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eesh25's review against another edition
4.0
The book is set in London. At first, it's just the normal London of the time the book was published. Then strange events take place involving the main character, Richard Mayhew, finding a girl bleeding on the street and taking her to his place to help. The girl, named Door, is from an alternate London. Kind of. It's actually the London that resides below the one we know. Literally below, in the tunnels and sewers and stuff. No one from London Above knows about this other London. They aren't even able to notice anyone from there. But Richard does, and it turns his life upside down.
We follow Richard on a journey through London Below. And, without giving away too much, you can expect travels through dark and gross placed trying to evade two very skilled murderers while looking for answers. Also, a lot of grossness because one of the antagonists keeps eating the most disgusting things, and Gaiman insists on writing about them, in detail. Plus there the whole 'sewers' thing.
The protagonist is... not an interesting person. And I don't mean that in a good or bad way. He's simply the most normal person you could imagine who's been thrust into this bizarre world, and he has no clue what to do. And sure, we've seen the just-an-ordinary-girl/boy trope countless times, but never before has it felt this true. It's quite refreshing to see. His mundanity makes the peculiarities of London Below starker than ever. The poor guy is in a constant state of freaked-out. I felt so bad for him the entire time.
Overall, this was a really strange and interesting read. I enjoyed the eerie and cold tone the book had, and we got some great side-characters. I'd definitely recommend checking it out, and I'm looking forward to what Gaiman will do with the sequel.
We follow Richard on a journey through London Below. And, without giving away too much, you can expect travels through dark and gross placed trying to evade two very skilled murderers while looking for answers. Also, a lot of grossness because one of the antagonists keeps eating the most disgusting things, and Gaiman insists on writing about them, in detail. Plus there the whole 'sewers' thing.
The protagonist is... not an interesting person. And I don't mean that in a good or bad way. He's simply the most normal person you could imagine who's been thrust into this bizarre world, and he has no clue what to do. And sure, we've seen the just-an-ordinary-girl/boy trope countless times, but never before has it felt this true. It's quite refreshing to see. His mundanity makes the peculiarities of London Below starker than ever. The poor guy is in a constant state of freaked-out. I felt so bad for him the entire time.
Overall, this was a really strange and interesting read. I enjoyed the eerie and cold tone the book had, and we got some great side-characters. I'd definitely recommend checking it out, and I'm looking forward to what Gaiman will do with the sequel.
rosiethesheep's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was such a weird and wonderful book. I really enjoyed it! Quite strange at times but would love to go back into this world again and see what all the characters are up to.
patuso's review against another edition
3.0
Pues... meh
Quizá ha sido tema de expectativas... Por las reviews esperaba y quería que este libro me gustara más.
Se describen mundos ocultos bajo nuestras ciudades, de interesantes personajes, aventuras y villanos.
Es original y tiene buenas dosis de imaginación y fantasía... pero es que, no sé por qué, no ha logrado mantenerme enganchada.
Lo he terminado de leer porque sentía curiosidad por cómo terminaría todo.
Pero el ritmo en el que pasaban las cosas se me ha hecho lentooooo.
Sólo cuando ya llevaba un 80-85% se ha animado la cosa y ya he cogido carrerilla!
En mi edición hay también un relato, "De cómo el Marqués recuperó su abrigo".
Este relato me ha convencido más en cuanto a ritmo.
Y, como ocurre en "Neverwhere", también tiene muchos toques de fantasía, mucha locura y mucha MUCHA imaginación.
En fin... voy intentándolo con Gaiman (Mitos Nórdicos hace poco), pero todavía no lo pillo...
Seguiré intentando!
Quizá ha sido tema de expectativas... Por las reviews esperaba y quería que este libro me gustara más.
Se describen mundos ocultos bajo nuestras ciudades, de interesantes personajes, aventuras y villanos.
Es original y tiene buenas dosis de imaginación y fantasía... pero es que, no sé por qué, no ha logrado mantenerme enganchada.
Lo he terminado de leer porque sentía curiosidad por cómo terminaría todo.
Pero el ritmo en el que pasaban las cosas se me ha hecho lentooooo.
Sólo cuando ya llevaba un 80-85% se ha animado la cosa y ya he cogido carrerilla!
En mi edición hay también un relato, "De cómo el Marqués recuperó su abrigo".
Este relato me ha convencido más en cuanto a ritmo.
Y, como ocurre en "Neverwhere", también tiene muchos toques de fantasía, mucha locura y mucha MUCHA imaginación.
En fin... voy intentándolo con Gaiman (Mitos Nórdicos hace poco), pero todavía no lo pillo...
Seguiré intentando!
sararose_cozy's review against another edition
3.0
I listened to the audiobook. I may have to read the physical copy, because I found it hard to focus or pay attention and thus follow the story. I did. enjoy that Neil Gaiman narrated the audiobook. I like hearing how the author intended things to sound.
piratebaker's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
4.5
thefantasticalworldofsara's review against another edition
3.0
I don't know if it was my frame of my mind but this book didn't do much for me. The only way I can describe it is fine; It wasn't terrible but when I put it down between reading bouts I just didn't care or think about the story at all. Overall, an okay read but not something I can see myself rereading.
Ps. The views expressed in this review are my own and do not reflect the views of Indigo Books & Music Inc. or any of its subsidiaries. #IndigoEmployee
Ps. The views expressed in this review are my own and do not reflect the views of Indigo Books & Music Inc. or any of its subsidiaries. #IndigoEmployee
marinaxanna's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Wonderfully weird. This was my first Gaiman book and it was a good introduction—plan on reading more of his works.
I really liked the concept of London Below/London Above. All the biblical+mythological legends were cool too. All in all a good read (I don’t have his other works to compare this to lol)
I really liked the concept of London Below/London Above. All the biblical+mythological legends were cool too. All in all a good read (I don’t have his other works to compare this to lol)
yousrabushehri's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
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? It's complicated
2.0
sarah_mitra's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.5
kalikoblack's review against another edition
2.0
A whimsical world within the brief pages of a pocket size book. While detailed and imaginative writing and creations, the book was slow until the last few chapters. All in all, nothing really happened, other than watching someone slip between the cracks to be forgotten about. Much in the same way I will forget this book. This book sort of missed the mark for me, as far as a story goes. I didn't take anything away from it. Gaiman has better work out there.