American Gods: Some Reflections

I finished “American Gods” today. I have to say, it was an enriching read from to A-Z. Neil Gaiman hits the bull-eye again. I was introduced to Neil Gaiman (the guy with untidy hair who is trapped in a guy with an untidier hair `s body) just recently. Although I do read few of the Sandman series back in mid-90s, AND I read somewhere about his close association with Tori Amos (they are buddies, apparently) but I never came across Gaiman `s novels at all. WEIRD. Until Borders had this sales months back and I bought two of his novels simultaneously. I fell in love with his stories instantly. It was far better than love at first sight, actually. After I read and finished Neverwhere, Stardust and Anansi Boys, (which is more recent than American Gods), I commit myself to his critically acclaimed novel- American Gods. All I can say, it was a pleasant three days affair.

American Gods is written in the classic tradition of Stephen King `s “The Stand” and to some extent, a contemporary legend which equals to Lord of The Rings in its intensity and colorful narration. But of course, if only Jack Keruoac had written it, as Orlando Sentinel asserted in their review. I on the other hand would call it a contemporary-pop-mythological-road trip.What`s the novel about? As what the title claims, American Gods chronicles how the surviving mythological deities in America (now, a lot more human, aging and depressed) are preparing for a war with the “new gods”, the media, technology internet and modernity. In the middle of this conflict, there is an ex-convict by the name of Shadow, hired by Wednesday, supposedly the old god from Norse mythology- Odin, God of Gallows as his body guard and errand boy. Shadow `s journey with Wednesday across America were both intriguing and surreal. From an ex-convict with very simple mind, Shadow became the right man of a very powerful but aging god who was able to communicate with numbers of gods- Horus, Ganesha, Ibis, Loki, Easter and of course the “winning team” in the battle, Technical Boy, Media, The Agency and The Intangibles. As our protagonist was transported from one place to another and learn about what matter most to him, he finally understand how the battle was a ploy by Odin and Loki to garner more power and to survive in the new world. He was able to stop the battle from getting any worse, but coming out of this experience, a different being. A god, maybe. I read in one of the reviews that Shadow himself is apparently a God by the name of Balder. According to the myth, Loki, (Shadow `s ex cellmate) bore a grudge against Balder and tried to kill Balder using a mistletoe sharpen into a spear, similarly like what Mr. World/Loki suggested in the novel to Laura, Shadow `s dead wife.

Interesting twists, powerful theme plus dreamy multi-faceted fables on the gods, American Gods are far from being some “trashy pointless story”. (Someone said this, so I reproduced her opinion just in case she is reading this). American Gods, surprisingly is a story about the birth of American `s heterogeneous society. Everyone that arrived in America, it seemed, brought along with them their beliefs or faiths. But as the American `s society grew into a more complex society due to progress and modernization, this so-called system of beliefs collapsed, hence, the Gods were left in the cold, with no significance to the people. I guess that’s what American Gods are all about. What actually happens to cultural identity and ancestral roots in a materialistic modern society? Will in the end, beliefs that are suppressed and pushed aside, demands chaos and deaths to ensue in order to return its relevance and significance? Or are chaos and death necessary sacrifices to project power and influence?

However, Gaiman`s description and narration of Shadow`s journey can be a bit tiring and repetitive but that`s like sooo minor compared to the whole story that he offered to us.

A total depart from understanding America through non-fictions, American Gods makes you sympathize with America (if not, at least the Gods) as internally, she is after all very fragile and vulnerable. The more I think that the war on terrorism or propaganda against Islamic world is America `s attempt at misdirection the rest of the world on how "fuck-off" their country is. In the novel, the irony of freedom in America (according to my own interpretation) was well crafted through the incident when Shadow was tortured by Mr. Town and his accomplice (claiming to be the State), whilst his hand palming the One USD coin a.k.a liberty coin. Interestingly, in the absence of any mention on the Greek deities and Jesus, Mr. Ibis remarked in one part of the story, “Jesus are doing well down here”. Surprise! Surprise! In the light of the rise of religious conservatives in America, that sounds like a major understatement.

Far from trying to preach pro-dogma ideals, the novel also projects that God can also be a forgotten ritual of wrath; they can be cruel and bear hatred worse than ordinary beings. Just as much as we claim the new world introduce new illness far severe to human kind – violence, war and poverty….can’t it also be just as possible that the old system of faiths or beliefs solve the human kind `s problem though violence, deceit and misdirection? Hinzelmann (the kobold) is one such example in the book. So are Odin and Loki.

As I finished reading the book, suddenly my mind played a song popular in the mid-90s that goes …”what if God is really one of us”. Blasphemous to some, but perhaps a very important question to most of us that loses faith for a better world.