Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

I love winter break; it gives me so much more time to read. I caught a little bit of the BBC miniseries Neverwhere, and I was intrigued enough to pick up a copy of the book. I was also still on a bit of a fantasy kick after reading The City of Dreaming Books. This was the first book I’ve read by Neil Gaiman, and it did not disappoint.

The basic idea of this book is what captured my attention most: London Below, which exists not only below, but also on top of and side-by-side in a sort of different dimension of reality and, occasionally, time, with the regular, old, boring city. In London Below, “Mind the Gap” is quite a strong warning, a Floating Market appears in Harrods every so often so people can sell curries and chicken bones, and Roman soldiers, angels (yes, those kinds of angels), giant beasts, vampiresses, Amazon women, and rat-speakers coexists alongside one another. Gaiman creates a dizzying world that is equal parts fantasy, sci-fi, and steampunk. My favorite part of his writing, though, is the fact that he never explains much of this world; it just is. I personally dislike it when authors attempt rationalize things that are, by definition, fantastical.

Gaiman is equally skilled at crafting convincing and complex characters from very little exposition. I loved both Hunter and the Marquis de Carabas, and to a lesser degree, Door and Richard. I found Hunter and the marquis to be exquisitely complex and mysterious characters, and I was aching to learn more about them. Door and Richard, our two protagonists, are certainly likable and sympathetic, but a bit two-dimensional. What can I say? I tend to like those characters that border between villain and hero much more than the obvious good guys.

Since I mentioned villains, let me just say: Gaiman’s villains are true villains. They are disturbing, frightening, and totally bat-shit crazy. The antagonists of this book are superbly crafted.

Overall, this was quite an enjoyable read. Although it’s not necessarily short, it was a fairly quick read. If you are looking for a modern-day fantasy adventure book, this would be a good pick. I’m looking forward to reading another book by Gaiman next.

The City of Dreaming Books by Walter Moers

This is a book for people who love books. I don’t just mean people who enjoy reading, but people who actually LOVE books. The kind of person that looks at a Kindle and thinks, “No thanks, I’ll just stick to my paper and ink.” The kind of person who devours pages upon pages, staying up far too late when they have work or school in the morning. The kind of person who wishes that our media-infested world would appreciate literature a little more.

Walter Moers’s The City of Dreaming Books depicts that wish realized. In Bookholm, the eponymous metropolis, books are the most precious objects in all of existence. Literature is exalted, authors are worshiped, and books are traded like commodities. This society, however, is not as pleasant as one might think.

This book is, quite literally, an adventure. It is filled with heart-racing excitement, nail-biting anticipation, horrific monsters, fiendish villains, surprise heroes, and even more surprising friendships. Nothing is what it seems, and every page contains a new revelation. You will read it until your eyes are bleary and sleep calls you because you simply must know what happens next.

Its thrilling plot and marvelous characters aside, this book is remarkable because it reminds you of just how glad you are to be literate, to be able not only to read a book, but to experience it. This book will leave you brimming with pure, unadulterated joy and a smile on your face. The City of Dreaming Books is a celebration of reading. Walter Moers perfectly demonstrates the amazing ability of words to twist and turn into emotions.

Seriously, if you haven’t gotten my point yet, here it is: go read this book!

In response to some other reviews, I would never call this book a young adult novel. First of all, the vocabulary and allusions are simply too difficult for most teenagers or college students. Secondly, there’s quite a lot of brutality and murdering going around in the novel. Anyone who is just reading this book for the plot is missing the point of the book and fulfilling Pfistomel Smyke’s expectations of readers. Finally, although this book is described as being part of the “Zamonia series,” you do not need to read the other two to understand this one. All of Moers’s books are stand-alone.

P.S. If you like this book, four other books written by Walter Moers have been translated into English, including The Alchemist’s Apprentice (a novel “written” by Optimus Yarnspinner) which came out earlier this year!