American Gods: Which edition are you reading?

I mentioned this over on the Facebook post this morning, but I'm really curious. Which edition is everyone reading? The original version, or the 10th anniversary (aka "author's preferred text") edition?

I'm reading the tenth anniversary edition because it is supposed to be his preferred version. But it is also supposed to be longer, IIRC, so I'm wishing now I'd gone with the shorter one.

I read the original version a few months ago since that's what the library had and I didn't know that an expanded edition existed.

I read the original a few years ago, but have the new edition on my Kindle, but may or may not actually re-read it...

This is a re-read for me, so I decided to check out the 10th anniversary edition this time around. Jury's still out on how those extra 12,000 words change things.

I somehow have 2 copies of the 10th anniversary edition on my Nook, so that's the one I'm reading.

10th anniversary version here as well.

I read the original edition 7 years ago, and I'm rereading now with the 10th anniversary version. I don't remember any details well enough to tell the difference, though.

Haven't read it before . . . bought a used copy of the 10th Anniversary edition because it was in better shape than the paperback copy of the old edition . . .

I'm reading the original edition, because that was what the train-station bookstore had a few years ago. Is there a significant chunk of text added to the 10 anniversary edition, or is it just all throughout the book? If the former, I might have to borrow a copy to skim...

>10 kjgormley: Unclear, so far, but I've got a ways to go this weekend...

Original version as that's what the library had

>10 kjgormley:
One poster on the AG introductions thread said there were 12,000 more words in the 10th Anniversary "author's preferred text" edition . . . and I think the intro confirms that (but my copy is in another room so can't check right now). My copy of the 10th anniversary edition (hardcover) is 541 pages . . .if that gives you any idea . . .

I'm reading the original edition, on purpose. I feel the editor must have had good reasons to remove those words, and I come across enough books where I think the editor should have removed more...

>14 zjakkelien: I don't know about this particular instance, but I very very much disagree with that sentiment. Editors are often utterly beyond clueless with what they "think people want" and just go slashing stuff. For instance, in Gore Vidal's Creation the original editor removed 4 chapters, including the one that sets the stage for the entire foundation of the book--how Cyrus Spitama becomes friends with Xerxes and therefore winds up doing everything else in the book. It wasn't until Vidal was a highly regarded author that he was able to go back and get the book reprinted with the restored pages.

>15 .Monkey.: I don't know about this instance either, and I'd be interested to hear where the differences lie for American gods. I don't know the book you mention, but I'm sure you're right, there are editors who are clueless. On the other hand, having wrestled my way through the last two Auel books, The shelters of stone and The land of painted caves, I wish someone had done some judicious culling there.

Perhaps it's mostly due to lack of exposure to (or knowledge of) overediting (I guess it takes a bit more research to know about this), but I've come across too little editing more often than too much. That I know of, I now realize, since I would not be aware of what was taken out while reading a book. In any case, I think it can just as easily happen that an author becomes blind to his/her own mistakes and actually need the editing. I went with that option when I bought the book...

I finished the 10th Anniversary edition, and am listening to the full cast dramatized audiobook. I like the reader for Shadow, but Mr. Wednesday's voice doesn't jibe with the mental one I have for him. Bit distracting, but I'm going to stick it out for a few more chapters and see how it goes.

I think it can just as easily happen that an author becomes blind to his/her own mistakes and actually need the editing.

Of course. Editors are certainly needed, but there are really good ones, and there are really crappy ignorant ones, as in all fields. I tend to believe an accomplished highly acclaimed author is more aware of what really is "necessary" in the story they created, and also that they are more in-tune with their readership than the guy just trying to sell something.

For Kindle owners who are interested in reading this book but don't have a copy yet, the 10th anniversary version is on sale on Amazon for only $1.99 today.

I first read the original, but it's been a while. I'm reading the 10th anniversary version now, it'll be interesting to see if/how many differences I notice.

I read the first version when it first came out, and read the 10th anniversary edition when it came out. I've got both of them around somewhere, probably packed up in the storage locker.

I didn't perceive any huge difference between the 1st and 10th Anniversary editions, but since it was a decade in between reads, I doubt that I would. I just don't remember stuff with that much detail.

Hmm. I read the original and thought it was a bit overstuffed, honestly. It could be that I'm accustomed to a length closer to 350 pages, which (even so) is often overstuffed.

Eh, reading the 10th anniversary version and it doesn't feel "padded" to me, but I'm not afraid of the proverbial fantasy door-stopper.

I just finished the 10th anniversary version. Liked it a lot but finished way after the group read. Oh well ...

I just finished it yesterday, so you are not the last! I love the idea of these group reads but sometimes my timing is off.