A review by machadamia
The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

adventurous dark mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

A book that started out with a funeral seems like it would be dark but it's Neil Gaiman so of course it's going to be magic. 

I am not going to lie, the first page did not pull me in. It was a lot of sadness, and this book is indeed rather sad and dark in general. I am not in a place in life where I can handle such books well. But I persevered with this one because well, Neil Gaiman. Okay I really put a lot of credit to this author but honestly he has a great track record. 

It does get a lot better but is so reminiscent of Road Dahl books I read as a kid. Sinister and all, but still mythical and light enough to read on without feeling too down. It's a lovely story about a child who experienced something that he forgot and then recalled as he went down memory lane. It's about a pond which is an ocean and a world where only children who are sharp and who know the right people can see. 

I really liked how he basically took us into this world where its insinuated that adults cannot see, and then at the end

tells us that it might even be just a dream

.  I think Gaiman really wanted to tell us that you may forget it but you were really loved and it doesn't matter if you forget it when you get older, it'll always have happened. Not much takeaway from me aside from a book that takes me away from reality for just a bit.