American Gods by Neil Gaiman (2001)

My Rating: 5/5

Yours truly hepped up on crucial details from the book for the second time partly because I don't remember except for one thing, a vivid sexual scene of genie and Arab, and, partly because Starz channel has its own version airs every Sunday (American time). For me, it's wonderful to watch virtual thunder tremendously battered up the sky; winter coming up next let the myths be finally unleashed, while the ground has been preparing for unforgettable battle of all time, not just relying on the book. The TV series was superb and bit different from original which is good, so fans murmured theories how it should be.

It's an account of war between gods of old and new. Gods of Internet, Media, plastic, TV, radio, credit cards, technology in general are advantage indeed if we were to talk of the present, yet an old phrase reassured one's precarious faith that the older god has become the harder it subdued from its lair. So this happens in blessed land of America where state capitalism proliferates induced new gods to linger much and, for the record, during ancient times immigrants from all over the world conjured old deities out of fear and bring them to AMERICA.

Inexorable Mr. Wednesday, All-Father/Odin/Fucked Up/Grifter/Green-minded/Wrinkled man, has initiated the recruitment process and offered job toward big, ex-con guy named Shadow Moon. All together they travelled across America. Not Bethlehem, not Mecca, but America to befriend old gods rested upon each obsolete hole, obsequiously convinced them to fight on their side or, at least, win the f---king game they're about to play. Clue: it's a rigged game.

Gaiman magnified tales of long forgotten gods summoned by its tribes whom suffered or sold for slavery; fully entertained from various folklores which I've never been heard before, few interludes were added to catch its thrills. It was jam-packed with messed up, desperate, glorifying gods known from different races: Indian, Egyptian, German, African--- all were perfectly suited for its role wherein society carrying human body similar as Jesus Himself became a man spread news about truth of three persons of Trinity.

By the way, lemme escort you on quotation which I absolutely liked since I mentioned Jesus above. For clarity, it's just a parcel quote that could amuse you or whatever...

"There was only one guy in the whole Bible Jesus ever personally promised a place with him in Paradise. Not Peter, not Paul, not any of those guys. He was a convicted thief, being executed. So don't knock guys on death row."

See, what I meant. It's pure gold. It might explode Duterte's head if somebody from Human Rights were about to whipped these lines straight through him.

The book is judiciously good, mysterious and mythical that awakens own consciousness from lethargic abyss of real world. I loved it. I trust Shadow's own convictions for doing things right, awed at his deft manipulation of coins on his hands and admired his genuine love to his ex-wife, Laura. His acquaintance with old gods made me easy to conceive those cultural beliefs from the past that makes strong bonds among people who were riding altogether in ignominious fate and put into madness from oppression. Cacophonic storms, famine, disease gradually eradicate humanity and it is inexplicable divinity brings us hopes and peace of mind. That's how religion exist. It simply reminds me of Ishmael's companion in his levithian quest, Queequeg, bringing me back to the memory of heathen man creates by eloquent orator Herman Melville, one of my favorites (OMG, I cried). Unique, powerful and genius that only Neil Gaiman can provide.

The characters were special, not retarted or whatever, but rather has great impact to one's life leaves remarkable scars in soul. And I HIGHLY recommend it with strong mead, esp who likes to plunge through fiction for huge distraction on whatever chaos is brought by real world.

Catch 22 by Joseph Heller (1955)

My Rating: 5/5

It just makes me badly insane that I couldn't make out theory or two how did Hungry Joe's wraith is taken away from his body while his mortal enemy solemnly perched on his cratered face. I'd like to hunt justice for Hungry Joe's until Huple's cat is proven guilty for its egregious, feline mischief.

What else more to say on your crooked, bawdy, grotesque, and marvelous story, Heller, oscillating from a place to another and then back again into its muddied route, dragged me to downright confusion. However the insatiable need of knowing the mishaps of our patriotic hero championed me to finish line. Viola! I'm done with it and be back when I felt awful and needed somebody to crack me up and banged up my head for real. It is surreal. It is madness. I want to strangle Yossarian for making me feel that I am one of them. CRAZY than ever.

Perhaps, I might providing you a little exploration beyond this so rare expidition that would lead through own opinion rather a proper review which I haven't done yet over the course on this blog. Yossarian asked me to look further on Nately's whore younger sister, whose virgin-self probably beaten on the street, famished and could have died in cold weather same situation as Raskolnikov dreamed about the battered mare on the street, and had died from owner's tyranny. Yossarian nudged me on my ribs which goad me on dreaming about a live fish on my hand--- imagined that slimy, bloody fish, wriggled on thy palm. It totally drives me nuts, by the way. He wants me to implore Doc Daneeka, too, and pray tell Major Major Major to spare him from flying more missions proliferating by their colonel's own command. But Yossarian is a wise captain who created cunning moves and delayed missions in a nick of time without aid from anyone else; forget about his friends beaten on ceaseless war and be finally home--- but soon he had come to realise that there was a catch. Catch-22.

This book was sumptuous and hilariously crazy. It has a good quality of writing and characters were intricately fabricated by author himself that compelled readers to explore more things about each of them. The satirical talent and passions of Heller in writing a story was impressive. I don't know exactly but there's a bewitching voice from his words that will help us conjured all of his characters out of his messy causeway and yet you will enjoy it as I did. Absolutely impressive. What the hell! I am repeating words again. What else more to say?

Perfect!