What is Entertainment? Part 1
Tag: Neil Gaiman
Book Review: Good Omens
Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch by Terry Pratchett
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I know, I know, it’s blasphemy to not give this book five stars. Believe me, I feel guilty only giving it three stars. Not because I feel like it deserves more but because I know I should’ve liked it more. I mean the writing was fantastic and the main characters should’ve been interesting enough. I don’t know, maybe I just need to sleep on it, but sometimes when I was reading it–it felt like the writing was focused more on coming up with a clever punchline than advancing the plot.
Don’t get me wrong it was hilarious. I had a couple belly laughs while reading it, but they weren’t enough to make me invest in the book. While I read it I had two opinions: “Oh that’s cool” or “oh that’s funny.” I didn’t have any other feelings while reading it. So, yes, I had to give it three stars. I feel badly about it; to those I offend with my mid-level rating please forgive me.
Review: Neverwhere
Wow that was fantastic!
I listened to the audiobook because my brother recommended it to me. Neil narrates it himself, which I thought was really cool.
When I think of Urban fantasies this is now the first book that will pop into my head. Neil built this incredible world below London, that weaved in and out of our reality seamlessly. I think he benefited from calling on existing infrastructures like the London Underground to give a sort of map, but he worked it into the story beautifully. There were no info dumps, everything was concise and hung tight to the plot.
It also benefited having chapters follow different characters like the Marquis and the cutthroats Croup and Vandemar because I saw how vast London Below was and learned certain rules of bartering I probably wouldn’t have learned without those chapters.
The story is plot-driven, following the quest of Door, and Richard tags along once he is accidentally brought into this world. Richard starts as a fly on the wall for the reader to see London Below but as the story unfolds he becomes an active participant in the quest.
That’s why the story is never boring. It’s an active story. The team is never waiting for their quest to find them they’re actively seeking answers and all their accomplishments are earned.
My final note might give away the ending. I’m sensitive to giving away spoilers so if it bothers you stop reading here.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
By the end of the book, we become Richard trying to open a door to London Below. We want to re-enter too.
R.K. Gold 