Reviews tagging 'Death'

The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

108 reviews

clarkiebarkie's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse and Death

Minor: Infidelity and Grief

carolinebl's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

I wanted to like this book, because I loved Neverwhere and Good Omens, but something was missing.  I would have enjoyed it more as a short story, as was originally intended. I could see certain points about the nature of childhood, but I couldn’t grasp the heart of the story.

The Hempstocks were comforting and the characterisation of ‘Ursula’ was very creative,

so I didn’t struggle to finish the book. The epilogue was one of my favourite sections also, but overall the book did not feel fully fleshed-out. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse

Moderate: Suicide, Animal death, and Death

jessreadseverything's review against another edition

adventurous reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death and Child abuse

tabookish's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Confinement, Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Animal death, Child death, Physical abuse, and Suicide

Moderate: Abandonment, Infidelity, and Grief

riverofhorton's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

So I went into this book thinking it was a kid's book and would be a fun frolic in a fantasy world. A kid's book it most definitely is not, despite the main character being 7 through the main part of the story. Once I realised and came to terms with my own assumptions being wrong, I found the book to be really enjoyable.

It tackles a few quite mature themes through the wonder of a child's perspective, which is something I don't think I've seen before. It takes place pretty much in our world but with a bit of magic thrown in, some being things that are still magic to us as children, giving the impression that there is magic to be found in the real world, if you look through that child-like lens.

I did also appreciate some of the little call backs to things that previously seemed unimportant.

I also liked that it ends in such a way as to facilitate re-reading.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Murder, Torture, Suicide, Blood, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Body horror, Violence, Confinement, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Animal death, Gaslighting, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Physical abuse

chronicacademia's review against another edition

adventurous emotional sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Animal death, Child death, and Child abuse

Moderate: Physical abuse, Gaslighting, Car accident, Death, and Infidelity

Minor: Blood and Bullying

elwh's review against another edition

adventurous dark lighthearted mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide and Death

theredheded_bibliomaniac's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

I found it boring 
A bit slow 
Then i thought maybe it was a children's book 
But children won't understand what was going on 
Coz till half of the book i didn't 
.
Good imagination no doubt 
But I think the world should have developed more 
It felt half baked 🙈
.
I feel bad to say such a thing for such a famous and brilliant author 
But this book no 
Please

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death, and Child abuse

lumatasia98's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Child abuse

antarcticophile's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

A wonderful sprint through a fantastical but familiar land in the shoes of a child.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Suicide, and Child abuse

Moderate: Child death, Sexual content, Infidelity, Death, and Animal death

Minor: Body horror, Blood, and Confinement