[PsYcNeT]

They actually trimmed out a lot of the book (and did add in other stuff) so it's really not all the slow compared to how Gaiman writes (which is excruciating Stephen King-level slow). And the Essie story was (much like most of the aside stuff) the backstory of Mad Sweeney.

American Gods spends almost as much time building characterization (with the exception of Laura - whom has a much smaller and briefer part in the book - and Shadow - who is one of those "empty vessel" protagonists that the reader is supposed to project themselves into; the name literally implies it) as it does on plot.

Based on what I know about the book and the remaining plotline, there will be more God backstory asides to compliment the plotting in Season 2, and Season 3 will be more of what I assume you are looking for.