Since I don't have access to the 'god of the woods novel', I can only make general assumptions. In such a novel, the god of the woods could be an ancient and mysterious figure. Maybe it's a character that has been there since the beginning of the forest's existence. It could have a connection to the spiritual essence of the woods, and perhaps its powers are tied to the natural cycles of the forest, like the changing of the seasons. The god of the woods might also play a role in the lives of the people or creatures living near or within the forest, either as a benevolent protector or a fearsome force to be reckoned with.
Well, without more details, it's hard to say exactly who he is in the context of the ghost story. He could be the protagonist who experiences the ghostly events.
I'm not sure if there is a specific 'bang' related directly to a book by Barry Lyga in his stories. It could potentially be a very specific reference within one of his works that I'm not familiar with. You might want to check his official website or a detailed book review site for more information.
There were two novels that traveled through the ancient forest that could be recommended. The first book was " Tong Wanyan of Time Travel ". It was an ancient romance novel. The plot revolved around the heroine suddenly traveling to an ancient forest. The second book was " The All-rounded Space: The Godly Doctor's Eldest Miss." The female protagonist also traveled into the forest and found a time machine there. These two novels might satisfy your interest in traveling through the ancient forest.
As far as I remember, in 'A Christmas Story' there was no character named Barry. The main characters were Ralphie, his family members like his mother, father, and his little brother. There were also the school bully and the Santa at the department store, but no Barry that I can think of.