Reviews with content warning for Child abuse - The Ocean at the End of the Lane

I've had my eye on the illustrated edition of this book for ages, and I was finally given an excuse to get it when it was chosen for my local book club! I 100% recommend the illustrated edition as I really felt it helped build the atmosphere of the book, and certain scenes are so well depicted.

This book covers some dark topics, so do check the content warnings if you're wary of anything! I wasn't expecting these topics going in, but I do feel they are all well handled, and I'll be thinking about this one for a while I reckon.

The story focuses on a man who is visiting his childhood home as he begins to remember some interesting childhood events that he appears to have completely forgotten. The book is very mysterious, and not a lot is explained, especially the magic. However, I really liked it in this instance as for most of the book we are seeing the events from the mind of a seven year old and so I felt this was very effective as at seven years old I wouldn't have understood what was going on either.

This book is pretty short, but I feel the characters are so well fleshed out, and the story achieves everything it set out to do with the space given. The lead character is very relateable and has a lot of emotional impact as he goes along this journey. It's definitely a page turner, I read it in two sittings. As soon as it got going, I was hooked and couldn't put it down.

I highly recommend this book and will be reading more from Neil Gaiman! 4.5⭐️

Content Warnings

waqas's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious 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

3.75

Content Warnings

pho_ar's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

To be fair, Gaiman is one of my favorite authors so I expected to like it, but what I didn't expect was to be sitting on my couch near tears and being confused as to why and maybe that just makes sense for this book.

But I guess with this review, I will attempt to explain myself.

The best way I can describe this book is cozy, dark, fantasy that borders on thriller, perhaps some horror elements. I found this intriguing and perhaps why I like this book. It was like you were terrified, but you were with friends and had a comfy blanket for protection(because nothing can get you if you are under a protective blanket).

The whole story feels like this dream that plays on what is reality and what isn't, and it's told through the lense of someone remembering their childhood, which makes this very interesting and in some ways easier, like less worrisome, considering what happens because you know the main character is fine.

I guess what got me was the Hempstocks. The fact that there were literal monsters outside, but they kept the main character safe. They always did, even if it meant they got hurt. And that was beautiful and gut-wrenching, I guess, in the way that it ends, but they continue to be his safe place.

So this was oddly comforting in a way that stirred tears. Maybe it just felt nice to be protected from the dark.

Content Warnings