Reviews with content warning for Violence - The Graveyard Book

I didn't really feel or think much about anything for the most part while reading this book (excluding the ending ofc) but now that I finished it, I find myself pondering about everything that happened and how saddening it was overall. Of course, I do the same with every book I read but this feels different, its as if I didn't recognize how meaningful and important some of the moments were to me until now. The writing style is very accessible, elegant and thought-provoking. The story itself has a bit of everything in general and was also rather wholesome, at least more than I imagined it to be, considering the beginning. We see several 'adventures' of Bod as he grows up and these events altogether build up towards a well-written bittersweet conclusion. There were some questions that I didn't get the answers for, but I feel like this is one of those books where it's done well, where some things are best left to the imagination of the reader. It was also my first Gaiman book and I think I can see why he's so well-regarded.

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disnelyse's review against another edition

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adventurous dark fast-paced

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

4.0

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fronk10's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.0

A cute little book full of snapshots from the graveyard. The world building is excellent, and the thread of darkness mixed with childish whimsy is very Gaiman. I just wish the book had a bit more plot to it.

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sofiazee's review against another edition

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adventurous medium-paced

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

4.5

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chickhen's review against another edition

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adventurous funny lighthearted sad 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? No

4.25

It’s a little simpler than I expected it to be - not that that’s a bad thing by any means. It was an easy enjoyable read, set in a lightly magical world with wonderful intriguing characters that I wish you spent more time with.

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allyareads's review against another edition

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adventurous funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing slow-paced

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

4.75

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janay_shandell's review against another edition

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dark mysterious 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? Yes

4.0

Great Fantasy Novel. Very descriptive and vivid. Neil Gaiman is so skilled at sucking you into these alternate worlds and environments he creates. A great read for a beginner fantasy reader.

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billyjepma's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional mysterious reflective tense

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

5.0

I can’t believe I’ve gone this long in life not knowing that Neil Gaiman wrote a retelling of Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book with ghosts. If that’s not a book tailor-made for me, then I don’t know what is. And now that I've read it and loved every page, it's my contractual obligation to force everyone I know to read it and experience the emotions it gave me when I finished the final chapter in bed last night. An instant, all-time favorite that I might have to start revisiting every October.

Gaiman describes the book as a novel made up of short stories, and the approach works beautifully. Each chapter captures a pivotal experience in the protagonist's childhood, allowing us to watch him grow up without needing to spend 16 years with him. Gaiman's writing is as lovely as ever and expertly balances melancholy with tenders and adventure with scares. It's spooky without being scary, nostalgic without being trite, and is yet another example I can use in my argument that Gaiman's YA-leaning novels are his best works. This is a treasure of a novel. ❤️

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