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A review by frenchtoast_n_books
The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
4.0
This book makes me think of dark chocolate.
What's it about? A middle-aged man goes to the house down the lane of his childhood home to its pond. Here he remembers when he was a seven year old boy meeting Lettie Hempstock , an eleven year old girl. They grow a friendship of sorts and battle a thing not of our world that they accidentally let loose. These memories help a man who feels lost remember a time he was saved.
What I thought? The illustrated edition was beautiful and dark. The audiobook, narrated by Neil Gaiman himself, was a perfect accompaniment to the illustrated edition because he narrates his stories as he means them to be read. I fell, completely absorbed into this little town in Sussex and the mind of this man remembering a frightening time when he was a boy. He saw magical things and frightening things, and I felt myself mirror his emotions as the story was told.
Though this book has a child as a main character, I wouldn't call it a children's book. It feels adult with a dark and bitter tale laced with friendship and hope. I wouldn't recommend this as a light read because difficult topics are in it: death, child abuse, and loss. It makes me wonder about his other children's stories, like Coraline. I wonder if they are just as dark, or if they have a different feel to them. I know The Graveyard Book is similar because a child is the main character but I also wouldn't call it a children's book with it's dark themes. I just haven't read the others. What do you think?
In short: Dark but hopeful. I wouldn't expect Neil Gaiman to write anything different.
What's it about? A middle-aged man goes to the house down the lane of his childhood home to its pond. Here he remembers when he was a seven year old boy meeting Lettie Hempstock , an eleven year old girl. They grow a friendship of sorts and battle a thing not of our world that they accidentally let loose. These memories help a man who feels lost remember a time he was saved.
What I thought? The illustrated edition was beautiful and dark. The audiobook, narrated by Neil Gaiman himself, was a perfect accompaniment to the illustrated edition because he narrates his stories as he means them to be read. I fell, completely absorbed into this little town in Sussex and the mind of this man remembering a frightening time when he was a boy. He saw magical things and frightening things, and I felt myself mirror his emotions as the story was told.
Though this book has a child as a main character, I wouldn't call it a children's book. It feels adult with a dark and bitter tale laced with friendship and hope. I wouldn't recommend this as a light read because difficult topics are in it: death, child abuse, and loss. It makes me wonder about his other children's stories, like Coraline. I wonder if they are just as dark, or if they have a different feel to them. I know The Graveyard Book is similar because a child is the main character but I also wouldn't call it a children's book with it's dark themes. I just haven't read the others. What do you think?
In short: Dark but hopeful. I wouldn't expect Neil Gaiman to write anything different.