This was a fairy tale and a model for urban fantasy where old myths are placed in a modern setting. The story was like stories of Fairy where nothing is real – everything is an illusion.Gaiman looks at the world just a little off-kilter, but not Stephen King off-kilter.The Marquis was crucified and rose from the dead, but he wasn’t much of a Christ-like figure.A nice touch was having Croup eat the ancient Chinese pottery. They were iconic figures like those in the Kraken by China Miéville or Jack in the Graveyard book. We loved Croup and Vandemar – they seemed to symbolize mythological characters like Pain and Panic in Greek legend or Orpheus in the Underworld.We wondered how old Door was supposed to be? Mid-teens or was she thousands of years old?.London Below which was dirty, creative, and dangerous. She was the model for London Above – with “normal” goals like getting ahead at work, getting married, etc. Jessica was very unpleasant – she was trying to change Richard.Perhaps once his eyes were opened and he knew magic existed, he couldn’t go back to a mundane existence? Others felt that Richard’s life was very empty in London Above which made it possible for him to choose Below.Some hoped he would transform his life Above after he got back and felt that the last chapter seemed tacked on to prepare for a sequel (we’re still waiting!). Richard could have chosen to live an unconventional life Above.Just because colorful adventures went on Below, doesn’t mean it would be a good place to live. No one was making things except the blacksmith - everyone else was just bartering lost or discarded things. It was too grim, dangerous and full of poverty to explain anyone ever wanting to return there. London Below was like hell and was not romantic or real.Specifically on Richard’s decision to return to London Below:

Richard was on a quest, he came of age and matured in the end.He had the capacity to kill the beast and to help Door – that is why he was chosen to find her.We had a lot of questions about the character of Richard – why was he able to kill the beast and survive the ordeal? Why did he make the decisions he did? Some of our thoughts were: Here are some highlights of the discussion: On Wednesday, October 28 th, we met to discuss Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman.

Neverwhere by neil gaiman