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quabbityash's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death
Minor: Blood and Body horror
alamayhem_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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? Yes
5.0
This story will forever be one of my favorite stories of all time. I have the fondest memories around Coraline and consider it to be one of my comfort stories! (if this doesn’t show my love of horror and all things spooky idk what does)
It has been a second since I read this book last — a good decade I would say. It was really interesting to revisit this book as an adult. I remember reading it after watching the movie and thinking it was so much creepier than the movie made it out to be. Which I still stand by, haha. This book is CREEPY. The entire story is creepy. There is almost no part of it that is fun and whimsical like the movie makes it out to be. Yes, the other world is different from Coraline’s normal world and there is better food….but the actual fantasies and people in the other world are simply weird. As a child, I would be terrified in this other world and probably would not ever want to come back. Which makes sense why the book itself is so much faster paced than the movie. She has multiple visits in the movie in which she is eager to come back, due to the world being so whimsical, fun, & magical. We do not see that in the book. Yes, some things are magical, but again. It is just weird magical. Stuff that is unsettling. The mice circus is simply rats off the bat in the other world and not cute lil mice. Picture dozens of magical rats under your bed in your bedroom — how fun! Hahah, it’s just weird and creepy all around. It makes sense for it to be paced as fast as it is, to make the story work better.
But anyways, this is not supposed to be a movie/book comparison review. As a book, it is phenomenal and so much fun to read. I was lucky enough to snag one of LitJoy Crates’ Illustrated copies of this book, so I got to see brand new drawings as I read. They were also so beyond creepy hahah, I LOVED it. It was so amazing and incredible to see the story depicted in this artist’s style. 10/10 for that.
The story itself is so amazing and so smart that I never tire of it. It is such an incredible concept and Neil Gaiman never fails to disappoint with his storytelling and writing. I loved every moment of reading this book and was smiling ear to ear by the end. I love the way that he has the story play out and how it finishes. This is what makes it an acceptable (sort of) children’s book for me. The perfect and happy feeling you get once you finish reading it.
With that being said, this probably still should have been marketed as YA as opposed to MG, and knowing the story I now know about Neil Gaiman’s agent’s child reading this, being terrified but not wanting to tell her mom that fact? Hilarious. I am so glad this book got published regardless, because it is truly a book and story that I will forever hold dear to my heart. I rate this book 5/5 stars! 🌟
It has been a second since I read this book last — a good decade I would say. It was really interesting to revisit this book as an adult. I remember reading it after watching the movie and thinking it was so much creepier than the movie made it out to be. Which I still stand by, haha. This book is CREEPY. The entire story is creepy. There is almost no part of it that is fun and whimsical like the movie makes it out to be. Yes, the other world is different from Coraline’s normal world and there is better food….but the actual fantasies and people in the other world are simply weird. As a child, I would be terrified in this other world and probably would not ever want to come back. Which makes sense why the book itself is so much faster paced than the movie. She has multiple visits in the movie in which she is eager to come back, due to the world being so whimsical, fun, & magical. We do not see that in the book. Yes, some things are magical, but again. It is just weird magical. Stuff that is unsettling. The mice circus is simply rats off the bat in the other world and not cute lil mice. Picture dozens of magical rats under your bed in your bedroom — how fun! Hahah, it’s just weird and creepy all around. It makes sense for it to be paced as fast as it is, to make the story work better.
But anyways, this is not supposed to be a movie/book comparison review. As a book, it is phenomenal and so much fun to read. I was lucky enough to snag one of LitJoy Crates’ Illustrated copies of this book, so I got to see brand new drawings as I read. They were also so beyond creepy hahah, I LOVED it. It was so amazing and incredible to see the story depicted in this artist’s style. 10/10 for that.
The story itself is so amazing and so smart that I never tire of it. It is such an incredible concept and Neil Gaiman never fails to disappoint with his storytelling and writing. I loved every moment of reading this book and was smiling ear to ear by the end. I love the way that he has the story play out and how it finishes. This is what makes it an acceptable (sort of) children’s book for me. The perfect and happy feeling you get once you finish reading it.
With that being said, this probably still should have been marketed as YA as opposed to MG, and knowing the story I now know about Neil Gaiman’s agent’s child reading this, being terrified but not wanting to tell her mom that fact? Hilarious. I am so glad this book got published regardless, because it is truly a book and story that I will forever hold dear to my heart. I rate this book 5/5 stars! 🌟
Content Warnings
Minor: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Child death
fallnginluve's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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? Yes
4.5
cute
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Child death, and Body horror
Moderate: Abandonment, Kidnapping, and Death
Minor: Blood and Animal death
lauramcc7's review
adventurous
dark
tense
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
nyctaea's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, and Child death
Moderate: Abandonment, Kidnapping, and Death
Minor: Animal death, Violence, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Animal cruelty, Blood, Stalking, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Toxic relationship, and Gore
teabrewer's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
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? Yes
5.0
Coraline is a children's book. One with body horror, blood and child death, but a children's book none the less. It didn't affect me emotionally as much as my average five stars. But, it is a wondeful version of those, written with the young readers in mind. The analogies to insects, spiders, camufkage and mimicry were a awesome touch. The dark ambiance and hints to something older than the other mother too. It is clear this book was written with care and dedication! I also found interesting how the narrative sometimes criticises the dad, that is so clearly inspired by the author himself. Like a quiet apology.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Abandonment, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Body horror
itsjustgrumpy's review
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
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? No
4.5
A downward spiral into a child's nightmare, getting ever more twisted and frightening. Really enjoyed it, and Neil Gaiman's quirky writing style made it a unique reading experience
Content Warnings
Minor: Blood
allyareads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement
Minor: Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Animal cruelty, and Blood
riverofhorton's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I want to start this review by saying that this book is firmly on my re-readable pile, and it may well be my new favourite modern horror book. Which I find amazing considering this is a children's book.
I found it to be just the right level of horror to be a casual read, which I find I'm most likely to return to in the future. A good portion of the horror content of the horror was of the slightly-to-the-left-of-normal kind, rather than being overt and graphic.
This book offers depth to the world and story, rather than a shower of blood and guts found in some other horror book I've read. Sometimes I think this kind of horror takes more work, and this is even more true when it's a children's book and the author (presumably) knows adults will also read it and so also need to be thrilled. To me, this shows the mastery of the art of writing that Neil Gaiman repeatedly demonstrates.
I found it to be just the right level of horror to be a casual read, which I find I'm most likely to return to in the future. A good portion of the horror content of the horror was of the slightly-to-the-left-of-normal kind, rather than being overt and graphic.
This book offers depth to the world and story, rather than a shower of blood and guts found in some other horror book I've read. Sometimes I think this kind of horror takes more work, and this is even more true when it's a children's book and the author (presumably) knows adults will also read it and so also need to be thrilled. To me, this shows the mastery of the art of writing that Neil Gaiman repeatedly demonstrates.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Blood, Death, Domestic abuse, Grief, Cannibalism, Physical abuse, Violence, Child abuse, Confinement, Gaslighting, Murder, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Torture, Slavery, Abandonment, Animal death, Animal cruelty, and Stalking
matildag00's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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? No
4.0
A great fucking children's book! Such a good atmosphere. Listened to it, narrated by Neil Gaiman and hearing his words in his voice and the added affects and sounds were creeping me the hell out but in such a good way!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Body horror, and Confinement
Moderate: Kidnapping, Abandonment, and Death
Minor: Blood and Animal death