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4.16 AVERAGE
4.16 AVERAGE
Great book. Lots of funny moments and Gaiman creates a very interesting world. I can see why someone recommended it.
I was surprised that this is a juvenile book, I thought it was perhaps a bit more advanced than that, but the story is rather straightforward. Bod's interaction with the varying residents of the graveyard were fascinating, although the thing that holds me back from giving this book 5 stars was that I found his character to be a little flat. Some parts of the story are also a bit more macabre than I would expect for a children's book, but then again some younger readers are probably more sophisticated than I give them credit.
I read this as an ebook, so it was hard to see the illustrations. I would be interested to take a look at the newly adapted graphic novel of this book.
I read this as an ebook, so it was hard to see the illustrations. I would be interested to take a look at the newly adapted graphic novel of this book.
Utterly charming, I got a little teary-eyed at the end, but in a good way.
I think this is the third Neil Gaiman book I've read, and I think I have a weird relationship with his books. I find myself loving the story, loving some of the characters, and enjoying some of the writing...but I also kind of hate his writing :/ I don't know how to explain it (my husband gets it, though), but it's like I feel like there's too much and not enough detail. Too much of things I don't care much about, and not enough for the things in the story I find most interesting.
Anyway...I really liked this book, and I wish it had been around when I was a kid. I probably would have loved it more back then. It wasn't really what I was expecting, even though I actually went into this only knowing "there's a kid who lives(?) in a cemetery with ghosts or ghouls or something, even though he's alive."
I loved the setting. The graveyard was really interestingespecially the way Bod was kind of part of it, and could move around like the ghosts , and so were the many ghosties we met. I really would have liked more details about some things, though like how the whole thing with Bod being able to pass through walls and stuff actually worked .
The characters were great. I liked Bod, loved most of the ghosts, and really would have liked to know more about Silas and Miss Lupescuand the Jacks, because that just kept confusing the hell out of me . Liza was my favorite, though. I'm not sure why, but I really liked her.
I'm still just kind of confused about stuff. I don't know if I'm over-thinking or what, but I felt way less satisfied by this than I thought I would. I kept waiting for things to be explained a little more, or for something to make sense, and it never did. While I can enjoy a bit of mystery and leaving things to the imagination, with this one...it honestly kind of felt lazy, like the reader should dream up huge chunks of the plot. I'm not a fan of that. What was the deal with the prophecy or whatever it was? How can Bod move around the cemetery like he does? What the hell were the Jacks? Why could Scarlett and that other girl (Mo?) notice Bod when he Faded, but other people couldn't? Why could Bod see the ghosts for so long, but then suddenly couldn't when he was 15? What was the Sleer? Who was buried in the mound? So many questions. And I still feel like the whole bit with the ghouls was unnecessary. I thought it was going to be important later, but it never was. I mean, sure, Bod opened the gate, but he could have easily learned how to do that from Miss Lupescu or someone. Speaking of her, what was she fighting with Silas? Were they Jacks, or what?
Basically, I think my problem with Gaiman's books is that I read them and feel like my book had missing chapters. Lots of them. I'll almost certainly continue to read them, but I think I need to go into them not expecting to be satisfied at the end.
Anyway...I really liked this book, and I wish it had been around when I was a kid. I probably would have loved it more back then. It wasn't really what I was expecting, even though I actually went into this only knowing "there's a kid who lives(?) in a cemetery with ghosts or ghouls or something, even though he's alive."
I loved the setting. The graveyard was really interesting
The characters were great. I liked Bod, loved most of the ghosts, and really would have liked to know more about Silas and Miss Lupescu
Basically, I think my problem with Gaiman's books is that I read them and feel like my book had missing chapters. Lots of them. I'll almost certainly continue to read them, but I think I need to go into them not expecting to be satisfied at the end.
I finally picked up a Neil Gaiman book I got tired of seeing his name everywhere and having no idea why. This book isn't what I expect but it was pretty good none the less. I enjoyed reading about Bod's life in the Graveyard, and even though some of it was pretty confusing I still enjoyed it.
Finally a Neil Gaiman book I actually liked! I guess the 3rd time truly is the charm
I had forgotten how much I enjoy Gaiman's writing. I will have to read the rest of his books now. :)
If you took all the magic of a fairy tale and all the detail of a full novel and added them together with a little bit of suspense, they would not equal this book. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
The Graveyard Book may sound like a strange name but when you find out that Gaiman was taking Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book as inspiration, it all makes perfect sense. This book may be similar to The Jungle Book in some ways, but it stands as it’s own unique story very well, maybe even outshining The Jungle Book, even by just a bit.
The characters are fabulously interesting, and it’s not just because there are vampires, werewolves and ghouls in this book. All of them have distinct personalities. Even their looks can be clearly constructed in your mind’s eye, each character different from the one before. Bod is a wonderful hero, with other characters like Silas and the numerous ghosts populating the graveyard being great support to Bod and the events in the story.
If you’re looking for a rich world within the graveyard (and beyond), then you would have found it in The Graveyard Book. Besides frightening and slimy surprises like the ghoul gates, the Jacks of All Trades are fascinating and although Gaiman doesn’t tell much about their organisation in this book, you’re left with wishing he had. What’s best is even with all the fantastical happenings, the world outside the graveyard, the one we might dub the “real world” is still presented as bountiful with adventures, wealth and knowledge.
This book is one that’s perfect for reading to children, but it holds a dark appeal for adults as well. It’s a book that requires innocent, simple thought to see through all the shrouded descriptions and mystery, and especially important for seeing and understanding the relationships between characters.
The characters are fabulously interesting, and it’s not just because there are vampires, werewolves and ghouls in this book. All of them have distinct personalities. Even their looks can be clearly constructed in your mind’s eye, each character different from the one before. Bod is a wonderful hero, with other characters like Silas and the numerous ghosts populating the graveyard being great support to Bod and the events in the story.
It's like the people who believe they'll be happy if they go and live somewhere else, but who learn it doesn't work that way. Wherever you go, you take yourself with you. If you see what I mean.
If you’re looking for a rich world within the graveyard (and beyond), then you would have found it in The Graveyard Book. Besides frightening and slimy surprises like the ghoul gates, the Jacks of All Trades are fascinating and although Gaiman doesn’t tell much about their organisation in this book, you’re left with wishing he had. What’s best is even with all the fantastical happenings, the world outside the graveyard, the one we might dub the “real world” is still presented as bountiful with adventures, wealth and knowledge.
This book is one that’s perfect for reading to children, but it holds a dark appeal for adults as well. It’s a book that requires innocent, simple thought to see through all the shrouded descriptions and mystery, and especially important for seeing and understanding the relationships between characters.
Face your life, its pain, its pleasure, leave no path untaken.
SPOILER ALERT!!
It's been 30 minutes since I finished this book... and I'm STILL crying about the ending!
It's been 30 minutes since I finished this book... and I'm STILL crying about the ending!