A review by ashleykitkat
Neverwhere: Author's Preferred Text by Neil Gaiman

adventurous dark funny lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

I read this per a suggestion from one of my book club attendees. And I'm glad I did.  Filled with British humor, a relatable everyday man named Richard finds himself in a fantastical world after helping a girl. Although not wanting to be there, he grows as a person with more confidence and his priorities change as he befriends unusual characters assisting them on a quest, ultimately questioning where he belongs. This book was more gruesome than expected but simultaneously cartoonish which reminds me of villains with slapstick humor like Horace and Jasper from 101 Dalmatians. The silliness and being on a journey reminded me of other media such as Neverending Story and The Labyrinth and like the author mentions in the introduction, of Alice in Wonderland, Wizard of Oz, and Chronicles of Narnia. I'm highly interested in checking out the BBC Neverwhere show which the author wrote around  the same time as the novel, if I understand correctly. I often thought it would be neat seeing it as a visual medium as I read. I would definitely read more stories of characters from this university and appreciated the bonus short story about one at the end of this edition. 

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