A review by catsandra
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

funny mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

 In my (probably not very educated) opinion, Gaiman’s best books are the ones I’d describe as “what Tim Burton would have loved to read as a child”. Books with an ideal audience of delightfully sinister children, or adults that (gods forbid!) dare to read a “children’s book” without the excuse of reading it to a child. Books like Coraline, The Ocean at the End of the Lane (my personal favourite), and this one. 

Well, I’m definitely an adult and I enjoyed every single page of The Graveyard Book. This book is dark, funny, mysterious, adorable and a long list of adjectives that would seem to be opposites of each other. It’s full of memorable characters and poignant moments, and it evokes such intricate imagery that even the beautiful illustrations don’t do it justice. 

And that’s why I wouldn’t mind it in the least if Gaiman took a break from his “adult” books and continued writing more of this stuff, where his unique voice makes itself heard and his talent for crafting beautifully weird, dark and whimsical stories is truly unparalleled. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings