Ratings913
Average rating4.1
One of the best fantasy books I've ever read - almost as good as the Lord of the Rings, in my humble opinion. A whole universe started and finished in a single book - Neil Gaiman for you, ladies and gentlemen!
I've recently reread Neil Gaiman's “Neverwhere” and it exceeded my expectations from when I read it years ago. It took me on a thrilling and rather surreal journey through the fictitious underworld of London.From the very beginning, Gaiman drew me in with his vivid descriptions of the bustling city and the mundane world of Richard Mayhew, the protagonist. The storyline takes an unexpected turn when Richard helps an injured young woman and becomes immersed in a dangerous and supernatural world. The plot is full of twists and turns, making it impossible to predict what will happen next.The world-building in “Neverwhere” is nothing short of remarkable. Gaiman's imagination brings to life the vivid and fantastical setting of “London Below”, a parallel universe that exists beneath the streets of London. He creates a fascinating and complex society of outcasts who are living in the shadows and forgotten corners of the city. The individual characters are just as captivating, each one with their unique backstory and quirks that make them feel like real people.Gaiman's writing style is eloquent, descriptive, and immersive. He has a way of painting a vivid picture with his words that makes the story come to life in my mind. I found myself completely lost in the story at times.In conclusion, “Neverwhere” is a fantastic novel that I would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys fantasy or just a good adventure story. Four out of five stars.Blog Facebook Twitter Mastodon Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix TumblrCeterum censeo Putin esse delendam
I just really, really love Neil Gaiman so you can guess how thrilled I was to discover that this audiobook was performed by Neil Gaiman himself.
This story is so enchanting. It is twisting and absolutely magical. I fell in love with London's Underside and I would gladly read many more books about Richard and the others. The setting is absolutely lovely and vivid in my mind. It's precisely the setting that I expect from Gaiman's novels.
The characters are all so unique and mystical themselves, and many of them are not what you would expect them to be. None of them are quite good and our hero, Richard, is certainly not very heroic. I also really liked this because of the lack of romance. So many of the books I read nowadays have romance in them that sometimes it's nice to read something without romance- especially when it would have been so easy for Gaiman to force a relationship between two of the characters into it. In this book, men and women can just be friends, which is also very fun to read about.
I loved this plot. It was unique and filled with surprises. It's not quite like anything I've ever read before, which is always exciting. The plot twists are excellent and I was so excited trying to figure out some of the mysteries- I was wrong most of the time, though. No surprise there.
But this audiobook... is... amazing. It's probably the best audiobook I've ever read and I think part of that was due to the fact that the author himself performed it. There is music and sound effects that add to the overall experience. Gaiman is also an excellent reader and gives the story and characters so much life.
I 100% recommend this book. Absolutely loved it.
Gaiman excels at creating vivid, imaginative worlds. That said, I just couldn't get into this book.
The characters are all interesting, but there wasn't anything about them that made me feel invested in their fate. We don't spend much time inside any POV character's head, but we do get vivid descriptions of the weird world beneath London.
Also, anything was possible in the story. When death is either ambiguous or not final, it's hard for me to really care if and when a character dies. There's no emotional impact.
Overall, this was a good book. It might even be a great book. But it wasn't the book for me.
Executive Summary: I enjoyed this, but not as much as [b:American Gods 30165203 American Gods Neil Gaiman https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1462924585s/30165203.jpg 1970226]. I think the big difference was the main character.Audiobook: I'm generally not a huge fan of audiobooks read by the author, but [a:Neil Gaiman 1221698 Neil Gaiman https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1234150163p2/1221698.jpg] does a solid job here. He's a storyteller, so he's good at reading a story, especially one of his own. That said, I might have preferred an actual narrator with voices, etc. Still I'd say that audio's not a bad choice by any means.Full ReviewI've owned the ebook of this for awhile, but my reading time is very limited and I own hundreds of unread ebooks at this point. So when I got the audio as well, I finally got around to pick it up.Neil Gaiman seems to have a cult-like following on Goodreads. He's super popular. I've read a few of his books (I think this is maybe the 4th or 5th?), and I've enjoyed them but I haven't been rushing out to read all his stuff.This is a bit strange for me because I actually watched the TV miniseries (I think it was made in the 90s) as well as reading the “sequel” novella [b:How the Marquis Got His Coat Back 26699591 How the Marquis Got His Coat Back Neil Gaiman https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1442860194s/26699591.jpg 42096629] in an anthology collection I read before reading the book. That's very unlike me. I'm usually a big book before TV/Film and chronological reading order person.So I knew what to expect coming in, although I had forgotten many of the plot points as it's been a few years since I watched the series. I found things a bit slow to get started. In particular because I don't like Richard that much. Many of the things he did/said made me anxious/agitated. His life was just so disorganized that I wanted to yell at him to get his shit together.I did warm up to him as the series went on. Thankfully all the supporting characters are pretty great/memorable. I also really loved the world building. I've read another series ([b:Something from the Nightside 155421 Something from the Nightside (Nightside, #1) Simon R. Green https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1354812342s/155421.jpg 150023]) about a secret/magical London underbelly and I think Gaiman probably does the better job.There are a lot of similarities for me to [b:American Gods 30165203 American Gods Neil Gaiman https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1462924585s/30165203.jpg 1970226], which remains my favorite of the Gaiman books I've read. I think Shadow is a far more likeable protagonist which helps. It probably also helps me that I'm more familiar with the American setting than I am with the London series.I believe there has been an announcement that Gaiman is working/will work on a proper sequel novel and if that proves to be true that might be the first book of his I pick up at release time. Otherwise his work remains something I'm interested in checking out when I have time but not really top of the pile.
A very picturesque journey, with interesting characters, and a rather annoying protagonist. I loved the atmosphere, the fairy-tale touch, dialogues, even though some of the events & characters' decisions didn't seem entirely logical to me ;) Still a very good read. One of the best lately.
This book renewed my interest in fantasy genre. Neil Gaiman's world building is just amazing, his depiction of London Below was extremely captivating.
I am sincerely sad there is not a second book.
Highly recommended.
It was a bit tough to get into, the writing is very matter-of-fact and feels somewhat dull at first. About halfway through my brain clicked and that the writing style really synergized with Richard's perspective of simply absorbing the wonder and richness of the world, without really buying into it. It got much more enjoyable to read after I sort of turned the critical part of my brain off.
Solid reacd.
This is a spoiler-free review
Read on In The Sheets
Prior to Neverwhere I'd not read a Neil Gaiman book, mostly because I'm a terrible person. I figured it was about time and this was a great place to start.
Neil Gaiman is a weird dude. Also, I might be in love with him and this bizarre, anything-goes, world he created in London Below. This was so much fun to read and Neil's writing style is hilarious.
The premise of the story is essentially, “what happens if you take an every day office worker, strip him of his entire life, and throw him into an adventure in a a magical underground fantasy world with people who talk to rats and Kings who live in subway cars?” and that is a great question to ask.
The cast of characters in this book is so well rounded, I got attached to them all very quickly. Croup and Vandemar are by far my new favourite villains of all time and Richard Mayhew is my new favourite lovable, oblivious, dork.
The ending of the book, which I never wanted to come, leaves so many options open to future stories, and yet, it's been 20 years since it was written. Upon finishing the book, I Googled around to see if there was a sequel and, while there's not one, it does sound like he's writing another book in the same universe. Neil Gaiman doesn't write sequels.
The edition I read was the “Author's Preferred Text”, there are multiple versions of the book, but I thought I should start with this one. I can't wait to go back and listen to the radio show and watch the television series. The additional prologue and short story at the end of this edition were a delight and added a little something extra to the reading experience and universe.
I feel like I've been typing forever and haven't said a quarter of the things I want to say about this book. I'll end my review by saying that everyone should read this book at least once, and if you need me I'll be busy reading everything else this man has ever written.
Can't say anything bad about this book, but also not a lot of positive either. Something in the middle. Not bad, not good, not very exciting either.
It felt I read something for kids or early teenagers rather than a book for adults.
Not really sure I would recommend this book, except if you are at a younger age, at where this would be a great start into other books from Neil Gaiman.
Loved this book - can't think why it took me so long to get around to it. Maybe because I was reading all of Pratchett's... (the two collaborated on the brilliant Good Omens - read that if you haven't)
If I had to sum this up I'd say an adult ‘His Dark Materials' except far better, much less preachy (i.e. not at all) and very funny. It's not laugh out loud funny, like Pratchett or Douglas Adams (I'd say Gaiman is self-consciously writing in an Adamsian style) but wry chuckles all through.
I listened to the author reading this on my commute and I really recommend it - he delivers a dry, well acted performance and, being the author, knows exactly how he wants things to sound.
Good book, and now I'm going to have a bit of a Gaiman binge, I think...
Ah, happiest of sighs. I think everyone knows my obsession with Neil Gaiman at this point. Which is why, even though I've already read Neverwhere, I hopped on the opportunity to read this new version with Gaiman's preferred text. There's a wonderful note from him at the beginning that chronicles what he had to pull to make this what his publisher would be considered palatable for U.S. readers. In this particular version, everything is right back where it should be. As you might imagine, that makes this book a bit longer than normal. Trust me though, that's not a bad thing at all.
Richard Mayhew remains one of my all time favorite characters. His endearing awkwardness, his unfathomable kindness, everything about him just makes me adore him. Even when the world of London Below swallowed him up, Richard managed to keep his head about him. Watching him stumble through an adventure that he never thought he'd be taking, and slowly learn to accept that the world isn't quite what he believed it to be, never gets old for me! This is the third time I've read this book, although it's only the first time I've read this version. Richard continues to be his wonderful, too kind for his own good, self.
If you pressed me to tell you exactly what's different about Gaiman's preferred text version, versus the originally printed version, it would be difficult to pinpoint it for you. I noticed more description, specifically when it came to the Floating Markets and the Black Friars. I also noticed that Mr. Croup and Mr. Vandermeer were a bit more fleshed out. Which is lovely, because those two are as bad as bad guys could ever be. The best part about this version though is that there is an additional story at the end, centering around our lovely friend the Marquis de Carabas. If you're a fan of his egotistical ways, you'll love this story. Let's just say, he does get a bit of what's coming to him.
For those you who haven't yet taken the dive into London Below, let me assure you that it's well worth your time. Door, Hunter, the Marquis and Richard are all wonderfully written characters who are ready and waiting to transport you to their reality. I've always wished I'd actually been to the places that are mentioned in this story. If you're familiar with London, or better yet if you live there, you'll find Richard's inability to understand the quirkiness of London Below's maps quite reasonable. Ah, to have point of reference. You lucky readers, you.
Gaiman is wonderful. This book is wonderful. If you haven't yet read Neverwhere, I recommend picking up this version. It's well worth your time.
I liked this book. it reminded me of the Shadowhunter series by Cassandra Clare. Having been lucky enough to visit London a few times I enjoyed thinking about the place names in different and more literal terms, such as Blackfriars and Earl's Court.
A big take away from the book for me is how we look at life, that being happy with where we are is fine but that sometimes reaching for different or more might be scary but ultimately more rich and fulfilling.
It also struck me how small actions can take us down very different paths.
The book was a fast read for the second half but dragged a bit in the beginning. It's a better book to read in great chunks of time than in snippets. The chunks of time allow you to immerse yourself in the setting and with the characters.
This was another great Neil Gaiman book, I still think I liked American Gods more, but this one is right up there. Thinking I might have a new favorite author!
Comme toujours avec Neil Gaiman, un magnifique moment de fantasy unique, mêlant l'univers contemporain et le merveilleux, faisant parcourir tout Londres en long et en large, en hauteur et profondeur. Un moment génial, qui se dévore avec entrain.
This is my second book Ive read from this author. This was a beautiful book, To the stoty to the characters! The story takes you away to strangea and intriguing place. its a story about life, love, friendship, family and it it told through a fantasy world full of colorful people.
Wish that there was a sequel to this one!
4.5 stars!
Neverwhere is the second book I read by Neil Gaiman, after The Graveyard Book - after those two I am truly hooked. More recently I have added The Ocean at the End of the Road to these, and a couple of others. The writing is clean, sparse, and doesn't get in the way of his flights of imagination. For me, Gaiman straddles the thin line of the imagination of a child and that of an adult, appealing to both, transporting the adult back into the freer flights of fancy of the child while not treating his child audiences with condescension. Neverwhere was a moving and warm book, one that I would recommend to those who are feeling jaded and cynica, or depressed,l to bring you out of those doldrums with a fresh, charmed and charming look at the world.
3,5 stars
I liked some parts more than the others. I liked the test Richard went through the best ( I loved the insanity idea. It was a killer for me ). But at first, the book just seemed super random to me and it still seemed so at the end of it... but I can't say I hated this book. I really enjoyed a lot of parts of it after I got around the first 30% of it. but all in all I expected a lot better from my first Neil Gaimen but I wasn't entirely disappointed. I kind of liked this book.I finished this book two weeks ago but I didn't get the chance to put any rating till now.
I listened to the audio book with James McAvoy and Benedict Cumberbatch. If you don't have time in you schedule the audiobook is amazing.
