Neverwhere: A Novel by Neil Gaiman Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Neverwhere: A Novel
Book Review: London is even more surreal below than it is above
Summary: 4 Stars
Neil Gaiman's main character in this book is Richard Mayhew: a bright young man, a Scot living in London for the past 3 years, in securities, a pleasant personality and content to be dominated by his bossy and ambitious girlfriend, Jessica, who recognises his potential. His life is unexciting at this point and consists mainly of working, trailing around museums and art galleries after Jessica and doing as he's told. Then one night, in the midst of obeying Jessica, they encounter a girl - a young woman bleeding on the pavement. Richard's a good chap and goes to help her. Jessica is mortified at the idea of Richard making her late and dirtying his suit to help the poor muck encrusted girl. Richard disobediently picks her up and takes her home. Jessica dis-engages him. His adventure begins.The girl, Door is her name, is a denizen of London Below: a vast city and a different world, where time is different to London Above, there are extraordinary people with special magical skills, people who can talk to rats and birds, ancient, legendary individuals and societies, mythical creatures, an angel, demon-types, vampire-types, darkness with a will. The world is tribal, feudal and competitive. Rivalries can be deadly. The rivalries are put aside on market days. The floating market congeals in different locations. Nobody knows who decides where, but the news of a market is passed from person to person and hordes of buyers and sellers arrive at the appointed time and place. Richard is plunged into this world. He is no longer properly visible to the people of London Above, indicating that he has fallen through the cracks and is now part of London Below. Door is in terrible danger, pursued by the monsters that slaughtered her family. She doesn't know why. She has many friends and she's highly respected in the world below. Richard joins the small group assisting Door in her quest to discover the truth and avenge her family. Richard has to change, grow, focus, toughen up and generally adapt to this hard, dangerous and disturbingly interesting environment.
It's a gripping and imaginative plot. Some of the characters are not very plausible but that didn't spoil my enjoyment of the story, once having committed myself to total suspension of disbelief. Anyone who likes fantasy will be likely to enjoy this.
Book Review: Not Gaiman at his best...
Summary: 2 Stars
I'm a fan of Gaiman, but this book just doesn't do it for me. It reads a bit like one of his blogs (www.neilgaiman.com). The style is just too conversational which, for me, removes a lot of the sense of depth and history to the world he creates. The idea of an ancient and strange 'London Below' is great, but it doesn't really develop, and I felt I was being told that it was 'ancient and strange' rather than feeling it. The lead character is dull, and the humour doesn't feel like it fits. There are one or two good moments, and one or two good characters and ideas, but by and large I think it's Gaiman's weakest work. American Gods, Stardust, The Sandman series, Smoke and Mirrors and Good Omens are all far superior examples of his work. Sorry Neil! Just being honest.Book Review: Mind the Gap
Summary: 5 Stars
Everybody traveling in London by Tube, is familiar with the loudspeaker's warning "Mind the Gap", that is the space between platform and train carriage. Reading Gaiman, "Gaps" takes on a much more complex meaning... People can fall through the cracks, literally, not only down onto the rails but much deeper, ending up in "London Below". Richard Mayhew, a young man with nothing much happening in his life, is an unlikely Samaritan. Still, when confronted with a choice he follows his charitable instinct and assists a wounded rag girl he finds lying in the street. To save her from her apparent killers he goes on a quest and from this moment his life turns into a rollercoaster of discovery and danger. "Neverwhere" is a brilliant yarn of life in the underbelly of the city, with shady human characters, speaking rats and special "guides". There is more than one reality for sure. In London Above, Richard and the rag girl, named appropriately "Door", can be seen but not recalled beyond the moment. The real-life maze of London underground tunnels, hidden passageways and dead ends provide the existent, yet twisted, backdrop to the story. Time and distances have no meaning. The names of tube stations acquire new relevance: the Earl resides at Earl's Court, the black Friar monks are in Blackfriars and Islington is an Angel. Following Door and her unusual companions, Richard discovers the limits of his endurance. He has to question his existence and reality. While his desire to get back to his normal life keeps him going, his chances to shake loose from the shadowy underworld increasingly appear to diminish...
The novel, which expands on Gaiman's successful tv production, is a fascinating read, whether you know London or not (yet). His style is fluid and engaging, his characters are very much alive and moving the various layers of intrigue along at a good pace. [Friederike Knabe]
Book Review: Neverwhere
Summary: 4 Stars
This was impressive writing. I was caught in the world of Richard Mayhew and could not leave it until the last page was turned. What a strange world Gaiman describes - an underworld to our world. When Richard Mayhew comes into contact with Door, he somehow ceases to exist in the overworld - or our world. People don't see him any longer, and there is no electronic record of his existence. So Richard goes into the underworld to find Door and get his old life back. After having found her, he joins in her quest and this in turn changes him.
My 4 comes from the ending of the book. It was a bit obvious. But this book was a thoroughly enjoyable read.
Book Review: Neverwhere
Summary: 4 Stars
This was impressive writing. I was caught in the world of Richard Mayhew and could not leave it until the last page was turned. What a strange world Gaiman describes - an underworld to our world. When Richard Mayhew comes into contact with Door, he somehow ceases to exist in the overworld - or our world. People don't see him any longer, and there is no electronic record of his existence. So Richard goes into the underworld to find Door and get his old life back. After having found her, he joins in her quest and this in turn changes him.
My 4 comes from the ending of the book. It was a bit obvious. But this book was a thoroughly enjoyable read.