Evaluation Criteria (American Gods)

Previously throughout my reading career I have been one to stray away from reading fantasy books. I always felt they did not appeal to me, or I would not gain anything from reading the book. As I grew older however, I realized this was immature and as a future teacher I need to explore all the reading possibilities available to me. I began with some basic fantasies and gradually continued. Recently reading American Gods by Neil Gaiman, I came to the notice how deeply I now enjoy fantasy books. 

American Gods was a book I interpreted to be dealing with the confrontation of ones known reality, morals, and beliefs. The main character Shadow was a character I felt a connection to and understanding with; aside from him being an ex-convict. He was a lost character in a sense looking for some guidance from Mr. Wednesday and his job to consume him.  I felt at times throughout the story this was to avoid his past and thoughts of his future. Another way I connected or felt a pull towards the story was the conflict between the old and new gods. I feel at any time one can relate to the struggle between keeping tradition and what is known, to expanding and changing. The old gods did not know how to accept the change while the new gods took over, it got ugly at times but I felt when it came down to it, the simple truth was the old gods where no longer what the America people needed, and no longer suited there way of life. 

Below is a chart with future book evaluations:  

Evaluation Criteria

Fantasy

American Gods

Author: Neil Gaiman

Theme	Criteria	Description
Setting -The United States of America -Illinois -The Great Lakes community Lakeside -Iceland -Rock City	Does the content of the story describe a fantasy world that is both descriptive and believable?	Yes, the story is set in the places mentioned in the left hand column. But what makes the story more believable is that fact that it is set in America a place easy to visualize, but also the local of the story continues to change with Shadow’s journey. The author is descriptive with his setting but having knowledge or an idea of where he is discussing also helps. The reality of the setting, I find also makes it more believable.
Plot -It is believe gods and goddess exist solely because people believe and them, along with the immigrants that came to America and brought their beliefs. Shadow did not have the best going for him being that he was an ex-convict, but things only got worse when he returned from prison to find that his wife and his closest friend had died. With nothing to do but be alone he takes a job for Mr. Wednesday, a “reformed” conman. The twist to Mr. Wednesday is that he seems to know an awful lot about Shadow’s life, and as the book continues the more he knows I revealed. Shadow accompanies Mr. Wednesday traveling across America with him and meeting many of Mr. W’s unlikely acquaintances along the journey. Soon enough Shadow finds out Mr. W and many of his friends are actually gods. With the challenge of the new gods approaching Mr. W tries to rally everyone together to fight the new gods’ power. Many refuse, eventually Shadow is taken by the other gods, Mr. W is captured by the new gods, and Shadow is surprised when he is finally taken back to Rock City.	Are the events in the story imaginative whole also being logical to the world where the story takes place?	Refer to column in left hand, and then continue. Yes, what makes the events logical if the fact that gods are not outright and forward with who they truly are automatically. Not knowing Mr. Wednesday was a god off the bat provided an interest in the building and reality of the characters, and the friends he encountered. Also creating a conflict between the two sets of gods struck a reality. I feel the main logic to the story however is the fact that Shadow, a mortal, is one of the main characters of the story and appears to maintain the connection from the reader to the story throughout the text.
Characters -Mr. Wednesday: god of knowledge and wisdom -Shadow: ex-convict, Mr. Wednesday’s bodyguard -Czernobog: god of darkness -Mr. Nancy: African folklore -Mr. Ibis: Egyptian god of knowledge and writing -Easter: goddess of dawn -John Chapman -New Gods -Old Gods	Do the characters behave logically and consistently throughout the story?	Refer to left column for character list. Yes, the characters do behave logically and consistently throughout the story, however this does not mean their behavior is logical and consistent to normal behaviors. Shadow remains true to his character through concealing his emotions and dealing with his grief I feel through staying occupied. I found Shadow to be a very loyal character and rational throughout the story; even as Mr. Wednesday made it clear the amount of information he knew about him. Mr. Wednesday was another consistent character always revealing more and more towards what he knew about Shadow. I feel Mr. Wednesday would try to act logically at times, but it appeared as if he was not due to the lack of support from the other gods.
Style	Is the structure of the story understandable, allowing the reader to create solid and vivid images?	Yes, throughout the entire story I was able to depict what was happening. This was done not only through the description of the setting and general areas, but also through the author’s ability to describe the characters emotional states, for the most part. The use of language used by the author was connective to reality.
Theme	Can the themes of the story be connected to the life and experiences of the reader?	It shows the importance of holding onto history in order to retain the past. America was no longer a good place for the old gods because times had changed and they were not being carried through with them. The main theme I feel however is how the American people have switched or had switched from simply spiritual devotion to the appreciation and devotion of materialistic objects and things.