Neverwhere (Spring 2011)
Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman is the 20 th selection for One Book, One Chicago.
Neverwhere Overview
Neverwhere is a fantasy novel. Neil Gaiman is a prolific author who works in many genres -- nonfiction, film, comics, young adult and children’s fiction, fantasy and more -- and whose work includes Newberry Medal winner The Graveyard Book, American Gods, Coraline, Anansi Boys and The Sandman comics. He boasts more than 1.5 million followers on Twitter. The book tells the story of Richard Mayhew, an office worker in London who, after helping a young woman lying injured on a sidewalk, has his existence completely erased. He is subsequently pulled into the haunting and fantastic world of “London Below,” populated by people and things that have “fallen through the cracks” of the world above. He undertakes an unbelievable journey full of unforgettable people, creatures and places, all the while hoping to return to “London Above” and to normalcy.
YOUmedia will offer a series of interactive workshops inspired by Neverwhere. Projects include oral histories, digital video, art work, visual mapping and chronology, photographs, film, poetry, music, and more, all detailing their experience reading the book.
YOUmedia's Neverwhere Workshops
Digital Media Workshops in YOUmedia Thursdays through April 28, 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. Harold Washington Library Center, YOUmedia 400 S. State St., 1st Fl. Join a team of mentors and other teens to add even more dimensions to the worlds of Neverwhere. Read, discuss, create and be inspired in these after-school digital media workshops inspired by Neil Gaiman’s novel. Check youmediachicago.org or call (312) 747-5260 for more information.Fan-Fiction: This is your chance to remix and/or continue the story of Neverwhere. Write and create a mixed media digital flipbook to chronicle significant characters and themes represented in Neverwhere..
Graphic Novel: (Book Soundtrack): Using the application Comic Life, this is your chance to create an adaptation of Neverwhere. By creating a graphic novel you will be able re-envision the book’s characters, events and themes.
The “Chicago Below” Mix Tape (Spoken Word & Hip Hop): Create and perform thematic spoken word poetry and/or hip-hop inspired by characters and themes presented in Neverwhere..
Sounds About Write (Book Soundtrack): Compose an original score that reflects themes, characters or events represented in a Neverwhere.
Video and Photo Documentary: Use video and photography to reflect on the two worlds of Chicago Above (The City) and Chicago Below (The Subway). Compare and contrast how this reflects the themes in Neverwhere. .
Check out our NEVERWHERE BLOG iRemix: One Book, One Chicago.