Scan barcode
A review by lizziepurpleserenity
The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I can't believe I waited so long to read (listen to) this. The reason I did is that although I could listen to Neil Gaiman read stories all day long - and that's why I have listened to a few of his books - his style of writing and genre is not really my thing. (Although I am thinking I really should do some rereading now...) I don't really go for paranormal/horror, or super soft magical realism. But I loved this one so much!!! Something about it really connected with me, I love the house and the 'ocean' at the end of the lane and the three generations of wonderful kind woman who live there and the home-cooked food they serve that I could almost taste. The mention of the song "Girls and boys come out to play" was poignant for me too, because it's one nursery rhyme from my childhood that I don't think I've heard anywhere properly since but have never forgotten, and given the themes in the book, of memory and childhood safe space, this was perfect!
The protagonist, a seven year old boy, in first person (told by his adult self retrospectively), was cleverly written. We were inside his head, full of complex thoughts and feelings and visceral experience of the world, yet when the boy spoke he was very much outwardly a seven year old boy. I felt it was a really clear demonstration of how a lot more is going on inside a child than it might appear, or than they can express, and how important is the way we treat them and listen to them.
A couple of years ago I actually eyed the wonderful illustrated edition in Waterstones but hesitated to buy it, knowing that I may not enjoy the story as much as such an edition would deserve. I'm ordering one now!
The protagonist, a seven year old boy, in first person (told by his adult self retrospectively), was cleverly written. We were inside his head, full of complex thoughts and feelings and visceral experience of the world, yet when the boy spoke he was very much outwardly a seven year old boy. I felt it was a really clear demonstration of how a lot more is going on inside a child than it might appear, or than they can express, and how important is the way we treat them and listen to them.
A couple of years ago I actually eyed the wonderful illustrated edition in Waterstones but hesitated to buy it, knowing that I may not enjoy the story as much as such an edition would deserve. I'm ordering one now!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse