My rating: 3 of 5 stars to Neil Gaiman‘s Neverwhere, a fantasy full of quirky characters and commentary on society, published in 1996. This was another book group selection (not mine), but by someone who has very good taste in books.
I’d never read Gaiman before, but he seems to be immensely popular. We read it in 2009, many years after it first hit print, but still at the cusp of my interest in fantasy books. I think it was too much of a fantasy for me, as I tend to need some rules or boundaries, and I couldn’t tell what was real here. Seems it’s all real, but for a newbie at the time, I was lost.
Essentially, a man wandering around London, falls through a hole of sorts… into fantasy world… and when he returns, everyone has basically forgotten who he was. Right from that point… I’m not sure what’s real anymore. But I stuck with it… and he meets tons of people after him, including a mouse (yes a mouse)… Door (yes, that’s her name) is his new friend, and she’s helping him thru this new world, but then she disappears. Very complex. Door must stand for something. I might consider re-reading this one again to see if I’m more open-minded about it.
And this refers to my understanding of the book and the graphic above about “I’m lost and returning…” Never happened.
Key Take-a-Ways
1. The characters are wonderful. Imaginative. Vivid. Very likable, but also a tad confusing. Was this Peter Pan in Neverland??????? Alice in the Wonderland?
2. London is very dark. Scary dark.
3. Life is not what it seems. Don’t ever try to be a Good Samaritan and rescue someone. NOT WORTH IT!!!!
4. Gaiman is a master at intense visuals.
5. I’m not as creative as I think I am.
So… read this if you love fantasy. If you don’t, I wouldn’t chance it. This was a very “out there” type book for me… though it had many funny and wonderful parts.
Good Luck if you cross that one…
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I have followers and I follow some reviewers who are all about fantasy and world building. My first exposure to it was about 25 years ago. I had trouble seeing the attraction then and I still do. I’m sure the fantasy aficionados feel the same way about my attraction to mysteries. I do try to read outside the mystery genre occasionally and usually am pleased with my choices. Variety is indeed the spice of life, but sometimes there is nothing like comfort food.
I couldn’t have said that better myself. Very wise. My go to is always the mystery!
Ah this is one of my favorites! I can definitely see how this one could perhaps feel a bit overwhelming (for lack of better word) for some readers. He certainly builds a vast world within Neverwhere. I would love to hear your thoughts on this is you decide to re-read. Great review!
Thank you! I want to read a different Gaiman before I take this one on again. Any suggestions?
Is this the only title you have read by him? His newest “Norse Mythology” is great only if you are into mythology. Many favor Stardust. He has a lot out there. Most of what I have read is heavy fantasy elements. You might look into The Ocean at the End of the Lane 🙂
Thanks. It’s the only one I’ve read by him. I thought picking a good one that wasn’t too strong on the fantasy would be a good option.
Hmm.. I may not be the best to ask 😉 I also go for fantasy when I can.
You may be surprised at what I am about to say, especially since you “know” me so well, but this is definitely one of my all-time favorite books. Gaiman is sooo special in so many ways, but this novel/fantasy may well be his “masterpiece.”
Yikes, a little surprised, but not a whole lot. When you have a few free minutes, as I know you’re very busy right now, you need to explain this book more to me. What is it I missed that makes everyone love it so!
I think other than the Dark Tower, whose motto is something like There are other worlds out there, this novel is the best creation of other worlds. Especially the other worlds beneath the streets of London and the adventures that take place there. There are life lessons to be learned along the way, and this other world has such twists and turns, shifts and shape-changes that one can never predict what will happen next. It shows such great creativity and imagination that only a genius mind could have created it. It is massive and you never want to quit or give up on it.
Another favorite. I actually discovered Neil Gaiman about five years ago when I read “The Ocean at the End of the Lane” and it was love from that day forward. Loved Neverwhere too, especially the Angel Islington. I have friends who live in Islington, in London, so I always had such great associations with Gaiman’s alternate London. And…….for another take on this book, https://foodinbooks.com/2016/08/29/neverwhere-by-neil-gaiman/
I’m curious on this one… jumping over to check your review. This was a book that just didn’t grab my attention.
Some other folks said the same thing. Maybe I liked it so much because of being set in London and the whole alternate universe thing? Let me know your thoughts on my review.
will do