Neverwhere A Novel

I must admit I do not like at all the horror parts, not fond of it at all, which is why it took me quite a while to get into the story, but it picks up about half-way through the book and, once I could concentrate on the rest of the narrative and overcome them, I was hooked by the end, wondering what was going to happen next. One cannot help but being awed by the richness and creative power of...more

I must admit I do not like at all the horror parts, not fond of it at all, which is why it took me quite a while to get into the story, but it picks up about half-way through the book and, once I could concentrate on the rest of the narrative and overcome them, I was hooked by the end, wondering what was going to happen next. One cannot help but being awed by the richness and creative power of Gaiman's images, descriptions and story-telling. Amazing imagination and mastering of language.   hide

I just love Neil Gaiman. His books make me very happy -- I love the dark, but somehow comfy, nastiness of the worlds he creates, with happy endings for the pure of heart, though never happy the way anyone imagines they will be. And also how the oddest of characters tend to wind up pure of heart, even when you don't expect them to. Recommend.

This book has been reviewed so many times (and quite thoroughly I may add) that I had no idea what else there was left to say. I guess the only thing I really want to say is that Neil Gaiman is skilled at the art of evoking one's imagination. As I read, I could imagine everything and it appeared so clearly and distinctly in my head. I have always been a fan ever since reading Snow,...more

This book has been reviewed so many times (and quite thoroughly I may add) that I had no idea what else there was left to say. I guess the only thing I really want to say is that Neil Gaiman is skilled at the art of evoking one's imagination. As I read, I could imagine everything and it appeared so clearly and distinctly in my head. I have always been a fan ever since reading Snow, Glass and Apples which my Lit teacher recommended. Neverwhere was brilliant, riveting and just had me so engrossed I finished it in a few hours. The essence of London Below was so absorbing that it made me want to fall through the cracks:)   hide

A fun, sarcastically comical piece of fiction that deals with London's (make-believe?) underworld. An ordinary joe follows an unusual girl into a strange world just feet from his own home, which he never knew existed. The voice of the narrative is present and functional without being too authoritative, which isn't BAD but it isn't great either. We'd all like the...more

A fun, sarcastically comical piece of fiction that deals with London's (make-believe?) underworld. An ordinary joe follows an unusual girl into a strange world just feet from his own home, which he never knew existed. The voice of the narrative is present and functional without being too authoritative, which isn't BAD but it isn't great either. We'd all like the narrator to yank us full-on into their world, wouldn't we? Well, Neverwhere falls a little short there. But that isn't to say you won't find it enjoyable. It's engrossing enough, it'll make you laugh, and the fantasy of a hidden world all around us just waiting to be tapped for adventure is one we'll never get tired of revisiting. Right?   hide

It’s a surreal journey of the everyman into the bizarro-themed world, like a kid’s novel in adult form. Alice in Wonderland, The Phantom Tollbooth, Un Lun Dun style lost-travelers reluctantly coming to believe that this strange world of rat-speakers, train-themed nations, and lost existences is the current reality. London Below is ugly and beautiful and comprises a character...more

It’s a surreal journey of the everyman into the bizarro-themed world, like a kid’s novel in adult form. Alice in Wonderland, The Phantom Tollbooth, Un Lun Dun style lost-travelers reluctantly coming to believe that this strange world of rat-speakers, train-themed nations, and lost existences is the current reality. London Below is ugly and beautiful and comprises a character in-itself, the fictional London Below and the historical pieces of London above. Richard carries his part with as much expected competence as a lost everyman can when thrown into a bizarre, over-his-head situation and plays the straight man to the questing heroine Door, the confidently cocky mercenary Hunter, and the cheerfully shady marquis. The villains provide real danger, the world keeps one on their toes, and puns and metaphors and euphemisms happily pop up in their literal forms. It’s typical, it’s bizarre, it’s unpretentious, and it’s well-done tale for someone just looking for a good story.   hide

My copy has a different cover, ANYWHO! The book was very good, very detailed. I would recommend reading the book because you really get wrapped into the characters. WARNING: Do not watch the show after you read this book. Sure it is the book in three hours, but the book holds so much more worth and allows you to use your imagination. The show - kind of ruins your own ideas. But read the book, the...more

My copy has a different cover, ANYWHO! The book was very good, very detailed. I would recommend reading the book because you really get wrapped into the characters. WARNING: Do not watch the show after you read this book. Sure it is the book in three hours, but the book holds so much more worth and allows you to use your imagination. The show - kind of ruins your own ideas. But read the book, the characters are just lovely   hide

Gaiman was recommended to me through another author's blog, and I became more interested after I found out he was the author of the Graveyard book, which won the Hugo this year. I decided to start with Neverwhere, as Rothfuss named it as one of his all time favorites in an article for the Pointer. Anyway, I was not disappointed. I was particularly struck by Gaiman's unique phrasing. He...more

Gaiman was recommended to me through another author's blog, and I became more interested after I found out he was the author of the Graveyard book, which won the Hugo this year. I decided to start with Neverwhere, as Rothfuss named it as one of his all time favorites in an article for the Pointer. Anyway, I was not disappointed. I was particularly struck by Gaiman's unique phrasing. He has a true knack for making the mundane new. The story was slightly predictable, but his villains were truly frightening. Reading their dialogue gave me tingles and a very clear image of exactly what they were about.   hide

This is the first book I've read by Gaiman, and I'll admit I'm not quite as impressed as I was told I'd be, but it's a good novel. I can see why a certain ilk of fantasy reader (pardon me, but the word "nerd" does come to mind) will absolutely adore this. It's dark, but not TOO dark, with tiny bits of humor/wit. Seems well-researched; makes me want to find out more about the history of the...more

This is the first book I've read by Gaiman, and I'll admit I'm not quite as impressed as I was told I'd be, but it's a good novel. I can see why a certain ilk of fantasy reader (pardon me, but the word "nerd" does come to mind) will absolutely adore this. It's dark, but not TOO dark, with tiny bits of humor/wit. Seems well-researched; makes me want to find out more about the history of the London Underground.   hide

I really enjoyed this book, and look forward to more of Gaiman's offerings. I've heard this is probably the weakest, so if they can only get better, I'm definitely on board!This is a story of people who 'fall through the cracks'... Going mostly unnoticed and quickly forgotten by those who are too busy, too important, too 'normal' to notice those who live in 'London Below'... It's a good allegory...more

I really enjoyed this book, and look forward to more of Gaiman's offerings. I've heard this is probably the weakest, so if they can only get better, I'm definitely on board!This is a story of people who 'fall through the cracks'... Going mostly unnoticed and quickly forgotten by those who are too busy, too important, too 'normal' to notice those who live in 'London Below'... It's a good allegory of our society and the rankings of importance it assigns to different types of people... And it has spurred me to try to notice dissimilar people a little more often, b/c, while their world might not always be pretty or completely safe, there's also a chance that I'll meet people who change my life and take me on adventures I otherwise would have missed out on...   hide