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nicolinebl's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
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
4.0
I don't know what to say other than I adore Neil Gaiman and his writing, and this was yet another fantastic novel by him. The beautiful illustrations from Elise Hurst made it even better, and are very fitting to the story. An element of spookiness, but not too spooky.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Child abuse, Body horror, and Child death
Moderate: Animal death, Animal cruelty, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Murder, Physical abuse, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Infidelity and Gaslighting
bookwormabby54's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death
Minor: Infidelity
startjpw23's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
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
4.0
At the beginning of this book, the main character is in the town where he grew up to attend a funeral. In his grief, he is driving around town before going to the funeral parlor. He drives to a local farmhouse. He is welcomed by an elderly woman from the farmhouse. This visit brings back memories of a period of time when he was seven years old that he had forgotten. The farmhouse kind of abuts a different dimension where there is a realm with some amazing creatures. A woman starts to work as a nanny for the boy's family. The boy dislikes her immediately. The rest of the family loves her. She menaces the boy. She isn't what she seems. The remainder of the story is the boy fighting back against the nanny. He is helped by the grandmother, mother, and daughter at the farm. They have special powers. There are some fantastical creatures. The book is told in the first person by the boy. I thought he really sounded like a seven-year-old boy. Not an adult trying to sound young. Neither the boy nor his family members are ever names. There were a lot of scary tense moments. I really liked the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
amaliesofie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, and Child abuse
Moderate: Suicide and Animal death
alucaflos's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Infidelity and Suicide
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
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
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Body horror
Moderate: Animal death, Car accident, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, and Infidelity
Minor: Sexual content
rachelditty's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
A friend of mine told me this was one of her favorite books, so I picked it up for my daily commute to and from work. Neil Gaiman's narration was smooth and enticing; I'd love to listen to more of his books narrated by him, he's got a great voice for it.
I really loved Lettie's relationship with our narrator, and it wasn't until I finished the book and there was an excerpt from a podcast interview with Gaiman that it registered that we never learn the narrator's name! That pulled the rug out from under me so thoroughly, I never would have noticed if someone else hadn't said it. I loved the Hempstocks and their mysterious abilities. The terms and procedures they do are so creative and unique. It was so fun to watch them work.
The ending was really something, too. Having our narrator go back to the ocean and remember, thanking Lettie for what she did, only to bring the dishes back to the house and ask Old Mrs. Hempstock to say hi to Lettie when she comes back from Australia. It's an ending I expected to be sad about because he doesn't remember, but it felt so content, and I was glad he didn't remember, living on for Lettie and her sacrifice for him.
Some quotes I liked:
"You get on with your own life. Lettie gave it to you. You just have to grow up and try to be worth it." (5:20:55)
"'You don't pass or fail at being a person, dear.'" (5:36:13)
I'll definitely have to pick up more of Gaiman's work in the future. This is the second book of his I've read, and I've really enjoyed both! What a great writer.
I really loved Lettie's relationship with our narrator, and it wasn't until I finished the book and there was an excerpt from a podcast interview with Gaiman that it registered that we never learn the narrator's name! That pulled the rug out from under me so thoroughly, I never would have noticed if someone else hadn't said it. I loved the Hempstocks and their mysterious abilities. The terms and procedures they do are so creative and unique. It was so fun to watch them work.
The ending was really something, too.
Some quotes I liked:
"You get on with your own life. Lettie gave it to you. You just have to grow up and try to be worth it." (5:20:55)
"'You don't pass or fail at being a person, dear.'" (5:36:13)
I'll definitely have to pick up more of Gaiman's work in the future. This is the second book of his I've read, and I've really enjoyed both! What a great writer.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror and Suicide
Minor: Death, Animal death, Violence, Child abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
franzys_whip's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Gaslighting, Suicide, Death, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Body horror, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, and Blood
irinalast's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Feelings of wonder and dread; uneasy but charming read.
Content Warnings
Minor: Physical abuse, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Violence, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Suicide, and Toxic relationship