Reviews

The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

goblin_w_ksiazkach's review against another edition

adventurous lighthearted fast-paced

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

2.0

rletch's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

kiyomi33's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark inspiring mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.25

dubtek5000's review against another edition

4.0

Really enjoyed this book. It was a really fun imaginative journey with some very creative characters and some true evil as well. What is not to love

julia__tabea's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Child abuse, and Death

exar3996's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious 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? Yes

4.5

maelstrom_of_emotions's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

  "You don't pass or fail at a being a person, dear.” 

This story doesn’t just remind me of my childhood; it is my childhood. Whenever people spoke of this book, they often said it felt as if it were whispering to them about their own childhoods—even if the events within never truly happened to them. I was skeptical, but after reading it, I understand their sentiments completely.

When all is said and done, this story is about you. You will recognize that the moment you delve into it.  The words nestle between your lungs, close to your heart, as though they have come home. And though, the precise events may not be yours, and though you've maybe never experienced these things firsthand, may have never experienced choking up silver shillings and pulling out ocean-eyed cats from the ground, I wholeheartedly believe that you will know them for what they are—pieces of the person you once were, pieces of the person you have become.

This story is heartbreaking in its aching tenderness as it breaks you apart, piece by piece, bit by bit. Until all you have left is a person made from sheer stubbornness and scar tissue. And it is that aching feeling that carries over once you've read it and you realize the world continues to spin with perfect indifference as though nothing had happened when it feels as though you can never look at the world the same again. And if there's one thing I truly regret about reading this book, it's that I shall never experience the feeling of reading this book for the first time.

This story is about lonely birthday parties and trauma. Of lost pets and burnt toast. Of childhood trauma and the deep unsettling horror that is familiar as your own mind. Of a duck pond the size of an ocean.

This is the story of your childhood. 

coffeequasars's review against another edition

5.0

If only one day I can have the slightest bit of the grandmotherly essence that Old Mrs. Helpstock has inside of her, I will be as whole and complete as the full moon is.

Besides, a word of advice to remember from the empress of grandmothers herself: "Nothing a man could do [...] that I can't do twice as fast and five times as well."

imoshu's review against another edition

4.75

My favourite Gaiman so far.

yazzie_27's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

3.0