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crloken's review against another edition
5.0
Original Review: Entertaining play on Jungle Book. Its told in an episodic style where every chapter is a separate story, and this works quite well. Its a fun book with a good message that I would not hesitate to give to children.
Update: I used to have so much more brevity in my reviews on here. I believe my original intent was just to have a sentence or two for my own uses about all the books I read. When I returned to goodreads recently it was more specifically in order to make myself practice writing in some form. Anyway, I just reread The Graveyard Book and I pretty much agree with my former review except to say that the book is more haunting and beautiful than I gave it credit for.
Nobody Owens is adopted by ghosts after his family is killed by The Man Jack and is given freedom of the graveyard. Each chapter takes place two years after the previous one and tells another story about Bod's life growing up in a graveyard, his love for his dead friends and family, and his yearning for the living.
By framing life by showing only one living boy trying to grow up among a graveyard of ghosts, Gaiman is able to illustrate the process of growing up in a way that feels both inspirational and wistful. Life is filled with potential and as long as we have that there is hope for change and growth and for things to get better.
It's very different to interact with fiction than it was in 2013 or even in 2019. In the age of the pandemic there is a particular angst and fear that becomes reflected in the way I view a lot of fiction. The Graveyard Book was a good pandemic read. In a weird way the quarantine makes one feel a kinship to Bod as he is trapped in the graveyard, but there is also a hope, joy and beauty of life that Gaiman brings out in his story about dead people. The Graveyard Book is haunting, but helps remind me that the quarantine will end and the world will be out there waiting.
Update: I used to have so much more brevity in my reviews on here. I believe my original intent was just to have a sentence or two for my own uses about all the books I read. When I returned to goodreads recently it was more specifically in order to make myself practice writing in some form. Anyway, I just reread The Graveyard Book and I pretty much agree with my former review except to say that the book is more haunting and beautiful than I gave it credit for.
Nobody Owens is adopted by ghosts after his family is killed by The Man Jack and is given freedom of the graveyard. Each chapter takes place two years after the previous one and tells another story about Bod's life growing up in a graveyard, his love for his dead friends and family, and his yearning for the living.
By framing life by showing only one living boy trying to grow up among a graveyard of ghosts, Gaiman is able to illustrate the process of growing up in a way that feels both inspirational and wistful. Life is filled with potential and as long as we have that there is hope for change and growth and for things to get better.
It's very different to interact with fiction than it was in 2013 or even in 2019. In the age of the pandemic there is a particular angst and fear that becomes reflected in the way I view a lot of fiction. The Graveyard Book was a good pandemic read. In a weird way the quarantine makes one feel a kinship to Bod as he is trapped in the graveyard, but there is also a hope, joy and beauty of life that Gaiman brings out in his story about dead people. The Graveyard Book is haunting, but helps remind me that the quarantine will end and the world will be out there waiting.
mx5421's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
kirstenrose22's review against another edition
3.0
I have such high expectations for Neil Gaiman, and he never seems to quite reach them. This wasn't quite as derivative as American Gods, thankfully, but it still seemed all over the map and a bit disjointed. It wasn't bad, but I sure can't figure out why it won the Newbery. Huh.
saranadin's review against another edition
4.0
Really loved this, loved seeing him grow and at the end almost cried with nostalgic emotions
omhorter's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
millieinks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Absolutely brilliant! As per, Neil has provided another book that grips the heartstrings even when you do not realise it! Would give it 10 stars if I could!
The ending made me ugly cry too!
The ending made me ugly cry too!
bexterrr's review against another edition
4.0
I won't lie. After Stardust I was mildly disappointed and didn't feel the urge to seek out more of his books. But this one caught my eye the other day and I'm glad it did.
Although I find some of this phrasing a little off somehow, he does have an incredible ability of making up small pockets of worlds that we're only given a frustratingly small glance of. But as much as you want to go deeper into the world, I do think he satisfies his readers with the stories.
I am definitely now eager to read more of his work.
Although I find some of this phrasing a little off somehow, he does have an incredible ability of making up small pockets of worlds that we're only given a frustratingly small glance of. But as much as you want to go deeper into the world, I do think he satisfies his readers with the stories.
I am definitely now eager to read more of his work.
emmajlovett's review against another edition
4.0
Let's just say this: I hated this book until I watched Neil Gaiman's speech for the Institute of the Arts 2012. Then everything made sense.
ionarangeley's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0