Reviews tagging 'Infidelity'

The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

107 reviews

mariavdl's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity and Physical abuse

ijustreallyliketrees's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Death

Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, and Suicide

Minor: Infidelity and Sexual content

ramreadsagain's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

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

4.5

I was surprised by how good and readable this was, after struggling with the slow-paced slog that was American Gods last year.

The illustrations are beautiful and really add to the atmosphere created by the mesmerising prose. I’m also impressed by the massive sense of nostalgia this book managed to cause: even though our main character grew up in a different era to me, Neil Gaiman really nailed the experiences of a bookish youth who struggles to understand other people. I also loved the hints at frustration over how differently younger siblings are often treated lol. 

The world this book created is so good, Lettie and her ‘family’ are so interesting though I do feel like some of their ‘magic’ was quite conveniently not explained at times. 

My only other complaint is that our main character is a bit of a blank slate at times without much special about him, especially as he grows. Though I do believe this may be the point lol. We grow up to become an adult we would not have understood as a child. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse

Moderate: Death and Animal death

Minor: Body horror, Confinement, and Infidelity

pussyslayer3000's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Infidelity

abrdoodle's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-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? No

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Body horror, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, and Suicide

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Animal death, and Infidelity

Minor: Death and Grief

fanchera's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

3.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Death, Infidelity, and Gore

leanne_miron's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse and Child abuse

Moderate: Infidelity, Suicide, and Gaslighting

Minor: Body horror and Animal death

kermit_the_wrong's review against another edition

adventurous lighthearted 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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Infidelity

whisper88's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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? No

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Infidelity, Suicide, Animal death, and Body horror

booksjessreads's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

I have complicated feelings with this book, mainly because as I was reading it, I found it hard to understand what was happening and play it all out in my head. However, reading the conversation with Neil Gaiman that was in the end of my edition, allowed some things to make sense to me. It is a very personal book for Gaiman and I understood this a lot more when reading that part of the book. 

It did take me a while to get into the book but it did start to get interesting about half way through and I was intrigued to see how it would end. I think the fact that it was told from a child's perspective also made some experiences seem more real to me and did add depth to the book. I think it made me empathise with our MC more. 

One thing that I would disagree with a lot of reviews though, is that they said the writing was lyrical, and this didn't really ring true for me, personally. I think the writing was good at getting us into the mind of the main character, but I wouldn't say it was as lyrical as I had hoped. I also thought the plot was just a little strange in places and didn't flow well in parts, but that could just be personal preference also. 

I don't personally think this is Gaiman's best, but I still enjoyed many elements of the book all the same.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Body horror

Moderate: Animal death, Car accident, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, and Infidelity

Minor: Sexual content