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wintershyacinth's review
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
The pace is great, and certain stories about the dead are fun to read about. Highly recommend it to young readers.
Content Warnings
Minor: Murder
epsyphus's review
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
This is a reread for me, I still cried. I find his writing very lyrical.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent and Murder
grrr8_catsby's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
A fast, fun read and modern adaptation of The Jungle Book that at times focuses too much on its source material rather than exploring the world that it created.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Death
Minor: Child death and Death of parent
booksthatburn's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
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? Yes
4.0
Nobody Owens ("Bod") is raised by the denizens of a graveyard after the rest of his family is killed when he's a baby.
Bod grows from a baby into a teenager over the course of the book, and he feels distinct at each age in how he interacts with the world and what kinds of questions he asks. His world is built from his relationships with the others in the graveyard, whether they're consistent visitors or permanent residents. It's also shaped by his attempts to be around living people, most of which go poorly and all of which are complicated. Because Bod’s perspective is the main (but not quite only) one in the book, his understanding is the filter for most of the worldbuilding. There are things he’s told but lacks additional context to understand, and some things he knows intimately but which are just mentioned.
The first two-thirds of the book is a series of vignettes of events which happened to Bod as he grows up. The episodic pacing culminates in one major event which comprises the final third of the book and is built on everything that happened until this point. It makes this large section feel important, tense, and distinct from the other sections while complementing them perfectly.
Bod grows from a baby into a teenager over the course of the book, and he feels distinct at each age in how he interacts with the world and what kinds of questions he asks. His world is built from his relationships with the others in the graveyard, whether they're consistent visitors or permanent residents. It's also shaped by his attempts to be around living people, most of which go poorly and all of which are complicated. Because Bod’s perspective is the main (but not quite only) one in the book, his understanding is the filter for most of the worldbuilding. There are things he’s told but lacks additional context to understand, and some things he knows intimately but which are just mentioned.
The first two-thirds of the book is a series of vignettes of events which happened to Bod as he grows up. The episodic pacing culminates in one major event which comprises the final third of the book and is built on everything that happened until this point. It makes this large section feel important, tense, and distinct from the other sections while complementing them perfectly.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Kidnapping, Death, Murder, Child death, and Violence
Minor: Ableism, Suicide, and Cannibalism
marareading's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I have loved reading more of Gaiman's catalog recently. The wit, and cozy feeling fo this story was fantastic. He has a way of writing these stories that pulls you in and lulls you into a welcomed trance.
This story is about Bod. Short for Nobody Owens. A Strange man killed his family when he was a baby and he was raised by the ghosts in a graveyard. He also has a mysterious guardian. As we watch him grow, we learnore about the graveyard, these amazing characters, his guardian, and all of the interesting dealings of the worlds we cannot see as the living.
I love the way Gaiman pulls things together in his novels. Every detail makes sense. Nothing is there that doesn't need to be. Everything is in it's place. Every character has their distinct voice and purpose. I enjoy his writing SO MUCH. If you haven't read his books I highly recommend starting with this YA novel or my favorite, Neverwhere.
This story is about Bod. Short for Nobody Owens. A Strange man killed his family when he was a baby and he was raised by the ghosts in a graveyard. He also has a mysterious guardian. As we watch him grow, we learnore about the graveyard, these amazing characters, his guardian, and all of the interesting dealings of the worlds we cannot see as the living.
I love the way Gaiman pulls things together in his novels. Every detail makes sense. Nothing is there that doesn't need to be. Everything is in it's place. Every character has their distinct voice and purpose. I enjoy his writing SO MUCH. If you haven't read his books I highly recommend starting with this YA novel or my favorite, Neverwhere.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking, Death, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Kidnapping and Child death
bhopeu's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
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
I just want to say that after I read this book, I can’t remove the smile on my face. Although I did cry a little bit at the end. Loved the illustrations and little extras in the book. Nobody and Silas will always have a soft spot in my heart ❤️.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Violence
linkamarisa's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
catsandra's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
reflective
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? No
4.0
In my (probably not very educated) opinion, Gaiman’s best books are the ones I’d describe as “what Tim Burton would have loved to read as a child”. Books with an ideal audience of delightfully sinister children, or adults that (gods forbid!) dare to read a “children’s book” without the excuse of reading it to a child. Books like Coraline, The Ocean at the End of the Lane (my personal favourite), and this one.
Well, I’m definitely an adult and I enjoyed every single page of The Graveyard Book. This book is dark, funny, mysterious, adorable and a long list of adjectives that would seem to be opposites of each other. It’s full of memorable characters and poignant moments, and it evokes such intricate imagery that even the beautiful illustrations don’t do it justice.
And that’s why I wouldn’t mind it in the least if Gaiman took a break from his “adult” books and continued writing more of this stuff, where his unique voice makes itself heard and his talent for crafting beautifully weird, dark and whimsical stories is truly unparalleled.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent and Murder
kylajaynebooks's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
This gave me spooky stories around the campfire vibes and I loved it so much. Neil Gaiman books are like reading a Tim Burton movie and I’m obsessed
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Suicide and Violence
books_and_rainydays's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Murder