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A review by roadtripreader
The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
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
5.0
"This is Hempstock Farm. It’s the oldest farm hereabouts. It’s in the Doomsday Book.” - Old Mrs Hempstock
Gaimanism: the style of prose that is so distinctly Neil Gaiman it's like a call and response to fans of his craft. It's familiarity yet strange and like a cliff leading all the way down to some place magical instead of jagged rocks and a shoreline. It was beautiful and terrifying.
I love the Hempstocks till the end of time. And then into the afterlife.
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
This book is so Gaimanesque. It's about the premature end of childhood, when innocence is eroded and stamped out and it makes me so sad for the little dude - cober memories or not, something was lost. He was content in his world with his books and seeing with eyes of wonder.
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters:
The fact that his father could do that to him, just by being in the presence of the flea tells me he is a violent man deep down where he hides it behind yelling instead of hitting. I shouldn't hate the dad but I do.
Bloody Opal miner🤬
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene:
✔️Old Mrs Hempstock: Snipping and Stitching and rearranging some thinking.
✔️The Ocean in The Bucket
✔️Lettie Hempstock is my hero.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “Dead?” repeated the old woman in the dressing gown. She sounded offended. “Has hif han ’Empstock would hever do hanything so . . . common . . .” (Old Mrs Hempstock is hilarious)
🖤 “I wished I could have seen who was talking. If you have something specific and visible to fear, rather than something that could be anything, it is easier.” (Truer words ...)
🖤 “Proper bread was white, and pre-sliced, and tasted like almost nothing: that was the point.” (A craving for grilled cheese hit me right here)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts:
■ Hempstock Women (or woman÷3🤔) and their Hemstock Magic
■Hempstock chipped cups and crockery
■Lettie Hempstock's Ocean
■The Fairy Ring
■ Skarthach of the Keep
■Varmints: The Vultures of The Void
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Fantasy (Magic Realism) Books by 2025
Gaimanism: the style of prose that is so distinctly Neil Gaiman it's like a call and response to fans of his craft. It's familiarity yet strange and like a cliff leading all the way down to some place magical instead of jagged rocks and a shoreline. It was beautiful and terrifying.
I love the Hempstocks till the end of time. And then into the afterlife.
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
This book is so Gaimanesque. It's about the premature end of childhood, when innocence is eroded and stamped out and it makes me so sad for the little dude - cober memories or not, something was lost. He was content in his world with his books and seeing with eyes of wonder.
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters:
The fact that his father could do that to him, just by being in the presence of the flea tells me he is a violent man deep down where he hides it behind yelling instead of hitting. I shouldn't hate the dad but I do.
Bloody Opal miner🤬
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene:
✔️Old Mrs Hempstock: Snipping and Stitching and rearranging some thinking.
✔️The Ocean in The Bucket
✔️Lettie Hempstock is my hero.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “Dead?” repeated the old woman in the dressing gown. She sounded offended. “Has hif han ’Empstock would hever do hanything so . . . common . . .” (Old Mrs Hempstock is hilarious)
🖤 “I wished I could have seen who was talking. If you have something specific and visible to fear, rather than something that could be anything, it is easier.” (Truer words ...)
🖤 “Proper bread was white, and pre-sliced, and tasted like almost nothing: that was the point.” (A craving for grilled cheese hit me right here)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts:
■ Hempstock Women (or woman÷3🤔) and their Hemstock Magic
■Hempstock chipped cups and crockery
■Lettie Hempstock's Ocean
■The Fairy Ring
■ Skarthach of the Keep
■Varmints: The Vultures of The Void
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Fantasy (Magic Realism) Books by 2025