Neverwhere: A Novel by Neil Gaiman Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Neverwhere: A Novel
Book Review: Again, not particularly good
Summary: 3 Stars
My brother likes Gaiman's books. He's younger so that might explain it, but there's not much plot to any I've read so far. It's more like a series of things happen, and then more stuff happens, and then the book ends.Book Review: Alice and Dorothy's modern-day love child
Summary: 5 Stars
I am fairly new to the worlds of Neil Gaiman. In the past few months I have picked up and read a few of his Sandman collections, Mr. Punch, the script for "MirrorMask", "American Gods", "Good Omens" (co-written by Terry Pratchett), "Coraline", "Stardust", and most recently "Neverwhere".
In brief, "Neverwhere" tells the story of a good samaritan, Richard Mayhew, that rescues a girl, named Door, who looks to be a junky on the street. In actuality she is a very important person (a princess, in fact) in the "between", a world that exists below and sort of "parallel" to the streets of London. By helping this girl, Richard Mayhew enters this "between" world. Unfortunately, when someone falls into the "Neverwhere", the world above doesn't know they ever existed, which makes Richard's life rather difficult, to say the least.
The entire story takes place in and around London as Richard and Door, joined by a motley cast of characters, race to discover why Door's family was killed all the while dodging two extremely well written and scary evil henchmen, Croup and Vandemar. These two enjoy maiming and murder most foul and have honed their skills like martial arts masters.
Throughout this wonderful adventure, Richard and crew will cross paths with almost every fantastical creature imaginable, including an Angel.
The story moves at a brisk pace and all of the characters are exceptionally realized. Each character has been made very three-dimensional thanks to Neil Gaiman's deft writing skills.
The streets (and underside) of London are given a life of their own. Medieval and Modern England collide in unusual and interesting ways. Imagine waiting for your train in the Tube and when it opens, instead of stepping into the boxy, hard plastic, metal and rubber capsule you are used to, you are greeted to a room with velvety drapes, thrones, emperors, magistrates, jugglers, magicians, party-goers, tables of food. Of course, you may not be able to see such a thing, if you live in London above. That train car would look broken and unused ...the doors wouldn't open, the lights wouldn't work......But this is the world of "Neverwhere". Things aren't always what they seem. For instance, that beggar on the street corner you see every day on your way to work, could very well be a king.
Written with a lot of wit and a lot of heart, Neil Gaiman has crafted a modern-day fairy tale that's melded the best pieces of popular fantasy and turned it upside-down, inside-out, and back again. I highly recommend this book to everyone especially if you've enjoyed works like "Alice In Wonderland", "The Wizard of Oz", or any fantasy novel, for that matter.
Book Review: American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Summary: 5 Stars
Recommended for: everyone from teen and up
Highly Recommended!
Not only is this a Neil Gaiman novel, but it involved mythological beings therefore I was eager to read it, but afraid to be disappointed. However, Neil Gaiman surpassed my expectations by not succumbing to his normal style of writing, and immersing into a narrative about the main character without betraying his private personality. He also doesn't waste time explaining who any of the supernatural characters are and it is not to be missed; you either know them or you don't. Neil Gaiman takes us on a road trip through midwest America and humanizes these gods, unraveling a story within stories which captures your interest as you delve more into the book. I don't want to spoil the fun of discovering the characters and the plots, so all I will say is, read it! It is worth it!
Book Review: An Amazing Journey
Summary: 5 Stars
This book drew me quickly into a world I found hard to leave and wishing there was more when the book had come to its conclusion. The amazing array of characters from the London Above Richard to the London Below Lady Door, the Marquis,Earl's Court, Old Bailey, Hunter, and numerous others including a dastardly duo you will loathe and yet love at the same time. If you read to get away from it all then this is the book for you. If you read for entertainment then this is the book for you. If you can turn the written word into your own visual images of the characters then this is the book for you. Dare to enter London below because once you do you will find it hard to leave.Book Review: An enchanting novel
Summary: 5 Stars
Every now and then a book comes along that leaves you thankful for the experience. What a captivating piece of magic this is: it works on so many levels, and doesn't unravel upon reflection afterwards; just continues to glow. Homer's Odyssey meets Dr. Who, it never descends into the hardness and cynicism that I expected when I first started reading. Can't wait to give this to my college-age niece who just visited (and fell in love with) London (altho she probably has already read it by now)