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strategineer's review against another edition
1.0
This book is terrible. I read through this whole novel and I don't have anything to show for it.
I probably should have put the book down and lit it on fire when the gigantic black Rastafarian sumo wrestler in a diaper showed up. I probably should have stopped reading when the profoundly unlikable protagonist turns out to be a pedo. I probably should have stopped reading when I realized that none of the characters were interesting.
This book could be a third of the length and nothing of substance would be lost. Well, this book could not exist and nothing of substance would be lost.
If it were up to me, I would go back in time to ensure that this book never gets published or even written in the first place to stop myself from reading it.
Taking the Alice in Wonderland premise of someone falling into another world completely unlike their own is really cool and I've really enjoyed other texts that use this trope (specifically the Gregor the Underground Chronicles books by Suzanne Collins). So I was completely ready and willing to open my mind and enjoy Neverwhere.
Unfortunately it sucks a$$. There's only so much I can do to look past all of the cringe inducing white man POV present in this book.
NB: I read the "Author's Preferred Text" version of this text published in 2016. I'm not certain what changes were made to the text compared to the original but just FYI.
I probably should have put the book down and lit it on fire when the gigantic black Rastafarian sumo wrestler in a diaper showed up. I probably should have stopped reading when the profoundly unlikable protagonist turns out to be a pedo. I probably should have stopped reading when I realized that none of the characters were interesting.
This book could be a third of the length and nothing of substance would be lost. Well, this book could not exist and nothing of substance would be lost.
If it were up to me, I would go back in time to ensure that this book never gets published or even written in the first place to stop myself from reading it.
Taking the Alice in Wonderland premise of someone falling into another world completely unlike their own is really cool and I've really enjoyed other texts that use this trope (specifically the Gregor the Underground Chronicles books by Suzanne Collins). So I was completely ready and willing to open my mind and enjoy Neverwhere.
Unfortunately it sucks a$$. There's only so much I can do to look past all of the cringe inducing white man POV present in this book.
NB: I read the "Author's Preferred Text" version of this text published in 2016. I'm not certain what changes were made to the text compared to the original but just FYI.
meaghanjohns's review against another edition
5.0
Neil Gaiman's clever and metaphorical descriptions made this a 5-star read. It was enchanting and thought-provoking, and I recommend picking it up if you want to be sucked down the rabbit hole of magical realism.
scarletgeranium's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
rnickte's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
kassiil's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
rebibecky's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
morgob's review against another edition
5.0
I absolutely LOVE Neil's writing. He is definitely in my top 5 favorite authors of all time. Seriously, picking up this book felt like eating soup on a rainy day while cuddled up in a blanket. Even though I hadn't been in this world before--London Below-- I felt like I had. It felt like home. I'm also very glad I got the author's preferred text because, though I have no clue the differences between the versions, this is the one Neil likes best. I loved all the characters, even Mr. Croup and Mr. Vandemar. I loved the world so much, and I have decided I would spend ten books in this world, if I could. It reminded me a bit of Kraken, to be honest. But I also think I could tell whose story this was even if his name wasn't on it. That's all I can do to describe this book: it was so irrevocably Neil. I want everyone I love to read this. I want to reread it immediately. Most of all, I want more books like this. Definitely one of my favorites of the year so far.
novaturient_bibliophile's review against another edition
4.75
I find it very difficult to fathom that this book started out as a television series considering how horrifyingly and disgustingly detailed it was. And yet, all of the scenes of the book are very easy to picture, because of all of the detail. One of my favorite aspects is how equally fleshed out all of the characters are—maybe not in terms of backstory, but in demeanor and overall traits. Especially the Marquis, he’s my favorite by far. In general, it was just a very fantastical book. Neil’s worldbuidling, knack for the unsettling, sense of humor, and distinctive tone really make for brilliant stories.
This book is very iconic in that it reminded me of so many other books (obviously Neil’s, but other ones too) and yet I feel hesitant to actually put those similarities into writing because this was truly a book in its own class. Again, I must say, brilliant.
This book is very iconic in that it reminded me of so many other books (obviously Neil’s, but other ones too) and yet I feel hesitant to actually put those similarities into writing because this was truly a book in its own class. Again, I must say, brilliant.
deanna_rigney's review against another edition
4.0
So after reading Coraline with my daughter I decided to try one of Gaiman's books written for the older set and I'm glad I did. I would not think myself a big fantasy/sci-fi kinda gal, but this definitely did it for me. It is the story of Richard Mayhew, a kind of milquetoasty fellow who let's his overbearing bore of a fiance lead him about until he saves a young girl and everything he knows changes. He is thrown into this other world called London Below, full of strange & dark characters for which Richard's previous life has not prepared him. It is a very imaginative work.