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4.15 AVERAGE
4.15 AVERAGE
Skagh! Thegh! Khavagah!
tl; dr: I absolutely loved this book!
It's been a while since I picked up something light to read (albeit except mangas). After watching the new Sandman show, I felt like reading some Gaiman. When I found the Graveyard book, the concept of a boy growing up in a graveyard got me instantly hooked.
The book has numerous interesting entities - ghosts from different historical periods, a vampire, a werewolf and also ghouls. Gaiman neatly ties all of them to the small graveyard. We see Bod or Nobody Owens grow up amongst them, while learning to appreciate life and experiences through his adventures.
My favorite character from the book is Liza Hempstock, the witch ghost, who was killed for being a witch. The favorite chapter is the Dance of Macabre.
While I wish the book was larger, I appreciate the author for avoiding the temptation of world building, and making it span several books.
I had the opportunity to check out the audiobook solely read by author, read by a full cast, the 2-part graphic novel and also the original book. The character sketches in the graphic novel did not really match how I imagined them. I liked the author narration more than the full cast narration, Gaiman made the book all the more enjoyable, the background score before all the chapters also created a spooky vibe.
Many people in Goodreads have already mentioned they enjoyed it with their children and how the kids liked it. I plan to listen to this book again with my nephew one day.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Gaiman really is an expert at crafting unique characters and fantastical & dark stories.
Sometimes you can remember where you were when you bought a book. I will always remember where I was when I bought The Graveyard Book.
On Hallowe'en last year, I went to a reading from the book by Neil Gaiman at the LSE in London. Afterward, as is the great man's wont, he stayed to ensure that everyone who wanted their book signed would get it signed. I queued with my girlfriend for a couple of hours. Just as I approached the stage, my mother called to tell me that my father had just died.
My father had been ill for some time, it wasn't entirely unexpected. I'd been with him that morning. But it was still hard to take the call. I didn't say anything - it seems such a surreal experience, standing in a queue behind a girl dressed as Death to get a book about graveyards signed, after hearing its author read about the dance macabre between the dead and the living. Neil was a bit grumpy by the time I reached him. I would be to if I'd had to sit still for two hours, signing an endless stream of books for London's quirkier denizens, some of whom had brought their poetry to present him, or wanted to pose with him for a treasured photograph. I took up as little of his time as possible, before shambling out of the hall, calling my mother back, holding back the emotion until we'd exchanged the necessary information, and collapsing against the wall outside the theatre in a tearful heap.
With that background, it's not really too much of a surprise that I wasn't keen to read the book for a while. It sat in a stack of books to be read, being passed over for less interesting novels, but ones which offered less of an association.
Finally, a few days ago, I approached it. It's a lovely book. Touching without being cloying, and beautifully illustrated by Dave McKean. It's a wonderful story of a boy, orphaned when the rest of his family are killed by a mysterious figure, who is raised by the occupants of a nearby graveyard. The boy, dubbed Bod (short for Nobody), is a well developed character - the sort of adventuresome youngster that all boys were once, keen to learn about the world, and explore its wonders.
But I can't say that the book was perfect, for all its charms, the underlying story seems weak, and the central third of the book (which Gaiman reveals in the acknowledgements was written first) is highly episodic. Gaiman acknowledges that the book owes a significant debt to The Jungle Book, and the book follows the same general formula. But this does mean that we are taken on a series of mini-adventures which don't really advance the plot. They're fun, don't get me wrong... but it felt a little disjointed to me.
I feel harsh criticising it, The Graveyard Book remains a thoroughly enjoyable story - but I strongly suspect that if I were 15-20 years younger, I would love it infinitely more.
I'm glad to have quelled my demons by getting around to reading it. And I'm glad that I enjoyed it as much as I'd hoped.
On Hallowe'en last year, I went to a reading from the book by Neil Gaiman at the LSE in London. Afterward, as is the great man's wont, he stayed to ensure that everyone who wanted their book signed would get it signed. I queued with my girlfriend for a couple of hours. Just as I approached the stage, my mother called to tell me that my father had just died.
My father had been ill for some time, it wasn't entirely unexpected. I'd been with him that morning. But it was still hard to take the call. I didn't say anything - it seems such a surreal experience, standing in a queue behind a girl dressed as Death to get a book about graveyards signed, after hearing its author read about the dance macabre between the dead and the living. Neil was a bit grumpy by the time I reached him. I would be to if I'd had to sit still for two hours, signing an endless stream of books for London's quirkier denizens, some of whom had brought their poetry to present him, or wanted to pose with him for a treasured photograph. I took up as little of his time as possible, before shambling out of the hall, calling my mother back, holding back the emotion until we'd exchanged the necessary information, and collapsing against the wall outside the theatre in a tearful heap.
With that background, it's not really too much of a surprise that I wasn't keen to read the book for a while. It sat in a stack of books to be read, being passed over for less interesting novels, but ones which offered less of an association.
Finally, a few days ago, I approached it. It's a lovely book. Touching without being cloying, and beautifully illustrated by Dave McKean. It's a wonderful story of a boy, orphaned when the rest of his family are killed by a mysterious figure, who is raised by the occupants of a nearby graveyard. The boy, dubbed Bod (short for Nobody), is a well developed character - the sort of adventuresome youngster that all boys were once, keen to learn about the world, and explore its wonders.
But I can't say that the book was perfect, for all its charms, the underlying story seems weak, and the central third of the book (which Gaiman reveals in the acknowledgements was written first) is highly episodic. Gaiman acknowledges that the book owes a significant debt to The Jungle Book, and the book follows the same general formula. But this does mean that we are taken on a series of mini-adventures which don't really advance the plot. They're fun, don't get me wrong... but it felt a little disjointed to me.
I feel harsh criticising it, The Graveyard Book remains a thoroughly enjoyable story - but I strongly suspect that if I were 15-20 years younger, I would love it infinitely more.
I'm glad to have quelled my demons by getting around to reading it. And I'm glad that I enjoyed it as much as I'd hoped.
Absolutely loved this book. I have struggled to find a book that really hooks me the last few years. This book did that and more.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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:
No
Protag annoyed me. Spends most of the book being dumb and getting rescued by others, and then suddenly he becomes a hero? Come on, now.
Loved it <3 the whole world of the graveyard was amazing. Fantastic how the brain of Gaiman works. his imagination and characters are magical.