Teasers and 'American Gods' by Neil Gaiman

So, I heard the news about Gillian Anderson has joined the cast for the TV adaptation of American Gods and I knew the time had officially come for me to get a crack on this contemporary classic.

A storm is coming...

Locked behind bars for three years, Shadow did his time, quietly waiting for the magic day when he could return to Eagle Point, Indiana. A man no longer scared of what tomorrow might bring, all he wanted was to be with Laura, the wife he deeply loved, and start a new life.

But just days before his release, Laura and Shadow’s best friend are killed in an accident. With his life in pieces and nothing to keep him tethered, Shadow accepts a job from a beguiling stranger he meets on the way home, an enigmatic man who calls himself Mr. Wednesday. A trickster and rogue, Wednesday seems to know more about Shadow than Shadow does himself.

Life as Wednesday’s bodyguard, driver, and errand boy is far more interesting and dangerous than Shadow ever imagined—it is a job that takes him on a dark and strange road trip and introduces him to a host of eccentric characters whose fates are mysteriously intertwined with his own. Along the way Shadow will learn that the past never dies; that everyone, including his beloved Laura, harbors secrets; and that dreams, totems, legends, and myths are more real than we know. Ultimately, he will discover that beneath the placid surface of everyday life a storm is brewing—an epic war for the very soul of America—and that he is standing squarely in its path.

Tuesday Intros and Teaser Tuesday is hosted by Diane over at Bibliophile by the Sea and Jenn over at Books and a Beat.

Intro:

'Shadow had done three years in prison. He was big enough and looked don't-fuck-with-me enough that his biggest problem was killing time. So he kept himself in shape, and taught himself coin tricks, and thought a lot about how much he loved his wife.' 1%

I like this beginning. Shadow sounds like an interesting character and I know I like Gaiman's writing style so this is a beginning that does make me want to continue, even if it doesn't offer a lot. Considering the blurb, though, this is quite tragic.


Teaser:

'Wednesday guided his wolf - now a huge and charcoal-gray beast with green eyes - over to shadow. Shadow's mount caracoled away from it, and Shadow stroked its neck and told it not to be afraid.' 21%

I love wolves, they're amazing. They're the best of animals, especially in fiction! So, I'm excited to get to this point in the narrative because I feel like exciting things are happening.


So, what do you think about American Gods? Have you read it, and what do you think?