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4.04 AVERAGE
4.04 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse
Moderate: Child death, Death, Sexual content, Grief
Minor: Blood
Ehhh... I'm not a Gaiman fan. Never have been, and this book didn't change my mind. I don't want to read another book by him again. Not my style....I just wanted it to end. (But I could see through my pain how fans of his style might appreciate this story and this book... That's why I am giving it 2 stars and not just 1). I have tried to read his books in the past and have never been able to "get into" them enough to finish--I'm giving up on Gaiman after reading this one.
What a magical story! I stalled a little bit at the first 1/3 of the book but when I picked it back up I couldn't stop. I wanted to learn more of Lettie Hempstock's world and indulged in Gaiman's fantastical illustration of the dreamscapes of childhood. There's a part of me that wants a logical explanation behind the magic of the Hempstocks but an even bigger part wants to simply accept things as is.. But then the epilogue makes me sad quite a bit. Sad in the knowledge that as adults we all lose a bit of magic. Some more than others, perhaps but we all lose it at some point, don't we? Sigh..
How to write a compelling, thrilling, heartbreaking story? Full of magic and everyday life...? Neil Gaiman is one of the few people who can manage... there are no more tears in my body since I’ve cried an ocean of them. Thanks for this wonderful adventure.
Reviewed for http://theereaderjunkie.wordpress.com
I didn't really intend to read this novel, but it was there, at the library, giving me the eye. I borrowed it because I remember reading Good omens and the Black orchid comics several years ago and adoring them.
At the beginning, I liked it but expected more from Neil Gaiman. Yet slowly, surreptitiously, I dived into this strange world and loved it there. I loved the idea of this intemporal family, the story reminded me of the many folktales I've read in my life. I finally got to the point when I couldn't put it down.
The atmosphere was magical, scary and bewitching. And the feeling that the ex-little boy who narrates the story can't remember everything exactly was just like trying to hold grains of sand in your hand. I was also deeply touched, it brought out the child in me that always used to love books, magic and cats - and still does. You can easily relate to that little boy !
The monsters were frightening, but what frightened me the most was the scene in the bathroom with the father, it was more effective when it's coming from someone we think we know and love.
A wonderful novel, beautiful and melancholic.
It was hard to select quotes, but I tried to keep it to a minimum !
“I'm going to tell you something important. Grown-ups don't look like grown-ups on the inside either. Outside, they're big and thoughtless and they always know what they're doing. Inside, they look just like they always have. Like they did when they were your age. The truth is, there aren't any grown-ups. Not one, in the whole wide world.'
“Adults should not weep, I knew. They did not have mothers who would comfort them.”
“I couldn't get you to the ocean, but there was nothing stopping me bringing the ocean to you.”
I didn't really intend to read this novel, but it was there, at the library, giving me the eye. I borrowed it because I remember reading Good omens and the Black orchid comics several years ago and adoring them.
At the beginning, I liked it but expected more from Neil Gaiman. Yet slowly, surreptitiously, I dived into this strange world and loved it there. I loved the idea of this intemporal family, the story reminded me of the many folktales I've read in my life. I finally got to the point when I couldn't put it down.
The atmosphere was magical, scary and bewitching. And the feeling that the ex-little boy who narrates the story can't remember everything exactly was just like trying to hold grains of sand in your hand. I was also deeply touched, it brought out the child in me that always used to love books, magic and cats - and still does. You can easily relate to that little boy !
The monsters were frightening, but what frightened me the most was the scene in the bathroom with the father, it was more effective when it's coming from someone we think we know and love.
A wonderful novel, beautiful and melancholic.
It was hard to select quotes, but I tried to keep it to a minimum !
“I'm going to tell you something important. Grown-ups don't look like grown-ups on the inside either. Outside, they're big and thoughtless and they always know what they're doing. Inside, they look just like they always have. Like they did when they were your age. The truth is, there aren't any grown-ups. Not one, in the whole wide world.'
“Adults should not weep, I knew. They did not have mothers who would comfort them.”
“I couldn't get you to the ocean, but there was nothing stopping me bringing the ocean to you.”
dark
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:
Complicated
slow-paced
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
reflective
slow-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
How did a book with this few pages feel so. very. long.
It was really good, great storytelling. Some things didn’t feel fully fleshed out but that’s fine. I was more baffled by this book taking me so very long to finish despite its short length, honestly.
It was really good, great storytelling. Some things didn’t feel fully fleshed out but that’s fine. I was more baffled by this book taking me so very long to finish despite its short length, honestly.