Neverwhere: A Novel by Neil Gaiman Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Neverwhere: A Novel
Book Review: Creepy, scary good!
Summary: 4 Stars
Believe me, I'll never look at a crack in the sidewalk again without thinking about this book. That's the highest testimony I can give to how captivating this novel was for me. It made me think about all the things that I, you, and Richard Mayhew had never even considered. Richard didn't have the slightest idea that an entire world existed in London Below. How could he when he was so involved in his own life in London Above? Who goes around thinking about an entire other world existing for those who literally slip through the cracks?
Neil Gaiman gave me a creepy, scary glimpse into that darkest part of an imaginary London. The characters he invented for this story are wonderful. I loved watching Richard grow and mature and see him become a person to be relied upon. I loved Old Bailey with his feather coat and his birds for sale. I loved the marquis de Carabas who was so very bad and yet somehow so very good. I loved Hunter with her single minded focus and I would have been glad to "dispatch" Mr. Croup and Mr. Vandemar myself. Two meaner, nastier villains I have yet to meet. Strangely enough, it was the character of Door whose personality seemed to elude me more than any other. Maybe I should read the book again. There must have been aspects of her that I missed while I was so busy imagining that there might, just might, possibly be a London Below.
This book has to be a fantasy readers delight. Expect to be entertained, you won't be disappointed.
Book Review: Dark and imaginative
Summary: 4 Stars
This book didn't really grab me at first, but the more I read it, the more I became wrapped up in this unique, dark, imaginative world. Richard Mayhew was just a normal man leading a normal life until he stops to help a bleeding girl in the streets -- an act that truly lives up to "no good deed goes unpunished." Soon he discovers that his identity has been erased, left off no better than any meandering homeless person. His life turns even more chaotic when he embarks to London Below, a gritty and surreal reality existing beneath London, and helps Door, the girl he previously rescued, to discover who killed her family and why. The plot becomes more intricate and engrossing, filled with a cast of characters you never quite entirely know you can trust, and the villians are genuinely menacing. The twists were also ingenious and well-planted, making it even harder to not finish this book. While the ending was overall satisfying, there were still a couple of loose threads that make me hope that there will one day be a sequel, but it is not entirely necessary. If you love dark fantasy and are tired of reading about the usual concepts, then Neverwhere is a worthy read.Book Review: Dark fantasy at highest level
Summary: 5 Stars
Neverwhere is a dark fantasy at its highest level. Richard Mayhew ceases to exist in the London that we know and finds himself in the dark, dangerous, magical London Below. Here, he finds creatures and people and places and begins a quest which will lead him to face dangers everywhere. An adult, dark fantasy which reads from page to page at superb speed. A great work from Neil GaimanBook Review: Decent reading despite the flaws
Summary: 4 Stars
I've only read a couple of Gaiman books before, so i can't say how well this stacks up to his corpus in general, but as a relative outsider I liked (though not loved) it.
The Pro's: It's fast-paced, and held my interest. The setting was intriguing, and I liked the characters -- especially the antagonists. It even made me chuckle in a few places, which helped lighten the otherwise dark mood that is the general tone of the book.
The Con's: The plot structure reminded me of an old computer game: each stage is essentially a quest to get to the next part, and this format came dangerously close to wearing out its welcome. Also, there are a **couple** of major plot-holes in the story, though I won't discuss them as they are spoilers. Admittedly, they didn't immediately jump out at me: I had to reflect upon the situation after-the-fact to realize "um, wait a second..." so I don't know how much of a speed-bump they will be to other readers. Even then, it could be a misunderstanding on my part: this novel seems to have an internally-consistent logic EXCEPT when the plot dictates otherwise and it's "convenient" for something to happen. I kind of have a low threshold for that sort of thing, but others probably will be more forgiving.
Overall, the book's positives outweigh the negatives, so I conditionally recommend it to people who like dark, off-beat quasi-fantasy fodder. If nothing else, it's a fast read and holds the reader's interest, so give it a go.
Book Review: Disappointed
Summary: 3 Stars
Having heard Neil Gaiman praised many times as a master writer by friends and critics alike I decided to pick up one of his books. Neverwhere was my first Neil Gaiman novel and, though I would like to say I loved it, I was a bit disappointed. There is no doubt that Gaiman is a magnificent writer, his prose are lyrical and engaging. However, I found Neverwhere difficult to get through. Try as I might to fall in love with the story of Richard Mayhew I found myself getting bored as he tagged along with the Lady Door and her companions. Though I did enjoy the book it was certainly not what I had hoped for from someone who came as well recommended as Neil Gaiman. Though the story dragged in several places I did enjoy the ending and Richard's great character arc. All in all, the story was amusing enough but it didn't nab a spot on my favorites list. Still, I will give Gaiman the benefit of the doubt and try one of his other novels.