the lies we told

[lauralh]

Read Neverwhere last night, and I guess I have to say that I don't really "like" Neil Gaiman's work. It's interesting and captivating, but the writing is so utterly detached that I can't really relate to any of the characters. The only ones you have any empathy for are kind of minor. And his main character-narrator type is always completely unempathizable. So I can't fully "escape" into him. It was easier with the comic books, but Dream was still like that. Really I think the problem is that Gaiman can't relate to men either; his female characters are far more realized and three-dimensional.

Comments

[pamc.livejournal.com]

Try "Stardust". Completely different.

That and know that "Neverwhere" was written after the miniseries was made, so you may want to watch it to get the original "feel".

[herbaliser.livejournal.com]

yeah, I read stardust years ago and enjoyed it. I didn't realize the miniseries came out first, either; I was saying to Reg that I wanted to see it now.

[discogravy.livejournal.com]

his shorts are much better than the longer stuff (i was particularly disappointed with the ending of american gods). he's got a less severe case of the dreaded NealStephensonCan'tWriteAFuckingEndingToSaveHisLife-itis.

re:Neal vs.Neil comparison.

[a-muse-d.livejournal.com]

but who came first? the chicken, or the egg?

[sionheaney.livejournal.com]

Neil Gaiman does have a very distinctive style that can separate the reader from the characters but if you're willing to give him another try why not read American Gods. The main character is a tad more accessible than Richard Mayhew.

I wonder if many American readers 'get it' with the London Underground and the dispossessed wandering the streets of London.

[herbaliser.livejournal.com]

I actually read that one first!