Neverwhere Group Read - Part 1

1. What do you think of our two villains thus far, Messrs. Croup and Vandemar?
I think they are thoroughly despicable, but at first I thought they were a little ridiculous and a bit  humorous, like Laurel and Hardy; but then I quickly came to realize they were psychopathic villains of the vilest sort.


2. Thus far we’ve had a small taste of London Below and of the people who inhabit it. What do you think of this world, this space that lies within or somewhat overlaps the space the “real world” occupies?
It's gritty, dark and dangerous, as London Above can also be in part, but London Below is a world both magical and terrifying -- like the dark side of the looking glass.


3. What ideas or themes are you seeing in these first 5 chapters of Neverwhere? Are there any that you are particularly drawn to?
Richard is likeable but not the brightest bulb.  He lives a safe, respectable life with a good job and a fiancee (a bossy and uncompromising maneater), but it doesn't seem that he is totally in control of his life and that he truly knows who he really is.  Perhaps his sojourn down below will teach him some things he needs to learn.


 4. We’ve met a number of secondary characters in the novel, who has grabbed your attention and why?
I like Longtail (because I enjoy stories with animals that speak and I especially like rats for some reason) and Hunter (a strong, independent, take-nothing-from-nobody woman I would like to know more about).  I am also interested in Islington.


5. As you consider the Floating Market, what kind of things does your imagination conjure up? What would you hope to find, or what would you be looking for, at the Market?  
I love flea markets.  I would hope there would be lots and lots of ancient books and all sorts of antiques, curiosities and unusual and decorative items that would appeal to me.


6. If you haven’t already answered it in the questions above, what are your overall impressions of the book to this point?
I think the characters and the setting are very real.  One can almost hear the scuttling of rats and dripping of sewer water in the background.  Also, he moves everything along at a good pace.  Although contemporary urban fantasy is not to my taste, Gaiman is a gifted storyteller and I've found the book fun, quirky, mildly disturbing and easy reading.  I enjoy keeping track of the literary allusions also.