this morning. Also yes Austin Friday is Freyja's day. My favourite part of American Gods is the part with the Duat, the Ancient Egyptian journey to the afterlife and the actual afterlife. My Special Interest is Ancient Egyptian history and culture so that was fairly accurate and it made me happy to read about something that is super important to me. The other British author who I think writes small town USA well is Lee Child, author of the Jack Reacher series of thrillers. I would buy you merch but shipping sucks to the UK lol

[@SennaKotlizky]

I think I most liked the absurdity in the book and the "flashbacks" in time giving context to different culture's gods. I do think although the book was really good it took me a while to read it as I never really got into it. It was not my favorite Neil Gaiman, that would be The Ocean at the End of the Lane which I find myself thinking about often and you two should check out as it is such a quick quick read.

[@KALtheHighstorm117]

American Gods is a book that is pretty high on my TBR. I might not get to it this year, but I'm definitely excited for it. P.S. I read Richard's new favorite book, Demon in White. I gave it a 4.25, and I gave the previous book, Howling Dark, a 4.75. Reading Kingdoms of Death now, and I'm loving it! I don't know if it will be as good as Howling Dark, but it's fantastic so far.

[@GelidPrince]

I bought the book marks, they're great quality. Love em.

[@2ToRamble]

Thankyou!!

[@yura_riabov]

Read it a couple weeks ago, liked it quite a bit, looking forward to what you guys think

[@BadTakeRisan]

I loved the first season of the TV show, the cast (especially Anansi) was perfect. I lost interest after the terrible subsuquest seasons so I'm interested to see if the book is worth reading

[@nyxian_grid]

I think the first season of the show is better than the book (even if the book continues past it).

[@FranklyTheyCallMeFrankie]

Unrelated: Guy on the right is an American version of KZbinr AdrianBliss. Doppelgänger? Or lost twin?

[@KALtheHighstorm117]

Oh my gosh, Austin does look like Adrian Bliss, doesn't he? I actually didn't realize that until now lol!

[@cdh111868]

I have a book recommendation for you guys. It’s called between two fires. Reminds me of berserk and is incredible. Would love to hear both of your thoughts on it!

[@2ToRamble]

I believe Rich has read it!

[@katherinep1010]

1:25:37 A little nippy? I do believe Austin said frigid. Lol. That involves frozen nose hairs, for sure.

[@2ToRamble]

Lol

[@MichalGlowacz86]

I don't really enjoy Neil Gaiman's writing. American Gods are his best book among those that I've read, and it's still like 6/10 for me, not bad, but nothing special. I'm sure I would find it more interesting if I were an American, but I can't tell whether I would like it more or maybe actively dislike it. Unfortunately I'm unable to articulate why I don't like his writing - there's just something off with it that annoys me and prevents from engaging.

[@2ToRamble]

Fair enough - if you find out what about hisnprose bugs you Id be curious. Maybe it’s the “nonchalance?” If thats a way of putting it

[@MichalGlowacz86]

@@2ToRamble Unfortunately, I'm not much of an analytical reader, I usually just go with my feelings. And there's an additional complication - I am Polish and I read in Polish (I only made an exception for the Lord of the Rings, cause come on). So technically I've read Polish translations of four of his books (Neverwhere, Coraline, Stardust and American Gods). Therefore it's probably not his prose (the writing style), but rather the way he builds his stories and his characters.

[@2ToRamble]

@@MichalGlowacz86 Ahh makes sense!

[@KaoticKaden]

No comments it’s like yall posted it for me

[@KaoticKaden]

Retention

[@kingdonsobek]

Tbh I wasn’t surprised when I heard the Neil Gamien allegations of him being not a great dude. The book at the near beginning has some really weird stuff going on

[@supermayo8a]

I love you guys

[@2ToRamble]

❤️

[@ramacass108]

I struggled to finish the book. I really didn’t like it.

[@2ToRamble]

Fair, what didnt hit for you?

[@nyxian_grid]

So I read this book after I watched s1 of the show, and it's one of those cases where I think the show did it better. But then I continued on with the show and it was a trainwreck after s1, so my recommendation is a bit limited! But every time I think of this book I like it less and less, because almost nothing happens for a good portion of it, or what happens is not really relevant to the story (like that whole stay in that winter town), and the sexism in it is quite prevalent. I would just rewatch s1 of the show if i wanted to experience something like this again 😅

[@Smileysmiley012]

🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳

[@playermartin286]

Do you only read English speaking authors??

[@2ToRamble]

Not entirely! But for the vast majority, yes

[@fatshibaballs]

I mean, reading translations would still be reading an “English speaking author”. What you maybe meant was “why haven’t you read more non-western novels”?

[@playermartin286]

@@2ToRamble That´s a shame. You're missing out

[@katherinep1010]

​@@playermartin286 Do you have any recommendations?

[@TheMightyFlea-0]

​@@playermartin286 Interesting. Would you ask the same question of a Chinese person living in China if they only read Chinese speaking books. And that they're missing out if they do.