Neverwhere: A Novel by Neil Gaiman
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Book Reviews of Neverwhere: A Novel
Book Review: A Labyrinth of Darkness Below and Between the Streets of London
Summary: 5 Stars
I had heard of Neil Gaiman from a friend and finally decided to give his works a try, starting with Neverwhere. I found out from my local used bookseller that the television series came first and then the author wrote the book based upon the min-series.
Neverwhere is a highly captivating story that takes place above and below the London streets. The story's protagonist, Richard Mayhew, unwittingly becomes involved in this underworld network after he helps a young girl, named Door, whom he found injured and bleeding in the London Underground. Richard's good samaritan deed plunges him into a darkly, disturbing world below the streets of London as to his dismay, he ceases to exist in the London above inasmuch as no one above remembers him. Soon Richard joins Door in a quest through the shadowy and dangerous London below to help her find who murdered her family.
This wonderful novel has intrigue, mystery, and scary villains but it is the richly drawn characters that make this story exceptional. I found Gaiman's world to be fascinating, nightmarish, comic, and realistic. Very highly recommended.
Book Review: There really WERE sewer alligators in New York?!
Summary: 5 Stars
Neil Gaiman's "Neverwhere", is one of my all time favorite books.
It follows the trials and tribulations of Richard Mayhew, a man who lived in London, until one fateful day he stops to help a small girl bleeding on the sidewalk. He takes her back to his appartment where he cares for her until two unsightly men stroll in looking for her. Richard's world is suddenly turned upside down as he realizes that somehow, no one knows he exists anymore. He is soon after hurdled into a wild nightmare of an adventure where people can speak with rats, men come back from the dead, and every mythical being is actually living (or dead by a certain Hunter's hand) in the sewers underneath the world.
Neil Gaiman never ceases to amaze me with his story telling. He has, once again, outdone himself.
This book is appropriate for anyone really, although kids under 12 might not understand some of it. Overall this is an excellent and (very) quick read. The action moves along at just the right pace and there is hardly ever a dull moment. I reccomend this book to anyone looking for a good fantasy adventure.
Book Review: Hell of a ride
Summary: 5 Stars
Well, let's just say that Gaiman writes an interesting story. A very interesting one. But, damn, what a show!
Gaiman paints a picture of London that starts off as expected, yet then veers into a hidden underground that is basically invisible to all those above. Though his characters are the usual archetypes: the protagonist being a man of little consequence yet becoming a hero in this new world, a petite girl whose ballsy as hell, a guide whose sarcastic yet brilliant, and a duo of villains who work off of each other perfectly. Sure, there are plenty of twists and turns, yet none of it is too shocking, and in truth most feels inevitable.
yet the story comes off kind of as a darker version of Alice in Wonderland. with alice replaced by a man in his early thirties, with a corporate job, an overbearing girlfriend and little to no social life. Despite the dreary setting and the protagonist being for the most part an antihero, the tale unravels quickly, leaving the reader in a magical land set right beneath our feet.
definitely worth taking the ride.
Book Review: Explore London Below
Summary: 5 Stars
I first read this book a few years ago. I asked a friend, a manager of a bookstore, what her favourite books or authors were to expand upon my reading list. She recommended Stardust and Neverwhere, both by Neil Gaiman. Both became quick favourites though very different, and both had a lasting impression on me. This book is dark and disturbing; it mixes high fantasy with modern day woes. It is the story of Richard Mayhew, an office worker in London who meets a girl named Door, and suddenly his whole world is turned upside down. He discovers London Below, a place of enchantment, magic, and mythic creatures. He has been called upon to be Door's hero. Door's whole family has been murdered and when Richard encounters her, she has been injured. Just by stopping and paying attention to her, he is sucked into her world, and slowly drifts away from what we would call reality. This book is richly thrilling and full of detail. You will never think of London the same way again. And maybe never look at a street person the same way again either.Book Review: Go on a quest to London Below and see a whole different world
Summary: 5 Stars
It's a novel about an ordinary guy trying do his best with an ordinary life but he wants more out of it even though he himself doesn't know it yet. He helps a girl who comes to his apartment in the dead of night even though he knows that he probably shouldn't get involved.
Then strange things start to happen as he loses his touch with "reality" a new London that he did not know exist is opened up to him. Normally this would make for a very boring book but it just so happens that the girl he rescued is the last of a family of Guardians and not only does he have to enlist aid for her they also have to dodge the efforts of two great comical villains.
Overall-The plot would be nothing special except for the ability of Neil Gaiman to really describe it to us and give it a life of it's own everyone has a unique voice from Richard Mayhew to the Ratspeaker and as always my poor efforts at a review cannot really describe how great this book is.