Neverwhere: A Novel
by Neil Gaiman
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Book Reviews of Neverwhere: A Novel
Book Review: Surprised and pleased
Summary: 5 Stars
A friend highly recommended American Gods to me, I read it and was not very taken by it so wasn't going to bother with more Gaiman but Neverwhere came into my possession (book was left at my home by some visitor) so I read it and was swallowed up by it to the point where I almost called in "sick" so I could stay home and read. I think why I can relate to this book is because I have dreams that kind of run the same way--things that can't be possible are, things go topsy-turvy and you accept them as normal, people get dead (some come back to life later on), etc. And, heck, I LOVE these dreams although I'm not sure I could handle actually living like that all the time. And now I find this book was made into a tv show??? Did they record it to DVD? I hope so 'cause I just have to see this. This is what they ought to make movies from, not that "Rent" drivel or mediocre re-dos of "Sabrina." But then, I loved "Brazil" too. The first 10-20 pages of Gaiman's books are real dull because he's setting up the main character (and they tend to be kind of boring guys) but once the story gets going, it's a fun ride. I'm reading his other books and will try to hunt down that tv show too. Thanks, NG, always a great feeling to "discover" an author who write for me--and you're still young so I can look forward to good reading for the rest of my life!Book Review: "Neverwhere" means "Nowhere" and "Nothing".
Summary: 1 Stars
Besides of all the annoying parts, and there are plenty, this book goes nowhere and gives you nothing.
It is just a very, very light read, and it seems to be written without any passion and respect neither for the book itself nor for the reader.
I cannot see a dramaturgy at all, and dramaturgy is the least bit I should expect from a book.
The whole story is like a lot of weak ideas just poorly linked together. It gives me the impression that the author is not able to create a story with inner logic, suspense and dramatic peaks.
For example the fight between Hunter and the beast:
It was announced for chapters and then it was over in just a few seconds.
Another example is "Richard's Ordeal":
What could have been a key sequence in the book, what should have been Richards catharsis, was just a mediocre nightmare from which Gaiman steals himself away without any solution.
Then there is the moment we all learn who is the villain. It couldn't have been more crude, could it?
And is there really a true conflict in Richard regarding his real life and his girlfriend? For me it rather looks like he just wants to slip into this underworld for good out of reasons a kid in real life would slip into the world of video games.
The one star is for the sometimes funny murderer duo.
Book Review: Hoping For A Sequel
Summary: 4 Stars
This was a great book. It was highly imaginative with some very unforgettable characters. Mr. Croup and Mr. Vandemar come to mind. Very scary people! This book had quite a bit to offer although some images were rather disturbing. It even had it's comical moments (funny to me anyway) such as near the end of the book where Richard Mayhew is in the back of his apartment building at Newton Mansions and is caught by neighbors while he is crouched down talking quite seriously to a rat. I thought that was extremely funny.
I also enjoyed the concept of the "Floating Markets" and "Down Street" as well as all of the strange characters that made this novel so unforgettable.
I will never forget the "surface of the marsh" either (Ha ha! subtle sarcasm here). Who could? I was reminded of it so many times! For some reason the author thought it was necessary to repeat the phrase "the surface of the marsh" three times in a nine sentence paragraph and then once more in the very next paragraph for good measure. He must have been tired when he wrote that part!
However, aside from that little blip, this was a really wonderful book and I enjoyed it very much as you will too if you read it. I hope Neil Gaiman writes a sequel to this. It deserves a sequel.
Blue Lotus
Book Review: Excellent
Summary: 5 Stars
This being my first Gaiman novel, I didn't quite know what to expect. I saw MirrorMask and was very impressed so I thought that I would enjoy the read, but I had no idea how much.
Richard Mayhewis a sympathetic if somewhat whiney character who does not seem to be particiapting in his own life very much. in fact he gives new meaning to the phrase mild mannered, drifting through a painfully avarage exsistance almost literally apologising for being alive. With a girlfriend who's in love with his "potential", only one real friend, and a job where he's barely noticed. Richard is hardly living on the edge. Then in one night with one random act of kindness his safe, sane, predictable life quite literally disappers. Richard finds himself traversing the eerie darkness, and nightmarish unreality of London Below. traveling with a motley crew that may very well get Richard killed. He unwillingly joins a quest to help a young girl with mysterious ablities solve the murder of her family. All while being persued by seemingly immortal assassins. Contracted by an anonymous employer.
Admittedly the first few chapters were slow, but it's completely worth hanging in there. Neverwhere is elegant, inventive, and as rich as a vintage photograph. I'll definetly be reading more from Mr. Gaiman
Book Review: One of my absolute favorite books
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a really interesting fantasy adventure that takes normal guy Richard Mayhew on a dangerous quest through the hidden and forgotten bits of London with a number of mysterious, fascinating, creepy, and wonderful characters. There are twists and turns, celebrations, frustrations, tube maps, betrayals, and reunions, there is confusion, hilarity, oddness, violence, terror, and leather clothing. It's fun, interesting, exciting, scary, and satisfying.
Neverwhere is London in book form. While reading it, I almost felt I was back in London, walking the streets and seeing all the buildings and storefronts and landmarks that Neil Gaiman described so accurately and put so perfectly in their real places. (So perfectly, in fact, that I felt like he must have repeatedly walked the same blocks--particularly Oxford Street and Tottenham Court Road--that I and many others walk(ed) all the time.) The familiarity and recognition his description of the city streets caused was powerful. And then to be introduced to the personified neighborhoods of the city! And to learn about the extent of the tube lines! These and a thousand other things in this book touched me deeply. Plus, I found out that you can sing the lyrics of one song to the tune of another, and sometimes it works really well.