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rachelditty's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
A friend of mine told me this was one of her favorite books, so I picked it up for my daily commute to and from work. Neil Gaiman's narration was smooth and enticing; I'd love to listen to more of his books narrated by him, he's got a great voice for it.
I really loved Lettie's relationship with our narrator, and it wasn't until I finished the book and there was an excerpt from a podcast interview with Gaiman that it registered that we never learn the narrator's name! That pulled the rug out from under me so thoroughly, I never would have noticed if someone else hadn't said it. I loved the Hempstocks and their mysterious abilities. The terms and procedures they do are so creative and unique. It was so fun to watch them work.
The ending was really something, too. Having our narrator go back to the ocean and remember, thanking Lettie for what she did, only to bring the dishes back to the house and ask Old Mrs. Hempstock to say hi to Lettie when she comes back from Australia. It's an ending I expected to be sad about because he doesn't remember, but it felt so content, and I was glad he didn't remember, living on for Lettie and her sacrifice for him.
Some quotes I liked:
"You get on with your own life. Lettie gave it to you. You just have to grow up and try to be worth it." (5:20:55)
"'You don't pass or fail at being a person, dear.'" (5:36:13)
I'll definitely have to pick up more of Gaiman's work in the future. This is the second book of his I've read, and I've really enjoyed both! What a great writer.
I really loved Lettie's relationship with our narrator, and it wasn't until I finished the book and there was an excerpt from a podcast interview with Gaiman that it registered that we never learn the narrator's name! That pulled the rug out from under me so thoroughly, I never would have noticed if someone else hadn't said it. I loved the Hempstocks and their mysterious abilities. The terms and procedures they do are so creative and unique. It was so fun to watch them work.
The ending was really something, too.
Some quotes I liked:
"You get on with your own life. Lettie gave it to you. You just have to grow up and try to be worth it." (5:20:55)
"'You don't pass or fail at being a person, dear.'" (5:36:13)
I'll definitely have to pick up more of Gaiman's work in the future. This is the second book of his I've read, and I've really enjoyed both! What a great writer.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror and Suicide
Minor: Death, Animal death, Violence, Child abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
coffeedog14's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
A nice story short enough for me to read while waiting for a flight, and during said flight, minus a few pages. Neil Gaiman going back to his roots of inscrutable cosmic forces seen through the eyes of small but noble humans. It didn't wow me like alot of his other stuff did, but I enjoyed the vibes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Body horror, Physical abuse, and Child abuse
Moderate: Death, Violence, and Gaslighting
Minor: Child death, Emotional abuse, Suicide attempt, and Grief
irinalast's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-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
4.0
Feelings of wonder and dread; uneasy but charming read.
Content Warnings
Minor: Physical abuse, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Violence, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Suicide, and Toxic relationship
thebookpaiges's review against another edition
emotional
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Animal death, and Child abuse
Moderate: Death and Suicide
nzmerchant's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
A truly captivating story that had me at the edge of my seat. Such a bittersweet ending. Think I’ll be thinking of this one for a long time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Violence, and Gore
Moderate: Bullying
gxsobes's review against another edition
dark
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Violence and Animal death
eddiroll's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Death
smallish_bird's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This book aches from warmth and pain in equal measure. Reading it, I felt like I was a kid again; it's full of love and hope and fear and loss.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Body horror
Moderate: Infidelity, Animal death, Blood, Suicide, Death, and Violence
Minor: Sexual content and Confinement
hannasandmann's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Child abuse
Moderate: Animal death
rosyhumbug's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
5.0
“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. Truth is, there aren't any grown-ups. Not one, in the whole wide world.”
The Ocean at the End of the Lane, from the lovely Neil Gaiman, was a breath of fresh air. It has all the whimsy of childhood fantasy, with the melancholy of growing up and growing away from magic.
If you’re an adult with a hole in your chest, the magic missing, this book is for you.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Ocean at the End of the Lane, from the lovely Neil Gaiman, was a breath of fresh air. It has all the whimsy of childhood fantasy, with the melancholy of growing up and growing away from magic.
If you’re an adult with a hole in your chest, the magic missing, this book is for you.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Infidelity and Sexual content