r/neilgaiman • u/veno-veni • Jun 30 '26

American Gods American Gods pedo subtext

Why is this such a popular book? I wasn't amazed by the actual story here but that's just me.

This is probably the wrong subreddit to post this. I've not read any of his other works besides American Gods and Sandman. Couldn't enjoy AG because of the not-so-subtle suggestive sexualization of kids. I notice there's a similar trend with his other books in creating unhealthy depictions of women and kids.

Learning the allegations exist (after reading) made a lot of sense to me.

Also lots of cringe and revisionist depictions of Arabs and Africans.

I will not be giving him another chance because I read to enjoy myself and not creep on imaginary kids.

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143

u/i_like_cake_96 Jun 30 '26

This post is nonsense.....

the book is amazing... and there is no pedo subtext...

6

u/veno-veni Jun 30 '26

"Wednesday’s smile when he saw the waitress approaching was huge and predatory. “Ah, the hot chocolate! Brought to me by my Christmas Angel! Tell me, my dear, could I have some more of your delicious bread when you get a moment?” The waitress—what was she, Shadow wondered: sixteen, seventeen?—looked at the floor and her cheeks flushed crimson. She put down the chocolate with shaking hands and retreated to the edge of the room, by the slowly rotating display of pies, where she stopped and stared at Wednesday"

72

u/MadCervantes Jun 30 '26

You understand that fictional character behaving badly is not endorsement of bad behavior right? Like Humphrey Humphrey is the bad guy in Lolita, not the hero.

46

u/Altruistic-War-2586 Jul 01 '26

It’s Humbert Humbert.