Neil Gaiman’s blog is seven years old, and in honor of his blog birthday (blogday?) Harper Collins has made the complete text of his novel American Gods available on their website for the next month. If you were to ask me — not that you are, but I’m going to offer my opinion anyway — American Gods is one of the more masterful works of modern 20th Century literature I’ve read in recent memory. When people ask me what Gaiman novel they should read first, I always point to this one. It may not be as accessible as Stardust, or as lighthearted as Anansi’s Boys, but it’s meaty, chewy stuff with just enough humor and humanity to keep it grounded. Plus, you have pissed-off mythological gods who are waging a war because they haven’t got anything better to do. What’s not to like?
What’s not to love about a man who says things like “Libraries are good things: you shouldn’t have to pay for every book you read”?
Do yourself a favor: curl up with your favorite laptop and spend some time with American Gods this weekend. You’ll thank me later.
