Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
Genre: Horror
Format: paperback
Read: 10/9/2012 — 10/18/2012
In Six Words: Overshadowed by praise, but still good.
Links
Neil Gaiman — Website | Twitter
Amazon — Paperback | Kindle
Add it to Goodreads
Synopsis
Richard Mayhew is a plain man with a good heart – and an ordinary life that is changed forever on a day he stops to help a girl he finds bleeding on a London sidewalk. From that moment forward he is propelled into a world he never dreamed existed – a dark subculture flourishing in abandoned subway stations and sewer tunnels below the city – a world far stranger and more dangerous than the only one he has ever known…
-from Goodreads
Why I Started Reading This Book and Final Verdict
Neil Gaiman is a name that is whispered (in tones that resemble high-pitched squeals rather than hushed tones) across the book community. I picked up Neverwhere during one of my stops at Borders when it was going out of business. I knew that getting a Neil Gaiman book was a must, and I believe I chose Neverwhere because it is one of Smash’s favorite books. I put off reading it for a long time, though, because really. How do you deal with the pressure of reading well-loved author? Solution: I prodded Kelly into agreeing to have a Neil Gaiman week for Halloween. And I liked this one. I did. It won’t be my last Neil Gaiman book. (And not just because I own Anansi Boys.)
My Thoughts
While I enjoyed Neverwhere, I did have a couple problems outside of the book itself: I read this during a reading slump, which makes my reading slow and labored; and the expectations I had going into this book worked against me and actually stopped me from enjoying this book as much as I probably could have. The expectation aspect is easy to quantify: I expected something that would totally and utterly rock my world. It didn’t. (To be fair, few books do.) Reading during a slump is less easy to quantify, but likely had its sticky little fingers all over my enjoyment. (Like having my focus stuck on the commas. Holy commas, batman!)
By FAR, the best part of Neverwhere is London Below. It is a world unlike any other. If there are hard and fast rules, few know them. (Richard, of course, is utterly clueless.) Many times in books, fear is created through the lack of knowledge and the lack of control. This is what makes London Below. Like Richard, we don’t understand London Below. It twists. It turns. It defies our London Above logic. It is fantastical without being magical. It fascinates and it horrifies. It is AWESOME.
Neverwhere is the kind of book that doesn’t necessarily inspire a lot of connection with its characters. Richard is our main narrator, but I never particularly liked him. I wanted to know more about Door and her family. About the Marquis. About Mr. Croup and Mr. Vandemar. About Hunter. MOAR! In many ways, I desired more knowledge and a greater connection with the characters. But at the same time, when the story ended, I wanted another chapter; I didn’t want to leave. But the lack of connection with its characters was made up by the humor. It is both subtle and pervasive; the kind of humor that has your lips curving up in a sly smile when you read. And the descriptions! (They’re pretty cool. You probably don’t want to miss them.)
Sarah (saz101) October 31, 2012 at 12:10 am
AMANDA.
Whether you crazy-loved it or not, your review = M A G I C.
I LOVED this: “the humor. It is both subtle and pervasive; the kind of humor that has your lips curving up in a sly smile when you read.”
That’s SO Gaiman. These moments where it feels like an almost personal in-joke and *sigh*
I HAVEN’T read Neverwhere despite having owned it for a year, myself. I can’t wait to :D
oooh! And Anansi Boys! Have you read American Gods? It’s actually kind of a sort-of sequel… but one where I don’t believe you need to have actually read book one. Maybe a companion is a better term?
I’d be really interested to hear the opinion of someone who HAS read both ♥
Sarah (saz101) October 31, 2012 at 12:16 am
Also: I WIN! I WIN! I CAME FIRST!
*cough*
Amanda @ On a Book Bender October 31, 2012 at 9:55 am
#GutterPass
Amanda @ On a Book Bender October 31, 2012 at 9:57 am
The humor and the world were my favorite parts of Neverwhere, for sure. :)
I only own Neverwhere and Anansi Boys, and haven’t read anything else. I’m sure I’ll get around to reading it…eventually.
Sarah (saz101) October 31, 2012 at 5:47 pm
Eh, I’m just curious :D
I REALLY want to read Anansi boys, but I maybe loaned my copy to my cousin… but… Mr Nancy!
Is CUIRIOUS.
And dude. How you described London Below is ♥♥♥
Gutterpass? *whistles adverb-adly*
Amanda @ On a Book Bender November 1, 2012 at 8:50 am
GutterPass for coming first! YAY!
Amy @ bookgoonie October 31, 2012 at 4:47 am
“wanted to know more about the characters” I felt that way in The Graveyard Book too. You know them, but mostly from the outside looking in. Maybe it is more about the situation + aloof characters = creepier?? Don’t listen to me. I’ve only read 1 Gaiman book and by no means have a clue.
Amanda @ On a Book Bender October 31, 2012 at 9:59 am
The focus of the books could be more on the world/situation than on the characters, too.
Mary @ BookSwarm October 31, 2012 at 7:27 am
I HATE how reading slumps color everything you read, even if it’s the best book in the world. Or a Neil Gaiman book. I haven’t read this one so I can’t say that it rocked my world but it *sounds* good.
Amanda @ On a Book Bender October 31, 2012 at 9:59 am
Reading slumps are the pits. I’m still in mine. :(
Rummanah October 31, 2012 at 9:27 am
I’ve been meaning to pick this one up ever since it was selected for “One book One Chicago” program a few years ago. Gaiman is a hit or miss with me. Either I really, really love it or it’s a meh / so-so read. He’s definitely dark and has a twisted sense of humor that run throughout his books.
Amanda @ On a Book Bender October 31, 2012 at 10:01 am
I like dark and twisted. I’m curious if I’ll like his other books better. I’ll have to conduct a little experiment. And go into the next book with fewer expectations, I suppose.
Jenny October 31, 2012 at 10:10 am
I feel like so many of us are currently in a reading/reviewing slump or have recently been in one. I’m slowly coming out of mine, but it’s been a process and said slump has definitely colored my opinion of several books. I’m kind of curious about these commas though, are they super excessive? Now that’s all I’m going to be able to fixate on. Love it:)
Amanda @ On a Book Bender October 31, 2012 at 11:17 am
We’re having a slump epidemic! It does seem like a lot of us are struggling, though. Boo. I’m hoping my reading slump clears up soon.
I wouldn’t say the commas were super excessive, just… more than usual. And in my slump, it was something I picked up on.
Kristilyn (Reading in Winter) October 31, 2012 at 3:17 pm
I absolutely ADORE Neil Gaiman. Really, I haven’t read a LOT of his books, but more of the Sandman graphic novels, his MG and children’s books, and a few of his more YA-type books. I love it ALL! I have this one on my shelf and a few others and really need to get to them.
Oh, OH! And his Christmas short story is AWESOME.
Anyway, I had tried to read this a few times YEARS ago when I bought it, but never really got into it. I think I should try it again because I don’t think I was ready for it. Neil has such a good voice when it comes to writing that makes him so accessible and his worlds are like no other.
If you continue on with Neil’s works, can I recommend Stardust and The Tragic Comedy or Comical Tragedy of Mr Punch? Both are AWESOME.
Great review, Amanda!
Amanda @ On a Book Bender November 1, 2012 at 8:58 am
I downloaded the free audiobook of his short story last week!
Felicia October 31, 2012 at 5:34 pm
I both love and get confused by N.G.
My favorite by far is American Gods. It is fantastic and the new audio was beyond magical. 10 narrators just rocked the casbah.
I haven’t read Nevermore. I started it but I could tell that is one that I wouldn’t love.
However—Stardust is freaking amazing. I adore it :)
Sarah (saz101) October 31, 2012 at 5:48 pm
The audiobook has individual narrators?
:O :O :O
OK, you just rocked… err… my casbah?
Felicia October 31, 2012 at 6:31 pm
They put out a 10th Anniversary Addition: http://www.audible.com/pd?asin=B0055274U2
It is 4 narrators but 10th anniversary I just realized I wrote 10 that but it is freaking amazing! I mean seriously AMAZING!
Sarah (saz101) October 31, 2012 at 6:36 pm
Ooooh, this is sounding FAMILIAR. I think I remember him talking about the recording of it on his blog? But… I’m thick? Seriously, I don’t think I’ve ever met a book I think would be more wonderful to listen to.
OK. Well maybe The Graveyard Book :D
Felicia October 31, 2012 at 6:49 pm
You are right! I would say the same thing about the original recording as I do this one—simply amazing!
I think both are high quality narrations. The extra narrators in this one just give it a different spin on the same story. :)
Amanda @ On a Book Bender November 1, 2012 at 9:02 am
I will have to add both Stardust and American Gods to my list. :)
Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal October 31, 2012 at 7:23 pm
So, there was a mini-series made of this book a while back (possibly a BBC one, I don’t really remember) and it was so freaking COOL to see snippets of London Below come to life. The mini-series didn’t quite hit its stride like I wanted it to in all aspects, but it was… neat.
Anywho. HOLY COMMAS, BATMAN!
I love that.
Amanda @ On a Book Bender November 1, 2012 at 9:04 am
Oooh. That sounds interesting.
There were a lot of commas!
Smash Attack October 31, 2012 at 9:19 pm
This review is pretty damn awesome, just like you! You appear to have enjoyed London Below and all its fantastical fantasticness. The characters were pretty fascinating, but I agree that a strong connection to any of them was pretty lost on me. I just wanted to know more about London Below and all it had to offer. Heh. Croup and Vandemar are my favorite villains evar.
The mini-series is wicked fun to watch. Humorous and quirky. If I’m not mistake, the mini-series came before the book. That’s different!
HOLY COMMAS, indeed. Glad you enjoyed it and hope that your slump has improved. I think I will pick up American Gods soon, since I’ve had it forever and many Gaiman fans love it. :)
Amanda @ On a Book Bender November 1, 2012 at 9:18 am
Yes! London Below was very fascinating. I could have spent a lot longer there.
Hmm. I wonder if the mini-series would be available on Netflix… I’ll have to check that. :)
Jayla |LadyBlueJay November 4, 2012 at 6:33 am
Neverwhere is pretty up there on my favorite Neil Gaiman books list. Door was someone I really wanted to get to know more of because she is so bad ass. The descriptions in the book are so vivid. I am glad you mentioned those!! Great review!!!
Amanda @ On a Book Bender November 4, 2012 at 9:10 am
Yes! Vivid is the perfect word for the descriptions. :)
LLM - ABookGeek November 6, 2012 at 12:18 pm
American Gods is my favorite Gaiman novel. Also, if you like graphic novels, try the Sandman series. We have the entire collectors series – the only way to read them, in my opinion. (Not for kids)
Amanda @ On a Book Bender November 6, 2012 at 4:03 pm
I will have to add those to my list! :)