Booky Ramblings...

NEVERWHERE

By Neil Gaiman

Under the streets of London there's a world most people could never even dream of. A city of monsters and saints, murderers and angels, and pale girls in black velvet. Richard Mayhew is a young businessman who is about to find out more than he bargained for about this other London. A single act of kindness catapults him out of his safe and predictable life and into a world that is at once eerily familiar and yet utterly bizarre. There's a girl named Door, an Angel called Islington, an Earl who holds Court on the carriage of a Tube train, a Beast in a labyrinth, and dangers and delights beyond imagining... And Richard, who only wants to go home, is to find a strange destiny waiting for him below the streets of his native city.

“Mind the gap” is a line that anyone who is used to using the London underground should be familiar with, only does it really mean what you think it does?

I found myself between books and in search of a good read, one that would pull me into the story, when I stumbled on 'Neverwhere' by Neil Gaiman and what a read it was.

Following the average life of Richard Mayhew as he goes about his predictable routine of work and his content relationship with the ever demanding Jessica.

Acting as a good Samaritan when Richard stumbles upon a damsel in distress, that single act of kindness turns his world upside down. We are hurled into 'London Below' where Richard faces a quest to get back home.

This is a tale of trust, betrayal and sacrifice. The book has a few surprises along the way and we meet some rather eccentric characters, whom make the plot so much more interesting. We follow the appropriately named Door and her companions on a journey through an exciting yet cruel world, and on somewhat a journey of self discovery for our main man, Richard. Everyone has their own agenda and each of their own stories only pulled me that much further into the book.

A clever twist on the London underground but one that almost made me think, 'How did I not see that coming' he gives each station a literal meaning,in a harsh reality with danger lurking around every corner.

Neverwhere is a dark fantasy full of intrigue and very clever writing. This was my first read from Neil Gaiman and I look forward to reading another of his novels.

The only honest weakness is that I would of liked to read more of a back story for some of the secondary characters that I thought were sheer genius. Overall an easy, enjoyable read full of imaginative and creative writing.