American Gods: an interesting novel

"American Gods" is Neil Gaiman's Hugo and Nebula Awards winner novel.

In modern society, no matter the East or West, the old Gods are fading, while new Gods (cars, the internet, iPhone, etc) are taking their places. The history after the Industrial Revolution is like a tape being fast-forwarded. Old Gods can't adapt to the more and more fast pace of modern society, like villagers in a metropolis. Yesterday's glories no longer exist. They're ready to be forgotten. However, they're still remembered by many people. They call their names for help, taking them from the old continent to the new one. There they met the new Gods and fought for survival.

These are some backgrounds. Years ago I read the Chinese version, then saw the TV shows. This year I began to read the original version. Now I've finished about 10%.

Inside the novel's fantastic shell, there's a philosophical quest: now we live in a world where the telescope and spacecraft tell us there's no heaven up our heads, and the microscope tells us the illness is caused by bacteria and viruses rather than spirits. We no longer live in a lineage, belonging to a noble house. Then what is the purpose of our lives? What should we devote our lives to? If our parents, children, or friends have different (or even opposite) answers to these questions, how do we live together happily? Should we leave them to find people who agree with us? If we do, is this some kind of betrayal?

These questions may be too much for a novel. We need to find answers of our own. As the old saying: know yourself.

Comments

  1. SharonDecember 16, 2022 at 7:29 PM

    I once heard this comment from a philosopher that it is good that life itself is meaningless, so each of us can give meaning to our own life according to our own preferences.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. CloudsDecember 17, 2022 at 3:52 AM

      Exactly. That's why freedom is so important to anyone, genious and ordinary.

      Delete

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