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"Neverwhere" by Neil Gaiman Neverwhere is the story of Richard Mayhew, a young London businessman with a good heart and an ordinary life, which is changed forever when he is plunged through the cracks of reality into a world of shadows and darkness—the Neverwhere. Learn more | See related books
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I picked this book up on a whim at a bookstore in London. The author is actually a French screenplay writer, so the book reads much like a script (set in the present tense, etc). It's really a light and uplifting read about how a positive attitude can affect all aspects of your life, without being "preachy" in any aspect. It just makes you think. It's a quick book and I recommend it to anyone who needs a little pick-me-up.
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The Tuvaches, a sort of working class Addams Family, operate The Suicide Shop--a shop where anyone can purchase the equipment and/or training required to off themselves (though children can only purchase sweets that have a 50% chance of killing them).
The story is set some time after North America has been laid to waste by the Big One--but for the most part it could pass as contemporary, with the odd bit of future tech: holographic greeting cards; a solution that turn one's kiss poisonous to others; 3d semi-immersive full-sensory television.
Mishima and Lucrèce Tuvache have three children--two depressed and/or ailing, and the youngest, bright and cherubic. This latter child, Alan, is the force that changes everything.
The chapters are brief, often terse, and the story progresses swiftly--at times a little too swiftly, in that I felt the characters bounced a bit too much in mood and disposition. At the same time, the quick pace kept me turning pages.
I was somewhat disappointed by the direction of the narrative--it's described as a quirky black comedy, but I found it more comedy, verging on slapstick, and less black (until, perhaps, the end). Alan's cheer and undauntable optimism quickly infects the rest of the family (except for Mishima, the father); even suicide commandos are shown to not be able to withstand his barrage of cheerfulness (a favorite quote: "I'll only be demonstrating this to you once!").
Still, it has a definite charm, and if you are perhaps less jaded you might get a real kick out of it throughout. I could easily see it being a cult favorite in the right circles.
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The concept of this book really appealed to me but I think a lot more could have been done with it. For me, the problem was that it lacked meatiness - there is no character development and the plot is slim (but im sure the author intended on keeping it light and fluffy). Despite that, I thought it was amusing and I didn't mind it. If you have a quirky sense of humour and don't mind a quick 'n easy read (170 pages), then it's worth a go.
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The Suicide Shop by Jean Teule is book of black humor. Long ago, there used to be a cartoon character who always walked with a black cloud hanging above his head. His sadness was nothing compared to the invisible black clouds that follow these characters. Everyone in the Tuvache family, along with just about everyone in their town, is depressed. Their only joy is The Suicide Shop, which carries a vast array of ways to kill yourself.
No one smiles when they come to the shop, even when they find the perfect-for-them suicide tools.
But then the unthinkable happens. A happy child is born to the Tuvache family and he refuses to step into the darkness and follow his family. He is the oddball in town and an enigma to his family.
This book was almost depressing, as person after person comes into the shop looking for ways to kill themselves. The Tuvaches have an unlimited list of methods to get the job done. And yet, there is Alan's tiny smile and joy that bring light to the shop, much to the chagrin of the family and shoppers.
Can the smile of one boy change his family? His town? Or will he succumb to the doom and gloom?
If you like dark humor, you'll probably like this book. I give The Suicide Shop a rating of Hel-of-a-Twist. While The Suicide Shop is dark humor, it also has a small ray of sunshine, but like most dark stories, there is always an unexpected twist to the story.
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In a post-apocalyptic world, the population doesn't have much to live for. Suicide is a business, and the business is brisk. The Suicide Shop by Jean Teule is a quirky novel translated into English by Gallic Books. It centers around a small family shop that offers up a range of options for killing ones self, and the family is well-suited for it. Every family member is morose, and it makes them perfect for recommending ways to end it all. All this works well, until their youngest child develops a horrible character defect... he's an optimist. As he grows up and finds wonder and joy in everything, it starts to change the dynamics of the family. Everyone becomes happy and joyful, and the business starts a shift towards laughter and celebration... except for the father... who is nearly despondent to the point of death...
The Suicide Shop is unusual, to say the least. It's an unexpected premise and a situation you'd never think possible. It's meant to be humorous, which it is due to the premise and the reactions of the various family members as they undergo their transformations. It's hard to tell where the story is going, as it doesn't really match anything you can draw on as a frame of reference. Suffice it to say that "ironic" is a word that comes into play.
This is one of those books where I give it an average rating with the caveat "your mileage may vary." It may have been due to the translation (as in having "lost something in"), or the absurdity of it. Perhaps the best way to put it is... it's different.
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