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The Graveyard Book
Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
*Best price found from Amazon Marketplace seller
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*Amazon: £6.17
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 Customer Reviews
More of a four and a half really, 02 Jan 2009
I love Neil Gaiman, and my eleven year old son loved Coraline, so I bought this book to read to him at bedtimes. He didn't like it and asked me to start a different book instead when we were only a couple of chapters in. (We went on to the third book in the Philip Reeve Mortal Engines series, which we're both enjoying). I kept reading The Graveyard book on my own though, and I enjoyed it very much. I liked the mythical lyrical quality of the writing, as well as the believable characters and humour - and the suspense involving The Man Jack. It wouldn't be my favourite Neil Gaimen but it was still brilliant.
One of his best, 01 Jan 2009
I found this book enjoyable, and wonderfully colourful. The vast supporting cast of the dead and undead, from Silas, Bod's vampiric mentor, the deceased jack and vera duckworth-esque owens' to the rather less pleasant but humourously named ghouls (the 33rd President of the united States, the famous writer Victor Hugo) are offset against the true menace of our young protagonists situation.
From the outset the `Jacks' have pursued this unknowing innocent, and his graveyard utopia is increasingly interrupted by his need to interact with the outside world, which more and more exposes him to them.
The folklore and rules of the dead are incredible, but believable, much like the worlds Gaiman sets up in American Gods and Neverwhere, and you are drawn into them comfortably. My only criticism was the ambiguity of the ending, why was he being pursued by the Men Jack? would have made the conclusion stronger.
I advise anyone to buy and read this book.
A good, light hearted, escapism book., 27 Dec 2008
I've just finished reading this and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Like I said in the title it was easy to read, funny in places and a good, light-hearted, escapism book. I would recommend it to anyone.
The lack of a 5th star only comes from the fact that I wish Neil would have gone into a bit for detail about the characters Silas and Miss Lupescu. I found myself left wanting for a bit more involvement from these two characters. I also got a tad frustrated by the haziness of what went on between them and the Jacks.
Other than that, I loved it and would defiantly read it again! I would also recommend listening to the audio-book. Neil himself narrates it and he does it extremely well; very atmospheric, broody and extremely enjoyable.
I hope you find this helpful (it's my 1st book review...)
This could well be a future Classic!, 03 Dec 2008
In a nutshell: A fine read primarily aimed at the junior reader, but with enough maturity to be able to be enjoyed by all. The Graveyard Book has the potential to be a future classic in the same vein as the one that inspired it, The Jungle Book (and other greats such as Alice in Wonderland, The Wizard in Oz and The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe etc.), and for that reason alone I consider this novel unmissable.
------------
In his acknowledgments Gaiman credits more than a passing nod for this novel to Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book, a childhood favourite of his, and while the chief protagonist of the novel Bod, can certainly fit into Mowgli's loin cloth, I didn't really feel that there was much of a relationship between the two, other than a child growing up in a unique environment. Then again I read Jungle Book with child eyes many years ago, and this I read as a mature adult, so my perspective is somewhat different. More delightful for me perhaps (mainly because of the romantic notion it throws up), is the author's revelation that the inspiration for The Graveyard Book came after watching his two year old son pedaling his tricycle between the gravestones of a church one summer.
So from the outset I think I've established that The Graveyard Book is a title primarily aimed at the more junior reader, and fundamentally it is. That said the narrative is certainly more than mature enough to be read by all ages and I certainly didn't feel at any point that I was reading a book that was too young for me. In fact the publishers have seen fit to release this title in both a child's and adult's version so it's accessible for all. Being frugal I actually bought the child's version (it was available at a discounted price :o)), and I'm glad I did because it's got some really nice illustrations throughout from accomplished artist Chris Riddell.
On to the story itself and The Graveyard Book is hugely fantastical (what story about a baby being adopted by ghosts wouldn't be?), but that's The Graveyard Book's quality - pure unadulterated escapism. The story is well-paced, tight and easily read and with this novel at least (because it's the only one I've read) Neil Gaiman shows himself as a great storyteller. If he were around in times of lore then he would undoubtedly be the one wandering the medieval countryside with his lute, entertaining the townsfolk with his tales of wonderment :o). Gaiman's put a lot of cleverness into this story with some neat plot twists that ensure the pages keep turning.
Aside from the plot twists I loved following Bod's interactions with the ghosts of the graveyard, and his attempts to adopt the ghostly attributes which would prove useful to him in his unique position. Undoubtedly however, the main success of the storyline comes from Bod's growing angst at being kept from the world outside the graveyard. It's a problem that increases as Bod grows older and its fundamentally an exploration of growing up, but it's growing up in a wholly unique environment, and that's what makes the story so compelling.
As anyone who has read any of my former book reviews would know, my biggest passion is for good characterisation. I'm not so bothered about story or plot (although they help of course) but good characters mean everything to me; so much so that this aspect on its own can often make the difference between a novel being good or bad for me. Well, I'm happy to proclaim that Gaiman has created a really well-rounded charismatic character in the chief protagonist Bod, and if he were looking to create an equal to rival Kipling's Mowgli then I think he's succeeded, admirably. Silas, Bod's vampiric guardian, is another well realised character in this novel. He's a character that comes across with a great deal of enigmatic depth, and the phrase `still waters run deep' comes to mind when I think of him. I also think that this is the first time ever that I've been so endeared to a character who is traditionally considered to be an icon of horror.
Sadly however that's where the good characterisation diminishes somewhat for me, and with the possible exception of `the man Jack', all of the other characters come across as being somewhat flat and mere `players' in the story. Don't get me wrong, the portrayal of the other characters is certainly adequate, more than enough to ensure the novel keeps its gleam, but given the richness of character that could have been realised with such an imaginative cast of ghostly figures, I would have liked to have seen some of the other characters being better developed, at least up to the same standard as Silas.
In closing then the main question remaining is whether this is a novel that I recommend reading? Well if you're a junior then absolutely. It's a fantastic novel with a flowing, interesting storyline that juniors are certain to love. I promise! :o)
What about the more mature reader? Well as I've said above it's marketed towards all ages and the story has enough maturity to make it a novel for all ages. It's certainly a light read so if your expecting something as deep and engaging as a Tolstoy or Murakami then you're going to be disappointed. However, if it's a light read you're after then I can think of no better. It entertained me completely and as a reader who normally gets his kicks from the more dense prose of writers such as Steinbeck, Doestovsky and Hamsun etc. that's a big achievement. Bearing that in mind I'm confident that The Graveyard Book will entertain just about anyone. Go buy it!
not up to his usual standard..., 16 Nov 2008
I couldn't wait to get my hands on this one, but when i did... i wasn't satisfied.
This book isn't bad at all, and if you are a neil-fan, by all means read it. But, this book just wasn't as inventive, as surprising, touching or original.
the concept is great... the excecution.. not that great. There is nothing new, and i felt that i'd seen all the tricks before.
(Strangely, the book read as a script. i could just see the film sequences in my head.)
Also having read M is for Magic, i was already familiar with a great deal of the story. i almost skipped that part, but forced myself to read it again.
I sometimes thought: this is a real children's book, don't be so critical, but then characters such as victor hugo and the 66th president of U.S.A. are introduced, and i can't imagine kids being that familiar with french literature... It felt like Neil was sending me straight to wikipedia, to read up on some elemental history.
and the end... well... i suppose it was poignant, but i was not satisfied.
i remember being shattered coming to the end of neverwhere, wanting it to go on forever... i hardly dare pick up coraline again, because it disturbed and frightened me so.
The Graveyard book left me... unimpressed.
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The Graveyard Book
Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
*Best price found from Amazon Marketplace seller
|
*Amazon: £7.12
|
|
|
Customer Reviews
More of a four and a half really, 02 Jan 2009
I love Neil Gaiman, and my eleven year old son loved Coraline, so I bought this book to read to him at bedtimes. He didn't like it and asked me to start a different book instead when we were only a couple of chapters in. (We went on to the third book in the Philip Reeve Mortal Engines series, which we're both enjoying). I kept reading The Graveyard book on my own though, and I enjoyed it very much. I liked the mythical lyrical quality of the writing, as well as the believable characters and humour - and the suspense involving The Man Jack. It wouldn't be my favourite Neil Gaimen but it was still brilliant.
One of his best, 01 Jan 2009
I found this book enjoyable, and wonderfully colourful. The vast supporting cast of the dead and undead, from Silas, Bod's vampiric mentor, the deceased jack and vera duckworth-esque owens' to the rather less pleasant but humourously named ghouls (the 33rd President of the united States, the famous writer Victor Hugo) are offset against the true menace of our young protagonists situation.
From the outset the `Jacks' have pursued this unknowing innocent, and his graveyard utopia is increasingly interrupted by his need to interact with the outside world, which more and more exposes him to them.
The folklore and rules of the dead are incredible, but believable, much like the worlds Gaiman sets up in American Gods and Neverwhere, and you are drawn into them comfortably. My only criticism was the ambiguity of the ending, why was he being pursued by the Men Jack? would have made the conclusion stronger.
I advise anyone to buy and read this book.
A good, light hearted, escapism book., 27 Dec 2008
I've just finished reading this and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Like I said in the title it was easy to read, funny in places and a good, light-hearted, escapism book. I would recommend it to anyone.
The lack of a 5th star only comes from the fact that I wish Neil would have gone into a bit for detail about the characters Silas and Miss Lupescu. I found myself left wanting for a bit more involvement from these two characters. I also got a tad frustrated by the haziness of what went on between them and the Jacks.
Other than that, I loved it and would defiantly read it again! I would also recommend listening to the audio-book. Neil himself narrates it and he does it extremely well; very atmospheric, broody and extremely enjoyable.
I hope you find this helpful (it's my 1st book review...)
This could well be a future Classic!, 03 Dec 2008
In a nutshell: A fine read primarily aimed at the junior reader, but with enough maturity to be able to be enjoyed by all. The Graveyard Book has the potential to be a future classic in the same vein as the one that inspired it, The Jungle Book (and other greats such as Alice in Wonderland, The Wizard in Oz and The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe etc.), and for that reason alone I consider this novel unmissable.
------------
In his acknowledgments Gaiman credits more than a passing nod for this novel to Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book, a childhood favourite of his, and while the chief protagonist of the novel Bod, can certainly fit into Mowgli's loin cloth, I didn't really feel that there was much of a relationship between the two, other than a child growing up in a unique environment. Then again I read Jungle Book with child eyes many years ago, and this I read as a mature adult, so my perspective is somewhat different. More delightful for me perhaps (mainly because of the romantic notion it throws up), is the author's revelation that the inspiration for The Graveyard Book came after watching his two year old son pedaling his tricycle between the gravestones of a church one summer.
So from the outset I think I've established that The Graveyard Book is a title primarily aimed at the more junior reader, and fundamentally it is. That said the narrative is certainly more than mature enough to be read by all ages and I certainly didn't feel at any point that I was reading a book that was too young for me. In fact the publishers have seen fit to release this title in both a child's and adult's version so it's accessible for all. Being frugal I actually bought the child's version (it was available at a discounted price :o)), and I'm glad I did because it's got some really nice illustrations throughout from accomplished artist Chris Riddell.
On to the story itself and The Graveyard Book is hugely fantastical (what story about a baby being adopted by ghosts wouldn't be?), but that's The Graveyard Book's quality - pure unadulterated escapism. The story is well-paced, tight and easily read and with this novel at least (because it's the only one I've read) Neil Gaiman shows himself as a great storyteller. If he were around in times of lore then he would undoubtedly be the one wandering the medieval countryside with his lute, entertaining the townsfolk with his tales of wonderment :o). Gaiman's put a lot of cleverness into this story with some neat plot twists that ensure the pages keep turning.
Aside from the plot twists I loved following Bod's interactions with the ghosts of the graveyard, and his attempts to adopt the ghostly attributes which would prove useful to him in his unique position. Undoubtedly however, the main success of the storyline comes from Bod's growing angst at being kept from the world outside the graveyard. It's a problem that increases as Bod grows older and its fundamentally an exploration of growing up, but it's growing up in a wholly unique environment, and that's what makes the story so compelling.
As anyone who has read any of my former book reviews would know, my biggest passion is for good characterisation. I'm not so bothered about story or plot (although they help of course) but good characters mean everything to me; so much so that this aspect on its own can often make the difference between a novel being good or bad for me. Well, I'm happy to proclaim that Gaiman has created a really well-rounded charismatic character in the chief protagonist Bod, and if he were looking to create an equal to rival Kipling's Mowgli then I think he's succeeded, admirably. Silas, Bod's vampiric guardian, is another well realised character in this novel. He's a character that comes across with a great deal of enigmatic depth, and the phrase `still waters run deep' comes to mind when I think of him. I also think that this is the first time ever that I've been so endeared to a character who is traditionally considered to be an icon of horror.
Sadly however that's where the good characterisation diminishes somewhat for me, and with the possible exception of `the man Jack', all of the other characters come across as being somewhat flat and mere `players' in the story. Don't get me wrong, the portrayal of the other characters is certainly adequate, more than enough to ensure the novel keeps its gleam, but given the richness of character that could have been realised with such an imaginative cast of ghostly figures, I would have liked to have seen some of the other characters being better developed, at least up to the same standard as Silas.
In closing then the main question remaining is whether this is a novel that I recommend reading? Well if you're a junior then absolutely. It's a fantastic novel with a flowing, interesting storyline that juniors are certain to love. I promise! :o)
What about the more mature reader? Well as I've said above it's marketed towards all ages and the story has enough maturity to make it a novel for all ages. It's certainly a light read so if your expecting something as deep and engaging as a Tolstoy or Murakami then you're going to be disappointed. However, if it's a light read you're after then I can think of no better. It entertained me completely and as a reader who normally gets his kicks from the more dense prose of writers such as Steinbeck, Doestovsky and Hamsun etc. that's a big achievement. Bearing that in mind I'm confident that The Graveyard Book will entertain just about anyone. Go buy it!
not up to his usual standard..., 16 Nov 2008
I couldn't wait to get my hands on this one, but when i did... i wasn't satisfied.
This book isn't bad at all, and if you are a neil-fan, by all means read it. But, this book just wasn't as inventive, as surprising, touching or original.
the concept is great... the excecution.. not that great. There is nothing new, and i felt that i'd seen all the tricks before.
(Strangely, the book read as a script. i could just see the film sequences in my head.)
Also having read M is for Magic, i was already familiar with a great deal of the story. i almost skipped that part, but forced myself to read it again.
I sometimes thought: this is a real children's book, don't be so critical, but then characters such as victor hugo and the 66th president of U.S.A. are introduced, and i can't imagine kids being that familiar with french literature... It felt like Neil was sending me straight to wikipedia, to read up on some elemental history.
and the end... well... i suppose it was poignant, but i was not satisfied.
i remember being shattered coming to the end of neverwhere, wanting it to go on forever... i hardly dare pick up coraline again, because it disturbed and frightened me so.
The Graveyard book left me... unimpressed.
More of a four and a half really, 02 Jan 2009
I love Neil Gaiman, and my eleven year old son loved Coraline, so I bought this book to read to him at bedtimes. He didn't like it and asked me to start a different book instead when we were only a couple of chapters in. (We went on to the third book in the Philip Reeve Mortal Engines series, which we're both enjoying). I kept reading The Graveyard book on my own though, and I enjoyed it very much. I liked the mythical lyrical quality of the writing, as well as the believable characters and humour - and the suspense involving The Man Jack. It wouldn't be my favourite Neil Gaimen but it was still brilliant.
One of his best, 01 Jan 2009
I found this book enjoyable, and wonderfully colourful. The vast supporting cast of the dead and undead, from Silas, Bod's vampiric mentor, the deceased jack and vera duckworth-esque owens' to the rather less pleasant but humourously named ghouls (the 33rd President of the united States, the famous writer Victor Hugo) are offset against the true menace of our young protagonists situation.
From the outset the `Jacks' have pursued this unknowing innocent, and his graveyard utopia is increasingly interrupted by his need to interact with the outside world, which more and more exposes him to them.
The folklore and rules of the dead are incredible, but believable, much like the worlds Gaiman sets up in American Gods and Neverwhere, and you are drawn into them comfortably. My only criticism was the ambiguity of the ending, why was he being pursued by the Men Jack? would have made the conclusion stronger.
I advise anyone to buy and read this book.
A good, light hearted, escapism book., 27 Dec 2008
I've just finished reading this and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Like I said in the title it was easy to read, funny in places and a good, light-hearted, escapism book. I would recommend it to anyone.
The lack of a 5th star only comes from the fact that I wish Neil would have gone into a bit for detail about the characters Silas and Miss Lupescu. I found myself left wanting for a bit more involvement from these two characters. I also got a tad frustrated by the haziness of what went on between them and the Jacks.
Other than that, I loved it and would defiantly read it again! I would also recommend listening to the audio-book. Neil himself narrates it and he does it extremely well; very atmospheric, broody and extremely enjoyable.
I hope you find this helpful (it's my 1st book review...)
This could well be a future Classic!, 03 Dec 2008
In a nutshell: A fine read primarily aimed at the junior reader, but with enough maturity to be able to be enjoyed by all. The Graveyard Book has the potential to be a future classic in the same vein as the one that inspired it, The Jungle Book (and other greats such as Alice in Wonderland, The Wizard in Oz and The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe etc.), and for that reason alone I consider this novel unmissable.
------------
In his acknowledgments Gaiman credits more than a passing nod for this novel to Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book, a childhood favourite of his, and while the chief protagonist of the novel Bod, can certainly fit into Mowgli's loin cloth, I didn't really feel that there was much of a relationship between the two, other than a child growing up in a unique environment. Then again I read Jungle Book with child eyes many years ago, and this I read as a mature adult, so my perspective is somewhat different. More delightful for me perhaps (mainly because of the romantic notion it throws up), is the author's revelation that the inspiration for The Graveyard Book came after watching his two year old son pedaling his tricycle between the gravestones of a church one summer.
So from the outset I think I've established that The Graveyard Book is a title primarily aimed at the more junior reader, and fundamentally it is. That said the narrative is certainly more than mature enough to be read by all ages and I certainly didn't feel at any point that I was reading a book that was too young for me. In fact the publishers have seen fit to release this title in both a child's and adult's version so it's accessible for all. Being frugal I actually bought the child's version (it was available at a discounted price :o)), and I'm glad I did because it's got some really nice illustrations throughout from accomplished artist Chris Riddell.
On to the story itself and The Graveyard Book is hugely fantastical (what story about a baby being adopted by ghosts wouldn't be?), but that's The Graveyard Book's quality - pure unadulterated escapism. The story is well-paced, tight and easily read and with this novel at least (because it's the only one I've read) Neil Gaiman shows himself as a great storyteller. If he were around in times of lore then he would undoubtedly be the one wandering the medieval countryside with his lute, entertaining the townsfolk with his tales of wonderment :o). Gaiman's put a lot of cleverness into this story with some neat plot twists that ensure the pages keep turning.
Aside from the plot twists I loved following Bod's interactions with the ghosts of the graveyard, and his attempts to adopt the ghostly attributes which would prove useful to him in his unique position. Undoubtedly however, the main success of the storyline comes from Bod's growing angst at being kept from the world outside the graveyard. It's a problem that increases as Bod grows older and its fundamentally an exploration of growing up, but it's growing up in a wholly unique environment, and that's what makes the story so compelling.
As anyone who has read any of my former book reviews would know, my biggest passion is for good characterisation. I'm not so bothered about story or plot (although they help of course) but good characters mean everything to me; so much so that this aspect on its own can often make the difference between a novel being good or bad for me. Well, I'm happy to proclaim that Gaiman has created a really well-rounded charismatic character in the chief protagonist Bod, and if he were looking to create an equal to rival Kipling's Mowgli then I think he's succeeded, admirably. Silas, Bod's vampiric guardian, is another well realised character in this novel. He's a character that comes across with a great deal of enigmatic depth, and the phrase `still waters run deep' comes to mind when I think of him. I also think that this is the first time ever that I've been so endeared to a character who is traditionally considered to be an icon of horror.
Sadly however that's where the good characterisation diminishes somewhat for me, and with the possible exception of `the man Jack', all of the other characters come across as being somewhat flat and mere `players' in the story. Don't get me wrong, the portrayal of the other characters is certainly adequate, more than enough to ensure the novel keeps its gleam, but given the richness of character that could have been realised with such an imaginative cast of ghostly figures, I would have liked to have seen some of the other characters being better developed, at least up to the same standard as Silas.
In closing then the main question remaining is whether this is a novel that I recommend reading? Well if you're a junior then absolutely. It's a fantastic novel with a flowing, interesting storyline that juniors are certain to love. I promise! :o)
What about the more mature reader? Well as I've said above it's marketed towards all ages and the story has enough maturity to make it a novel for all ages. It's certainly a light read so if your expecting something as deep and engaging as a Tolstoy or Murakami then you're going to be disappointed. However, if it's a light read you're after then I can think of no better. It entertained me completely and as a reader who normally gets his kicks from the more dense prose of writers such as Steinbeck, Doestovsky and Hamsun etc. that's a big achievement. Bearing that in mind I'm confident that The Graveyard Book will entertain just about anyone. Go buy it!
not up to his usual standard..., 16 Nov 2008
I couldn't wait to get my hands on this one, but when i did... i wasn't satisfied.
This book isn't bad at all, and if you are a neil-fan, by all means read it. But, this book just wasn't as inventive, as surprising, touching or original.
the concept is great... the excecution.. not that great. There is nothing new, and i felt that i'd seen all the tricks before.
(Strangely, the book read as a script. i could just see the film sequences in my head.)
Also having read M is for Magic, i was already familiar with a great deal of the story. i almost skipped that part, but forced myself to read it again.
I sometimes thought: this is a real children's book, don't be so critical, but then characters such as victor hugo and the 66th president of U.S.A. are introduced, and i can't imagine kids being that familiar with french literature... It felt like Neil was sending me straight to wikipedia, to read up on some elemental history.
and the end... well... i suppose it was poignant, but i was not satisfied.
i remember being shattered coming to the end of neverwhere, wanting it to go on forever... i hardly dare pick up coraline again, because it disturbed and frightened me so.
The Graveyard book left me... unimpressed.
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Coraline
Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
*Best price found from Amazon Marketplace seller
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*Amazon: £1.11
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Product Description
Despite being mostly known for his fantastical graphic novels and adult fiction, Neil Gaiman's first book for children is everything that you would expect from such a massive imagination as his. It's special and wonderful and very weird indeed. Described by some as the new Alice in Wonderland, Coraline is actually more bizarre than that, much more frightening and its modest length definitely adds to the book's undiluted potency. Shortly after moving into an old house with strange tenants above and below, Coraline discovers a big, carved, brown wooden door at the far corner of the drawing room. And it is locked. Curiosity runs riot in Coraline's mind and she unlocks the door to see what lies behind it. Disappointingly, it opens onto a brick wall. Days later, after exploring the rest of the house and garden, Coraline returns to the same mysterious door and opens it again. This time, however, there is a dark hallway in front of her. Stepping inside, the place beyond has an eerie familiarity about it. The carpet and wallpaper are the same as in her flat. The picture hanging on the wall is the same. Almost. Strangest of all, her mum and dad are there too. Only they have buttons for eyes and seem more possessive than normal. It's a twisted version of her world that is familiar, and yet sinister. And matters get even more surreal for Coraline when her "other" parents seem reluctant to let her leave. Her attempted escape from this nightmare alternative reality sees Coraline experience a chilling series of ever more bizarre encounters. Some are plainly odd, others disturbingly spooky and together they combine to form an immensely readable story. It's like all the best bits of the Goosebumps books condensed into 160 pages. A unique reading experience guaranteed. (Ages 10 and over)--John McLay
Customer Reviews
More of a four and a half really, 02 Jan 2009
I love Neil Gaiman, and my eleven year old son loved Coraline, so I bought this book to read to him at bedtimes. He didn't like it and asked me to start a different book instead when we were only a couple of chapters in. (We went on to the third book in the Philip Reeve Mortal Engines series, which we're both enjoying). I kept reading The Graveyard book on my own though, and I enjoyed it very much. I liked the mythical lyrical quality of the writing, as well as the believable characters and humour - and the suspense involving The Man Jack. It wouldn't be my favourite Neil Gaimen but it was still brilliant.
One of his best, 01 Jan 2009
I found this book enjoyable, and wonderfully colourful. The vast supporting cast of the dead and undead, from Silas, Bod's vampiric mentor, the deceased jack and vera duckworth-esque owens' to the rather less pleasant but humourously named ghouls (the 33rd President of the united States, the famous writer Victor Hugo) are offset against the true menace of our young protagonists situation.
From the outset the `Jacks' have pursued this unknowing innocent, and his graveyard utopia is increasingly interrupted by his need to interact with the outside world, which more and more exposes him to them.
The folklore and rules of the dead are incredible, but believable, much like the worlds Gaiman sets up in American Gods and Neverwhere, and you are drawn into them comfortably. My only criticism was the ambiguity of the ending, why was he being pursued by the Men Jack? would have made the conclusion stronger.
I advise anyone to buy and read this book.
A good, light hearted, escapism book., 27 Dec 2008
I've just finished reading this and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Like I said in the title it was easy to read, funny in places and a good, light-hearted, escapism book. I would recommend it to anyone.
The lack of a 5th star only comes from the fact that I wish Neil would have gone into a bit for detail about the characters Silas and Miss Lupescu. I found myself left wanting for a bit more involvement from these two characters. I also got a tad frustrated by the haziness of what went on between them and the Jacks.
Other than that, I loved it and would defiantly read it again! I would also recommend listening to the audio-book. Neil himself narrates it and he does it extremely well; very atmospheric, broody and extremely enjoyable.
I hope you find this helpful (it's my 1st book review...)
This could well be a future Classic!, 03 Dec 2008
In a nutshell: A fine read primarily aimed at the junior reader, but with enough maturity to be able to be enjoyed by all. The Graveyard Book has the potential to be a future classic in the same vein as the one that inspired it, The Jungle Book (and other greats such as Alice in Wonderland, The Wizard in Oz and The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe etc.), and for that reason alone I consider this novel unmissable.
------------
In his acknowledgments Gaiman credits more than a passing nod for this novel to Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book, a childhood favourite of his, and while the chief protagonist of the novel Bod, can certainly fit into Mowgli's loin cloth, I didn't really feel that there was much of a relationship between the two, other than a child growing up in a unique environment. Then again I read Jungle Book with child eyes many years ago, and this I read as a mature adult, so my perspective is somewhat different. More delightful for me perhaps (mainly because of the romantic notion it throws up), is the author's revelation that the inspiration for The Graveyard Book came after watching his two year old son pedaling his tricycle between the gravestones of a church one summer.
So from the outset I think I've established that The Graveyard Book is a title primarily aimed at the more junior reader, and fundamentally it is. That said the narrative is certainly more than mature enough to be read by all ages and I certainly didn't feel at any point that I was reading a book that was too young for me. In fact the publishers have seen fit to release this title in both a child's and adult's version so it's accessible for all. Being frugal I actually bought the child's version (it was available at a discounted price :o)), and I'm glad I did because it's got some really nice illustrations throughout from accomplished artist Chris Riddell.
On to the story itself and The Graveyard Book is hugely fantastical (what story about a baby being adopted by ghosts wouldn't be?), but that's The Graveyard Book's quality - pure unadulterated escapism. The story is well-paced, tight and easily read and with this novel at least (because it's the only one I've read) Neil Gaiman shows himself as a great storyteller. If he were around in times of lore then he would undoubtedly be the one wandering the medieval countryside with his lute, entertaining the townsfolk with his tales of wonderment :o). Gaiman's put a lot of cleverness into this story with some neat plot twists that ensure the pages keep turning.
Aside from the plot twists I loved following Bod's interactions with the ghosts of the graveyard, and his attempts to adopt the ghostly attributes which would prove useful to him in his unique position. Undoubtedly however, the main success of the storyline comes from Bod's growing angst at being kept from the world outside the graveyard. It's a problem that increases as Bod grows older and its fundamentally an exploration of growing up, but it's growing up in a wholly unique environment, and that's what makes the story so compelling.
As anyone who has read any of my former book reviews would know, my biggest passion is for good characterisation. I'm not so bothered about story or plot (although they help of course) but good characters mean everything to me; so much so that this aspect on its own can often make the difference between a novel being good or bad for me. Well, I'm happy to proclaim that Gaiman has created a really well-rounded charismatic character in the chief protagonist Bod, and if he were looking to create an equal to rival Kipling's Mowgli then I think he's succeeded, admirably. Silas, Bod's vampiric guardian, is another well realised character in this novel. He's a character that comes across with a great deal of enigmatic depth, and the phrase `still waters run deep' comes to mind when I think of him. I also think that this is the first time ever that I've been so endeared to a character who is traditionally considered to be an icon of horror.
Sadly however that's where the good characterisation diminishes somewhat for me, and with the possible exception of `the man Jack', all of the other characters come across as being somewhat flat and mere `players' in the story. Don't get me wrong, the portrayal of the other characters is certainly adequate, more than enough to ensure the novel keeps its gleam, but given the richness of character that could have been realised with such an imaginative cast of ghostly figures, I would have liked to have seen some of the other characters being better developed, at least up to the same standard as Silas.
In closing then the main question remaining is whether this is a novel that I recommend reading? Well if you're a junior then absolutely. It's a fantastic novel with a flowing, interesting storyline that juniors are certain to love. I promise! :o)
What about the more mature reader? Well as I've said above it's marketed towards all ages and the story has enough maturity to make it a novel for all ages. It's certainly a light read so if your expecting something as deep and engaging as a Tolstoy or Murakami then you're going to be disappointed. However, if it's a light read you're after then I can think of no better. It entertained me completely and as a reader who normally gets his kicks from the more dense prose of writers such as Steinbeck, Doestovsky and Hamsun etc. that's a big achievement. Bearing that in mind I'm confident that The Graveyard Book will entertain just about anyone. Go buy it!
not up to his usual standard..., 16 Nov 2008
I couldn't wait to get my hands on this one, but when i did... i wasn't satisfied.
This book isn't bad at all, and if you are a neil-fan, by all means read it. But, this book just wasn't as inventive, as surprising, touching or original.
the concept is great... the excecution.. not that great. There is nothing new, and i felt that i'd seen all the tricks before.
(Strangely, the book read as a script. i could just see the film sequences in my head.)
Also having read M is for Magic, i was already familiar with a great deal of the story. i almost skipped that part, but forced myself to read it again.
I sometimes thought: this is a real children's book, don't be so critical, but then characters such as victor hugo and the 66th president of U.S.A. are introduced, and i can't imagine kids being that familiar with french literature... It felt like Neil was sending me straight to wikipedia, to read up on some elemental history.
and the end... well... i suppose it was poignant, but i was not satisfied.
i remember being shattered coming to the end of neverwhere, wanting it to go on forever... i hardly dare pick up coraline again, because it disturbed and frightened me so.
The Graveyard book left me... unimpressed.
More of a four and a half really, 02 Jan 2009
I love Neil Gaiman, and my eleven year old son loved Coraline, so I bought this book to read to him at bedtimes. He didn't like it and asked me to start a different book instead when we were only a couple of chapters in. (We went on to the third book in the Philip Reeve Mortal Engines series, which we're both enjoying). I kept reading The Graveyard book on my own though, and I enjoyed it very much. I liked the mythical lyrical quality of the writing, as well as the believable characters and humour - and the suspense involving The Man Jack. It wouldn't be my favourite Neil Gaimen but it was still brilliant.
One of his best, 01 Jan 2009
I found this book enjoyable, and wonderfully colourful. The vast supporting cast of the dead and undead, from Silas, Bod's vampiric mentor, the deceased jack and vera duckworth-esque owens' to the rather less pleasant but humourously named ghouls (the 33rd President of the united States, the famous writer Victor Hugo) are offset against the true menace of our young protagonists situation.
From the outset the `Jacks' have pursued this unknowing innocent, and his graveyard utopia is increasingly interrupted by his need to interact with the outside world, which more and more exposes him to them.
The folklore and rules of the dead are incredible, but believable, much like the worlds Gaiman sets up in American Gods and Neverwhere, and you are drawn into them comfortably. My only criticism was the ambiguity of the ending, why was he being pursued by the Men Jack? would have made the conclusion stronger.
I advise anyone to buy and read this book.
A good, light hearted, escapism book., 27 Dec 2008
I've just finished reading this and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Like I said in the title it was easy to read, funny in places and a good, light-hearted, escapism book. I would recommend it to anyone.
The lack of a 5th star only comes from the fact that I wish Neil would have gone into a bit for detail about the characters Silas and Miss Lupescu. I found myself left wanting for a bit more involvement from these two characters. I also got a tad frustrated by the haziness of what went on between them and the Jacks.
Other than that, I loved it and would defiantly read it again! I would also recommend listening to the audio-book. Neil himself narrates it and he does it extremely well; very atmospheric, broody and extremely enjoyable.
I hope you find this helpful (it's my 1st book review...)
This could well be a future Classic!, 03 Dec 2008
In a nutshell: A fine read primarily aimed at the junior reader, but with enough maturity to be able to be enjoyed by all. The Graveyard Book has the potential to be a future classic in the same vein as the one that inspired it, The Jungle Book (and other greats such as Alice in Wonderland, The Wizard in Oz and The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe etc.), and for that reason alone I consider this novel unmissable.
------------
In his acknowledgments Gaiman credits more than a passing nod for this novel to Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book, a childhood favourite of his, and while the chief protagonist of the novel Bod, can certainly fit into Mowgli's loin cloth, I didn't really feel that there was much of a relationship between the two, other than a child growing up in a unique environment. Then again I read Jungle Book with child eyes many years ago, and this I read as a mature adult, so my perspective is somewhat different. More delightful for me perhaps (mainly because of the romantic notion it throws up), is the author's revelation that the inspiration for The Graveyard Book came after watching his two year old son pedaling his tricycle between the gravestones of a church one summer.
So from the outset I think I've established that The Graveyard Book is a title primarily aimed at the more junior reader, and fundamentally it is. That said the narrative is certainly more than mature enough to be read by all ages and I certainly didn't feel at any point that I was reading a book that was too young for me. In fact the publishers have seen fit to release this title in both a child's and adult's version so it's accessible for all. Being frugal I actually bought the child's version (it was available at a discounted price :o)), and I'm glad I did because it's got some really nice illustrations throughout from accomplished artist Chris Riddell.
On to the story itself and The Graveyard Book is hugely fantastical (what story about a baby being adopted by ghosts wouldn't be?), but that's The Graveyard Book's quality - pure unadulterated escapism. The story is well-paced, tight and easily read and with this novel at least (because it's the only one I've read) Neil Gaiman shows himself as a great storyteller. If he were around in times of lore then he would undoubtedly be the one wandering the medieval countryside with his lute, entertaining the townsfolk with his tales of wonderment :o). Gaiman's put a lot of cleverness into this story with some neat plot twists that ensure the pages keep turning.
Aside from the plot twists I loved following Bod's interactions with the ghosts of the graveyard, and his attempts to adopt the ghostly attributes which would prove useful to him in his unique position. Undoubtedly however, the main success of the storyline comes from Bod's growing angst at being kept from the world outside the graveyard. It's a problem that increases as Bod grows older and its fundamentally an exploration of growing up, but it's growing up in a wholly unique environment, and that's what makes the story so compelling.
As anyone who has read any of my former book reviews would know, my biggest passion is for good characterisation. I'm not so bothered about story or plot (although they help of course) but good characters mean everything to me; so much so that this aspect on its own can often make the difference between a novel being good or bad for me. Well, I'm happy to proclaim that Gaiman has created a really well-rounded charismatic character in the chief protagonist Bod, and if he were looking to create an equal to rival Kipling's Mowgli then I think he's succeeded, admirably. Silas, Bod's vampiric guardian, is another well realised character in this novel. He's a character that comes across with a great deal of enigmatic depth, and the phrase `still waters run deep' comes to mind when I think of him. I also think that this is the first time ever that I've been so endeared to a character who is traditionally considered to be an icon of horror.
Sadly however that's where the good characterisation diminishes somewhat for me, and with the possible exception of `the man Jack', all of the other characters come across as being somewhat flat and mere `players' in the story. Don't get me wrong, the portrayal of the other characters is certainly adequate, more than enough to ensure the novel keeps its gleam, but given the richness of character that could have been realised with such an imaginative cast of ghostly figures, I would have liked to have seen some of the other characters being better developed, at least up to the same standard as Silas.
In closing then the main question remaining is whether this is a novel that I recommend reading? Well if you're a junior then absolutely. It's a fantastic novel with a flowing, interesting storyline that juniors are certain to love. I promise! :o)
What about the more mature reader? Well as I've said above it's marketed towards all ages and the story has enough maturity to make it a novel for all ages. It's certainly a light read so if your expecting something as deep and engaging as a Tolstoy or Murakami then you're going to be disappointed. However, if it's a light read you're after then I can think of no better. It entertained me completely and as a reader who normally gets his kicks from the more dense prose of writers such as Steinbeck, Doestovsky and Hamsun etc. that's a big achievement. Bearing that in mind I'm confident that The Graveyard Book will entertain just about anyone. Go buy it!
not up to his usual standard..., 16 Nov 2008
I couldn't wait to get my hands on this one, but when i did... i wasn't satisfied.
This book isn't bad at all, and if you are a neil-fan, by all means read it. But, this book just wasn't as inventive, as surprising, touching or original.
the concept is great... the excecution.. not that great. There is nothing new, and i felt that i'd seen all the tricks before.
(Strangely, the book read as a script. i could just see the film sequences in my head.)
Also having read M is for Magic, i was already familiar with a great deal of the story. i almost skipped that part, but forced myself to read it again.
I sometimes thought: this is a real children's book, don't be so critical, but then characters such as victor hugo and the 66th president of U.S.A. are introduced, and i can't imagine kids being that familiar with french literature... It felt like Neil was sending me straight to wikipedia, to read up on some elemental history.
and the end... well... i suppose it was poignant, but i was not satisfied.
i remember being shattered coming to the end of neverwhere, wanting it to go on forever... i hardly dare pick up coraline again, because it disturbed and frightened me so.
The Graveyard book left me... unimpressed.
FABULOUS, 15 Oct 2008
I bought this book (for my daughter) on recommendation. I wasn't sure what to expect. I read it before I gave it to my child as I invariably do. I gave it to her with a smile and a wink and assured her she'd be scared (her idea of a good read! she's 9!) She marched downstairs the next day and declared she didn't know what I was talking about and it wasn't scary. The following morning (after having read a couple more chapters) she gave me the biggest smile and said "it's brilliant! I love it!" Apparently it had then become scary enough for her. :0)
That was 3 weeks ago - now most of her friends mothers have bought it for their children and even her teacher is reading it to the class.
It's just fabulous. I can't recommend this book enough. Buy it! Read it!
We've bought two more Gaiman books now and are eagerly awaiting the release of the film at the cinema next year. What a cracker!
Overrated, Pointless and Creepy, 08 Oct 2008
My class and I read Coraline at school over the period of a few weeks, and after hearing all the hype about Gaiman's works I must admit, I was disappointed with Coraline.
The book starts out alright, a young girl in a huge scary house, with a door that appears to be uninteresting, but as the book progresses the whole thing becomes fast-paced and pointless.
We, as the readers, are forced to endure pointless conversations and long and boring descriptions of every little thing that Coraline goes through. There were many times where I got incredibly bored reading it, something which I wasn't expecting at all.
There are parts that are bone-chillingly creepy though, but more creepy in a slightly disturbing way than in a scary way. The Other Mother was most definitely the creepiest thing in the book, with her paper white skin and large black button eyes.
Most of the characters in the book were either boring and undeveloped with no personality what-so-ever, or horrible, creepy and unlikeable. Coraline herself is possibly the most unlikeable person in the entire book, as she is completely unsocialable and comes across as a trouble-maker.
I'm 12 years old, and the book was too boring for me to enjoy , but would be much to creepy for a younger age.
All-in-all, this book is creepy, pointless and boring, with the exception of a few minor parts, which is why I gave it 2 stars.
Sophie (On my Mum's account)
Overrated, Pointless and Creepy, 08 Oct 2008
My class and I read Coraline at school over the period of a few weeks, and after hearing all the hype about Gaiman's works I must admit, I was disappointed with Coraline.
The book starts out alright, a young girl in a huge scary house, with a door that appears to be uninteresting, but as the book progresses the whole thing becomes fast-paced and pointless.
We, as the readers, are forced to endure pointless conversations and long and boring descriptions of every little thing that Coraline goes through. There were many times where I got incredibly bored reading it, something which I wasn't expecting at all.
There are parts that are bone-chillingly creepy though, but more creepy in a slightly disturbing way than in a scary way. The Other Mother was most definitely the creepiest thing in the book, with her paper white skin and large black button eyes.
Most of the characters in the book were either boring and undeveloped with no personality what-so-ever, or horrible, creepy and unlikeable. Coraline herself is possibly the most unlikeable person in the entire book, as she is completely unsocialable and comes across as a trouble-maker.
I'm 12 years old, and the book was boring for me to enjoy , but would be much to creepy for a younger age.
All-in-all, this book is creepy, pointless and boring, with the exception of a few minor parts, which is why I gave it 2 stars.
Sophie (On my Mum's Account)
Love dark fairy tales, 16 Sep 2008
I love dark fairy tales and Neil Gaiman doesn't disappoint. Simple yet meaningful, suitable for all to dive into as deep as you dare.
Courtesy of Teens Read Too, 12 Sep 2008
This version of CORALINE is a graphic novel adaptation of the novel penned by Neil Gaiman.
The story follows a common theme in his works of the naive, yet determined, everyman who stumbles into an alternate reality.
The protagonist in this story arises in the form of a young girl named Coraline.
I found the dialogue to be smartly written and the narrative engaging. The artwork, while typical comic fare, set the visual mood quite well.
I greatly enjoyed this story. I found the characters likeable and believable in the context of the story, which in and of itself seemed to me to be an odd metaphor for "growing up."
I cannot recommend this enough to fans of Neil Gaiman's work or to someone looking for something just a little bit different.
Reviewed by: Breia "The Brain" Brickey
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Customer Reviews
More of a four and a half really, 02 Jan 2009
I love Neil Gaiman, and my eleven year old son loved Coraline, so I bought this book to read to him at bedtimes. He didn't like it and asked me to start a different book instead when we were only a couple of chapters in. (We went on to the third book in the Philip Reeve Mortal Engines series, which we're both enjoying). I kept reading The Graveyard book on my own though, and I enjoyed it very much. I liked the mythical lyrical quality of the writing, as well as the believable characters and humour - and the suspense involving The Man Jack. It wouldn't be my favourite Neil Gaimen but it was still brilliant.
One of his best, 01 Jan 2009
I found this book enjoyable, and wonderfully colourful. The vast supporting cast of the dead and undead, from Silas, Bod's vampiric mentor, the deceased jack and vera duckworth-esque owens' to the rather less pleasant but humourously named ghouls (the 33rd President of the united States, the famous writer Victor Hugo) are offset against the true menace of our young protagonists situation.
From the outset the `Jacks' have pursued this unknowing innocent, and his graveyard utopia is increasingly interrupted by his need to interact with the outside world, which more and more exposes him to them.
The folklore and rules of the dead are incredible, but believable, much like the worlds Gaiman sets up in American Gods and Neverwhere, and you are drawn into them comfortably. My only criticism was the ambiguity of the ending, why was he being pursued by the Men Jack? would have made the conclusion stronger.
I advise anyone to buy and read this book.
A good, light hearted, escapism book., 27 Dec 2008
I've just finished reading this and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Like I said in the title it was easy to read, funny in places and a good, light-hearted, escapism book. I would recommend it to anyone.
The lack of a 5th star only comes from the fact that I wish Neil would have gone into a bit for detail about the characters Silas and Miss Lupescu. I found myself left wanting for a bit more involvement from these two characters. I also got a tad frustrated by the haziness of what went on between them and the Jacks.
Other than that, I loved it and would defiantly read it again! I would also recommend listening to the audio-book. Neil himself narrates it and he does it extremely well; very atmospheric, broody and extremely enjoyable.
I hope you find this helpful (it's my 1st book review...)
This could well be a future Classic!, 03 Dec 2008
In a nutshell: A fine read primarily aimed at the junior reader, but with enough maturity to be able to be enjoyed by all. The Graveyard Book has the potential to be a future classic in the same vein as the one that inspired it, The Jungle Book (and other greats such as Alice in Wonderland, The Wizard in Oz and The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe etc.), and for that reason alone I consider this novel unmissable.
------------
In his acknowledgments Gaiman credits more than a passing nod for this novel to Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book, a childhood favourite of his, and while the chief protagonist of the novel Bod, can certainly fit into Mowgli's loin cloth, I didn't really feel that there was much of a relationship between the two, other than a child growing up in a unique environment. Then again I read Jungle Book with child eyes many years ago, and this I read as a mature adult, so my perspective is somewhat different. More delightful for me perhaps (mainly because of the romantic notion it throws up), is the author's revelation that the inspiration for The Graveyard Book came after watching his two year old son pedaling his tricycle between the gravestones of a church one summer.
So from the outset I think I've established that The Graveyard Book is a title primarily aimed at the more junior reader, and fundamentally it is. That said the narrative is certainly more than mature enough to be read by all ages and I certainly didn't feel at any point that I was reading a book that was too young for me. In fact the publishers have seen fit to release this title in both a child's and adult's version so it's accessible for all. Being frugal I actually bought the child's version (it was available at a discounted price :o)), and I'm glad I did because it's got some really nice illustrations throughout from accomplished artist Chris Riddell.
On to the story itself and The Graveyard Book is hugely fantastical (what story about a baby being adopted by ghosts wouldn't be?), but that's The Graveyard Book's quality - pure unadulterated escapism. The story is well-paced, tight and easily read and with this novel at least (because it's the only one I've read) Neil Gaiman shows himself as a great storyteller. If he were around in times of lore then he would undoubtedly be the one wandering the medieval countryside with his lute, entertaining the townsfolk with his tales of wonderment :o). Gaiman's put a lot of cleverness into this story with some neat plot twists that ensure the pages keep turning.
Aside from the plot twists I loved following Bod's interactions with the ghosts of the graveyard, and his attempts to adopt the ghostly attributes which would prove useful to him in his unique position. Undoubtedly however, the main success of the storyline comes from Bod's growing angst at being kept from the world outside the graveyard. It's a problem that increases as Bod grows older and its fundamentally an exploration of growing up, but it's growing up in a wholly unique environment, and that's what makes the story so compelling.
As anyone who has read any of my former book reviews would know, my biggest passion is for good characterisation. I'm not so bothered about story or plot (although they help of course) but good characters mean everything to me; so much so that this aspect on its own can often make the difference between a novel being good or bad for me. Well, I'm happy to proclaim that Gaiman has created a really well-rounded charismatic character in the chief protagonist Bod, and if he were looking to create an equal to rival Kipling's Mowgli then I think he's succeeded, admirably. Silas, Bod's vampiric guardian, is another well realised character in this novel. He's a character that comes across with a great deal of enigmatic depth, and the phrase `still waters run deep' comes to mind when I think of him. I also think that this is the first time ever that I've been so endeared to a character who is traditionally considered to be an icon of horror.
Sadly however that's where the good characterisation diminishes somewhat for me, and with the possible exception of `the man Jack', all of the other characters come across as being somewhat flat and mere `players' in the story. Don't get me wrong, the portrayal of the other characters is certainly adequate, more than enough to ensure the novel keeps its gleam, but given the richness of character that could have been realised with such an imaginative cast of ghostly figures, I would have liked to have seen some of the other characters being better developed, at least up to the same standard as Silas.
In closing then the main question remaining is whether this is a novel that I recommend reading? Well if you're a junior then absolutely. It's a fantastic novel with a flowing, interesting storyline that juniors are certain to love. I promise! :o)
What about the more mature reader? Well as I've said above it's marketed towards all ages and the story has enough maturity to make it a novel for all ages. It's certainly a light read so if your expecting something as deep and engaging as a Tolstoy or Murakami then you're going to be disappointed. However, if it's a light read you're after then I can think of no better. It entertained me completely and as a reader who normally gets his kicks from the more dense prose of writers such as Steinbeck, Doestovsky and Hamsun etc. that's a big achievement. Bearing that in mind I'm confident that The Graveyard Book will entertain just about anyone. Go buy it!
not up to his usual standard..., 16 Nov 2008
I couldn't wait to get my hands on this one, but when i did... i wasn't satisfied.
This book isn't bad at all, and if you are a neil-fan, by all means read it. But, this book just wasn't as inventive, as surprising, touching or original.
the concept is great... the excecution.. not that great. There is nothing new, and i felt that i'd seen all the tricks before.
(Strangely, the book read as a script. i could just see the film sequences in my head.)
Also having read M is for Magic, i was already familiar with a great deal of the story. i almost skipped that part, but forced myself to read it again.
I sometimes thought: this is a real children's book, don't be so critical, but then characters such as victor hugo and the 66th president of U.S.A. are introduced, and i can't imagine kids being that familiar with french literature... It felt like Neil was sending me straight to wikipedia, to read up on some elemental history.
and the end... well... i suppose it was poignant, but i was not satisfied.
i remember being shattered coming to the end of neverwhere, wanting it to go on forever... i hardly dare pick up coraline again, because it disturbed and frightened me so.
The Graveyard book left me... unimpressed.
More of a four and a half really, 02 Jan 2009
I love Neil Gaiman, and my eleven year old son loved Coraline, so I bought this book to read to him at bedtimes. He didn't like it and asked me to start a different book instead when we were only a couple of chapters in. (We went on to the third book in the Philip Reeve Mortal Engines series, which we're both enjoying). I kept reading The Graveyard book on my own though, and I enjoyed it very much. I liked the mythical lyrical quality of the writing, as well as the believable characters and humour - and the suspense involving The Man Jack. It wouldn't be my favourite Neil Gaimen but it was still brilliant.
One of his best, 01 Jan 2009
I found this book enjoyable, and wonderfully colourful. The vast supporting cast of the dead and undead, from Silas, Bod's vampiric mentor, the deceased jack and vera duckworth-esque owens' to the rather less pleasant but humourously named ghouls (the 33rd President of the united States, the famous writer Victor Hugo) are offset against the true menace of our young protagonists situation.
From the outset the `Jacks' have pursued this unknowing innocent, and his graveyard utopia is increasingly interrupted by his need to interact with the outside world, which more and more exposes him to them.
The folklore and rules of the dead are incredible, but believable, much like the worlds Gaiman sets up in American Gods and Neverwhere, and you are drawn into them comfortably. My only criticism was the ambiguity of the ending, why was he being pursued by the Men Jack? would have made the conclusion stronger.
I advise anyone to buy and read this book.
A good, light hearted, escapism book., 27 Dec 2008
I've just finished reading this and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Like I said in the title it was easy to read, funny in places and a good, light-hearted, escapism book. I would recommend it to anyone.
The lack of a 5th star only comes from the fact that I wish Neil would have gone into a bit for detail about the characters Silas and Miss Lupescu. I found myself left wanting for a bit more involvement from these two characters. I also got a tad frustrated by the haziness of what went on between them and the Jacks.
Other than that, I loved it and would defiantly read it again! I would also recommend listening to the audio-book. Neil himself narrates it and he does it extremely well; very atmospheric, broody and extremely enjoyable.
I hope you find this helpful (it's my 1st book review...)
This could well be a future Classic!, 03 Dec 2008
In a nutshell: A fine read primarily aimed at the junior reader, but with enough maturity to be able to be enjoyed by all. The Graveyard Book has the potential to be a future classic in the same vein as the one that inspired it, The Jungle Book (and other greats such as Alice in Wonderland, The Wizard in Oz and The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe etc.), and for that reason alone I consider this novel unmissable.
------------
In his acknowledgments Gaiman credits more than a passing nod for this novel to Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book, a childhood favourite of his, and while the chief protagonist of the novel Bod, can certainly fit into Mowgli's loin cloth, I didn't really feel that there was much of a relationship between the two, other than a child growing up in a unique environment. Then again I read Jungle Book with child eyes many years ago, and this I read as a mature adult, so my perspective is somewhat different. More delightful for me perhaps (mainly because of the romantic notion it throws up), is the author's revelation that the inspiration for The Graveyard Book came after watching his two year old son pedaling his tricycle between the gravestones of a church one summer.
So from the outset I think I've established that The Graveyard Book is a title primarily aimed at the more junior reader, and fundamentally it is. That said the narrative is certainly more than mature enough to be read by all ages and I certainly didn't feel at any point that I was reading a book that was too young for me. In fact the publishers have seen fit to release this title in both a child's and adult's version so it's accessible for all. Being frugal I actually bought the child's version (it was available at a discounted price :o)), and I'm glad I did because it's got some really nice illustrations throughout from accomplished artist Chris Riddell.
On to the story itself and The Graveyard Book is hugely fantastical (what story about a baby being adopted by ghosts wouldn't be?), but that's The Graveyard Book's quality - pure unadulterated escapism. The story is well-paced, tight and easily read and with this novel at least (because it's the only one I've read) Neil Gaiman shows himself as a great storyteller. If he were around in times of lore then he would undoubtedly be the one wandering the medieval countryside with his lute, entertaining the townsfolk with his tales of wonderment :o). Gaiman's put a lot of cleverness into this story with some neat plot twists that ensure the pages keep turning.
Aside from the plot twists I loved following Bod's interactions with the ghosts of the graveyard, and his attempts to adopt the ghostly attributes which would prove useful to him in his unique position. Undoubtedly however, the main success of the storyline comes from Bod's growing angst at being kept from the world outside the graveyard. It's a problem that increases as Bod grows older and its fundamentally an exploration of growing up, but it's growing up in a wholly unique environment, and that's what makes the story so compelling.
As anyone who has read any of my former book reviews would know, my biggest passion is for good characterisation. I'm not so bothered about story or plot (although they help of course) but good characters mean everything to me; so much so that this aspect on its own can often make the difference between a novel being good or bad for me. Well, I'm happy to proclaim that Gaiman has created a really well-rounded charismatic character in the chief protagonist Bod, and if he were looking to create an equal to rival Kipling's Mowgli then I think he's succeeded, admirably. Silas, Bod's vampiric guardian, is another well realised character in this novel. He's a character that comes across with a great deal of enigmatic depth, and the phrase `still waters run deep' comes to mind when I think of him. I also think that this is the first time ever that I've been so endeared to a character who is traditionally considered to be an icon of horror.
Sadly however that's where the good characterisation diminishes somewhat for me, and with the possible exception of `the man Jack', all of the other characters come across as being somewhat flat and mere `players' in the story. Don't get me wrong, the portrayal of the other characters is certainly adequate, more than enough to ensure the novel keeps its gleam, but given the richness of character that could have been realised with such an imaginative cast of ghostly figures, I would have liked to have seen some of the other characters being better developed, at least up to the same standard as Silas.
In closing then the main question remaining is whether this is a novel that I recommend reading? Well if you're a junior then absolutely. It's a fantastic novel with a flowing, interesting storyline that juniors are certain to love. I promise! :o)
What about the more mature reader? Well as I've said above it's marketed towards all ages and the story has enough maturity to make it a novel for all ages. It's certainly a light read so if your expecting something as deep and engaging as a Tolstoy or Murakami then you're going to be disappointed. However, if it's a light read you're after then I can think of no better. It entertained me completely and as a reader who normally gets his kicks from the more dense prose of writers such as Steinbeck, Doestovsky and Hamsun etc. that's a big achievement. Bearing that in mind I'm confident that The Graveyard Book will entertain just about anyone. Go buy it!
not up to his usual standard..., 16 Nov 2008
I couldn't wait to get my hands on this one, but when i did... i wasn't satisfied.
This book isn't bad at all, and if you are a neil-fan, by all means read it. But, this book just wasn't as inventive, as surprising, touching or original.
the concept is great... the excecution.. not that great. There is nothing new, and i felt that i'd seen all the tricks before.
(Strangely, the book read as a script. i could just see the film sequences in my head.)
Also having read M is for Magic, i was already familiar with a great deal of the story. i almost skipped that part, but forced myself to read it again.
I sometimes thought: this is a real children's book, don't be so critical, but then characters such as victor hugo and the 66th president of U.S.A. are introduced, and i can't imagine kids being that familiar with french literature... It felt like Neil was sending me straight to wikipedia, to read up on some elemental history.
and the end... well... i suppose it was poignant, but i was not satisfied.
i remember being shattered coming to the end of neverwhere, wanting it to go on forever... i hardly dare pick up coraline again, because it disturbed and frightened me so.
The Graveyard book left me... unimpressed.
FABULOUS, 15 Oct 2008
I bought this book (for my daughter) on recommendation. I wasn't sure what to expect. I read it before I gave it to my child as I invariably do. I gave it to her with a smile and a wink and assured her she'd be scared (her idea of a good read! she's 9!) She marched downstairs the next day and declared she didn't know what I was talking about and it wasn't scary. The following morning (after having read a couple more chapters) she gave me the biggest smile and said "it's brilliant! I love it!" Apparently it had then become scary enough for her. :0)
That was 3 weeks ago - now most of her friends mothers have bought it for their children and even her teacher is reading it to the class.
It's just fabulous. I can't recommend this book enough. Buy it! Read it!
We've bought two more Gaiman books now and are eagerly awaiting the release of the film at the cinema next year. What a cracker!
Overrated, Pointless and Creepy, 08 Oct 2008
My class and I read Coraline at school over the period of a few weeks, and after hearing all the hype about Gaiman's works I must admit, I was disappointed with Coraline.
The book starts out alright, a young girl in a huge scary house, with a door that appears to be uninteresting, but as the book progresses the whole thing becomes fast-paced and pointless.
We, as the readers, are forced to endure pointless conversations and long and boring descriptions of every little thing that Coraline goes through. There were many times where I got incredibly bored reading it, something which I wasn't expecting at all.
There are parts that are bone-chillingly creepy though, but more creepy in a slightly disturbing way than in a scary way. The Other Mother was most definitely the creepiest thing in the book, with her paper white skin and large black button eyes.
Most of the characters in the book were either boring and undeveloped with no personality what-so-ever, or horrible, creepy and unlikeable. Coraline herself is possibly the most unlikeable person in the entire book, as she is completely unsocialable and comes across as a trouble-maker.
I'm 12 years old, and the book was too boring for me to enjoy , but would be much to creepy for a younger age.
All-in-all, this book is creepy, pointless and boring, with the exception of a few minor parts, which is why I gave it 2 stars.
Sophie (On my Mum's account)
Overrated, Pointless and Creepy, 08 Oct 2008
My class and I read Coraline at school over the period of a few weeks, and after hearing all the hype about Gaiman's works I must admit, I was disappointed with Coraline.
The book starts out alright, a young girl in a huge scary house, with a door that appears to be uninteresting, but as the book progresses the whole thing becomes fast-paced and pointless.
We, as the readers, are forced to endure pointless conversations and long and boring descriptions of every little thing that Coraline goes through. There were many times where I got incredibly bored reading it, something which I wasn't expecting at all.
There are parts that are bone-chillingly creepy though, but more creepy in a slightly disturbing way than in a scary way. The Other Mother was most definitely the creepiest thing in the book, with her paper white skin and large black button eyes.
Most of the characters in the book were either boring and undeveloped with no personality what-so-ever, or horrible, creepy and unlikeable. Coraline herself is possibly the most unlikeable person in the entire book, as she is completely unsocialable and comes across as a trouble-maker.
I'm 12 years old, and the book was boring for me to enjoy , but would be much to creepy for a younger age.
All-in-all, this book is creepy, pointless and boring, with the exception of a few minor parts, which is why I gave it 2 stars.
Sophie (On my Mum's Account)
Love dark fairy tales, 16 Sep 2008
I love dark fairy tales and Neil Gaiman doesn't disappoint. Simple yet meaningful, suitable for all to dive into as deep as you dare.
Courtesy of Teens Read Too, 12 Sep 2008
This version of CORALINE is a graphic novel adaptation of the novel penned by Neil Gaiman.
The story follows a common theme in his works of the naive, yet determined, everyman who stumbles into an alternate reality.
The protagonist in this story arises in the form of a young girl named Coraline.
I found the dialogue to be smartly written and the narrative engaging. The artwork, while typical comic fare, set the visual mood quite well.
I greatly enjoyed this story. I found the characters likeable and believable in the context of the story, which in and of itself seemed to me to be an odd metaphor for "growing up."
I cannot recommend this enough to fans of Neil Gaiman's work or to someone looking for something just a little bit different.
Reviewed by: Breia "The Brain" Brickey
Neverwhere, 28 Dec 2008
An excellent read. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Not a book that I would usually go for - given that it is categorised by booksellers as a sci-fi/fanstasy title. It is the story of Richard Mayhew, living in contemporary London who finds his actions helping a girl who appears to be injured takes him to a parallel London to his world. The names and places throughout the story are really cleverly written.
creepy, a bit gruesome bu enchanting!, 05 Dec 2008
This book was my first experience of Neil Gaiman, purchased while trying to find something 'different' to read. It certainly is different to anything I have read before and it was'nt a let down. Gaiman writes in a way which keeps you hooked from page to page. This book really makes you feel that you are there in 'London under' in this creepy, scary, violent other world. A worthwhile read I loved it!
Doesn't live up to the hype, 19 Nov 2008
I had such high hopes for this book. Neil Gaiman is one of those superstar authors and (although you should never judge a book by its cover) the blurb made it sound like the kind of thing I'd be into: mythical beings with a modern twist, an alternative London hidden beneath our own, good contemporary fantasy.
Neverwhere had all of those things, but I was expecting it to be better. The plot is quite straightforward: a chance encounter with the aptly-named Door causes Richard Mayhew to fall between the cracks of present-day London and into a world populated by talking rats, vampires and knights in rusty armour. Soon he is on a quest to avenge the murder of Door's father before the murderer catches up with him.
Despite the enormous potential of the alternative world Neil Gaiman creates in this book, it feels as if he has merely sketched it out. The characters and their world were undoubtedly alive in his imagination, but only shadows appear on the paper. It is a perfectly pleasant read and I wish I'd read it on a beach somewhere instead of in my lunch break, but I came to the book with the wrong expectations and finished feeling disappointed. There were no complex characters or intricate plot strands and the multilayered, technicolour world promised by the cover turned out to be a bit beige.
This particular edition, incidentally, contains extra bonus material, most of which (an introduction, an alternative prologue and an interview with the author) is quite interesting and some of which (reading group discussion questions) is excruciatingly cringeworthy.
Enchanting, 18 Nov 2008
I loved this book.
I was recommended it by someone and was initially not convinced, and I don't regret changing my mind for a minute.
Ok, me being a bit blonde took me a while to realsie the names of some of the places and people were tube stations... But was overjoyed when it ''clicked' in my head.
It's set it London but, it's not, which is the beauty of it, as this place is this other world full of magic and fantasy. It's one of those books where you can truly appreciate an authors imagination and love for creating the book.
What more can I say about it, I'm the type of person that will sit down and read a book in one single sitting if I can, especially if I enjoy it.
And I deprived myself of sleep to fiish this one.
Simple but fun, 20 Aug 2008
This was one of those books which I really wanted to be better than it is. I'm a huge fan of Neil Gaiman's Sandman series, which I think was an incredible achievement. Unfortunately Neverwhere really suffers by comparison.
The concept of an alternate London hidden behind the 'real' one is fascinating, and as an adventure it rolls along at a cracking pace. However some of it is pretty simplistic, which came as a real surprise compared to the intricacies of the Sandman saga.
For example, having a character who has the ability to open any door (and other things) is interesting, but calling that character 'Door' is a bit simplistic.
On the whole it's an enjoyable read, just not Gaiman's finest work.
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Product Description
There is a way into Faerie, beyond the fields we know, and it lies in a village called Wall, somewhere in the early Victorian era. Every nine years there is a fair on the other side of the wall, where Faerie sells its wares to the mundane. Farmer Duncan Thorne had his moment of mad love with a witch's bondservant; Tristan, his son, turned up in a basket nine months later. Now Tristan is old enough to fall in love, and promises Victoria a falling star... This is a fairy story in the tradition of George MacDonald and Hope Mirlees; a book of passion and terror and wit which reminds us that Faerie is not a safe place, or a fair one. And at its edges there lurk other stories--Neil Gaiman's work in comics and television has previously shown his capacity to evoke mystery and glorious magic by telling us just enough and no more, but he excels himself here. Charles Vess's illustrations, (Vess collaborated with Gaiman on key episodes of The Sandman), have charm and occasionally more--the stars dance, Pan looms from the forest, a witch queen rides a chariot driven by goats and Tristan journeys by candlelight leagues at a step. --Roz Kaveney
Customer Reviews
More of a four and a half really, 02 Jan 2009
I love Neil Gaiman, and my eleven year old son loved Coraline, so I bought this book to read to him at bedtimes. He didn't like it and asked me to start a different book instead when we were only a couple of chapters in. (We went on to the third book in the Philip Reeve Mortal Engines series, which we're both enjoying). I kept reading The Graveyard book on my own though, and I enjoyed it very much. I liked the mythical lyrical quality of the writing, as well as the believable characters and humour - and the suspense involving The Man Jack. It wouldn't be my favourite Neil Gaimen but it was still brilliant.
One of his best, 01 Jan 2009
I found this book enjoyable, and wonderfully colourful. The vast supporting cast of the dead and undead, from Silas, Bod's vampiric mentor, the deceased jack and vera duckworth-esque owens' to the rather less pleasant but humourously named ghouls (the 33rd President of the united States, the famous writer Victor Hugo) are offset against the true menace of our young protagonists situation.
From the outset the `Jacks' have pursued this unknowing innocent, and his graveyard utopia is increasingly interrupted by his need to interact with the outside world, which more and more exposes him to them.
The folklore and rules of the dead are incredible, but believable, much like the worlds Gaiman sets up in American Gods and Neverwhere, and you are drawn into them comfortably. My only criticism was the ambiguity of the ending, why was he being pursued by the Men Jack? would have made the conclusion stronger.
I advise anyone to buy and read this book.
A good, light hearted, escapism book., 27 Dec 2008
I've just finished reading this and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Like I said in the title it was easy to read, funny in places and a good, light-hearted, escapism book. I would recommend it to anyone.
The lack of a 5th star only comes from the fact that I wish Neil would have gone into a bit for detail about the characters Silas and Miss Lupescu. I found myself left wanting for a bit more involvement from these two characters. I also got a tad frustrated by the haziness of what went on between them and the Jacks.
Other than that, I loved it and would defiantly read it again! I would also recommend listening to the audio-book. Neil himself narrates it and he does it extremely well; very atmospheric, broody and extremely enjoyable.
I hope you find this helpful (it's my 1st book review...)
This could well be a future Classic!, 03 Dec 2008
In a nutshell: A fine read primarily aimed at the junior reader, but with enough maturity to be able to be enjoyed by all. The Graveyard Book has the potential to be a future classic in the same vein as the one that inspired it, The Jungle Book (and other greats such as Alice in Wonderland, The Wizard in Oz and The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe etc.), and for that reason alone I consider this novel unmissable.
------------
In his acknowledgments Gaiman credits more than a passing nod for this novel to Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book, a childhood favourite of his, and while the chief protagonist of the novel Bod, can certainly fit into Mowgli's loin cloth, I didn't really feel that there was much of a relationship between the two, other than a child growing up in a unique environment. Then again I read Jungle Book with child eyes many years ago, and this I read as a mature adult, so my perspective is somewhat different. More delightful for me perhaps (mainly because of the romantic notion it throws up), is the author's revelation that the inspiration for The Graveyard Book came after watching his two year old son pedaling his tricycle between the gravestones of a church one summer.
So from the outset I think I've established that The Graveyard Book is a title primarily aimed at the more junior reader, and fundamentally it is. That said the narrative is certainly more than mature enough to be read by all ages and I certainly didn't feel at any point that I was reading a book that was too young for me. In fact the publishers have seen fit to release this title in both a child's and adult's version so it's accessible for all. Being frugal I actually bought the child's version (it was available at a discounted price :o)), and I'm glad I did because it's got some really nice illustrations throughout from accomplished artist Chris Riddell.
On to the story itself and The Graveyard Book is hugely fantastical (what story about a baby being adopted by ghosts wouldn't be?), but that's The Graveyard Book's quality - pure unadulterated escapism. The story is well-paced, tight and easily read and with this novel at least (because it's the only one I've read) Neil Gaiman shows himself as a great storyteller. If he were around in times of lore then he would undoubtedly be the one wandering the medieval countryside with his lute, entertaining the townsfolk with his tales of wonderment :o). Gaiman's put a lot of cleverness into this story with some neat plot twists that ensure the pages keep turning.
Aside from the plot twists I loved following Bod's interactions with the ghosts of the graveyard, and his attempts to adopt the ghostly attributes which would prove useful to him in his unique position. Undoubtedly however, the main success of the storyline comes from Bod's growing angst at being kept from the world outside the graveyard. It's a problem that increases as Bod grows older and its fundamentally an exploration of growing up, but it's growing up in a wholly unique environment, and that's what makes the story so compelling.
As anyone who has read any of my former book reviews would know, my biggest passion is for good characterisation. I'm not so bothered about story or plot (although they help of course) but good characters mean everything to me; so much so that this aspect on its own can often make the difference between a novel being good or bad for me. Well, I'm happy to proclaim that Gaiman has created a really well-rounded charismatic character in the chief protagonist Bod, and if he were looking to create an equal to rival Kipling's Mowgli then I think he's succeeded, admirably. Silas, Bod's vampiric guardian, is another well realised character in this novel. He's a character that comes across with a great deal of enigmatic depth, and the phrase `still waters run deep' comes to mind when I think of him. I also think that this is the first time ever that I've been so endeared to a character who is traditionally considered to be an icon of horror.
Sadly however that's where the good characterisation diminishes somewhat for me, and with the possible exception of `the man Jack', all of the other characters come across as being somewhat flat and mere `players' in the story. Don't get me wrong, the portrayal of the other characters is certainly adequate, more than enough to ensure the novel keeps its gleam, but given the richness of character that could have been realised with such an imaginative cast of ghostly figures, I would have liked to have seen some of the other characters being better developed, at least up to the same standard as Silas.
In closing then the main question remaining is whether this is a novel that I recommend reading? Well if you're a junior then absolutely. It's a fantastic novel with a flowing, interesting storyline that juniors are certain to love. I promise! :o)
What about the more mature reader? Well as I've said above it's marketed towards all ages and the story has enough maturity to make it a novel for all ages. It's certainly a light read so if your expecting something as deep and engaging as a Tolstoy or Murakami then you're going to be disappointed. However, if it's a light read you're after then I can think of no better. It entertained me completely and as a reader who normally gets his kicks from the more dense prose of writers such as Steinbeck, Doestovsky and Hamsun etc. that's a big achievement. Bearing that in mind I'm confident that The Graveyard Book will entertain just about anyone. Go buy it!
not up to his usual standard..., 16 Nov 2008
I couldn't wait to get my hands on this one, but when i did... i wasn't satisfied.
This book isn't bad at all, and if you are a neil-fan, by all means read it. But, this book just wasn't as inventive, as surprising, touching or original.
the concept is great... the excecution.. not that great. There is nothing new, and i felt that i'd seen all the tricks before.
(Strangely, the book read as a script. i could just see the film sequences in my head.)
Also having read M is for Magic, i was already familiar with a great deal of the story. i almost skipped that part, but forced myself to read it again.
I sometimes thought: this is a real children's book, don't be so critical, but then characters such as victor hugo and the 66th president of U.S.A. are introduced, and i can't imagine kids being that familiar with french literature... It felt like Neil was sending me straight to wikipedia, to read up on some elemental history.
and the end... well... i suppose it was poignant, but i was not satisfied.
i remember being shattered coming to the end of neverwhere, wanting it to go on forever... i hardly dare pick up coraline again, because it disturbed and frightened me so.
The Graveyard book left me... unimpressed.
More of a four and a half really, 02 Jan 2009
I love Neil Gaiman, and my eleven year old son loved Coraline, so I bought this book to read to him at bedtimes. He didn't like it and asked me to start a different book instead when we were only a couple of chapters in. (We went on to the third book in the Philip Reeve Mortal Engines series, which we're both enjoying). I kept reading The Graveyard book on my own though, and I enjoyed it very much. I liked the mythical lyrical quality of the writing, as well as the believable characters and humour - and the suspense involving The Man Jack. It wouldn't be my favourite Neil Gaimen but it was still brilliant.
One of his best, 01 Jan 2009
I found this book enjoyable, and wonderfully colourful. The vast supporting cast of the dead and undead, from Silas, Bod's vampiric mentor, the deceased jack and vera duckworth-esque owens' to the rather less pleasant but humourously named ghouls (the 33rd President of the united States, the famous writer Victor Hugo) are offset against the true menace of our young protagonists situation.
From the outset the `Jacks' have pursued this unknowing innocent, and his graveyard utopia is increasingly interrupted by his need to interact with the outside world, which more and more exposes him to them.
The folklore and rules of the dead are incredible, but believable, much like the worlds Gaiman sets up in American Gods and Neverwhere, and you are drawn into them comfortably. My only criticism was the ambiguity of the ending, why was he being pursued by the Men Jack? would have made the conclusion stronger.
I advise anyone to buy and read this book.
A good, light hearted, escapism book., 27 Dec 2008
I've just finished reading this and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Like I said in the title it was easy to read, funny in places and a good, light-hearted, escapism book. I would recommend it to anyone.
The lack of a 5th star only comes from the fact that I wish Neil would have gone into a bit for detail about the characters Silas and Miss Lupescu. I found myself left wanting for a bit more involvement from these two characters. I also got a tad frustrated by the haziness of what went on between them and the Jacks.
Other than that, I loved it and would defiantly read it again! I would also recommend listening to the audio-book. Neil himself narrates it and he does it extremely well; very atmospheric, broody and extremely enjoyable.
I hope you find this helpful (it's my 1st book review...)
This could well be a future Classic!, 03 Dec 2008
In a nutshell: A fine read primarily aimed at the junior reader, but with enough maturity to be able to be enjoyed by all. The Graveyard Book has the potential to be a future classic in the same vein as the one that inspired it, The Jungle Book (and other greats such as Alice in Wonderland, The Wizard in Oz and The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe etc.), and for that reason alone I consider this novel unmissable.
------------
In his acknowledgments Gaiman credits more than a passing nod for this novel to Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book, a childhood favourite of his, and while the chief protagonist of the novel Bod, can certainly fit into Mowgli's loin cloth, I didn't really feel that there was much of a relationship between the two, other than a child growing up in a unique environment. Then again I read Jungle Book with child eyes many years ago, and this I read as a mature adult, so my perspective is somewhat different. More delightful for me perhaps (mainly because of the romantic notion it throws up), is the author's revelation that the inspiration for The Graveyard Book came after watching his two year old son pedaling his tricycle between the gravestones of a church one summer.
So from the outset I think I've established that The Graveyard Book is a title primarily aimed at the more junior reader, and fundamentally it is. That said the narrative is certainly more than mature enough to be read by all ages and I certainly didn't feel at any point that I was reading a book that was too young for me. In fact the publishers have seen fit to release this title in both a child's and adult's version so it's accessible for all. Being frugal I actually bought the child's version (it was available at a discounted price :o)), and I'm glad I did because it's got some really nice illustrations throughout from accomplished artist Chris Riddell.
On to the story itself and The Graveyard Book is hugely fantastical (what story about a baby being adopted by ghosts wouldn't be?), but that's The Graveyard Book's quality - pure unadulterated escapism. The story is well-paced, tight and easily read and with this novel at least (because it's the only one I've read) Neil Gaiman shows himself as a great storyteller. If he were around in times of lore then he would undoubtedly be the one wandering the medieval countryside with his lute, entertaining the townsfolk with his tales of wonderment :o). Gaiman's put a lot of cleverness into this story with some neat plot twists that ensure the pages keep turning.
Aside from the plot twists I loved following Bod's interactions with the ghosts of the graveyard, and his attempts to adopt the ghostly attributes which would prove useful to him in his unique position. Undoubtedly however, the main success of the storyline comes from Bod's growing angst at being kept from the world outside the graveyard. It's a problem that increases as Bod grows older and its fundamentally an exploration of growing up, but it's growing up in a wholly unique environment, and that's what makes the story so compelling.
As anyone who has read any of my former book reviews would know, my biggest passion is for good characterisation. I'm not so bothered about story or plot (although they help of course) but good characters mean everything to me; so much so that this aspect on its own can often make the difference between a novel being good or bad for me. Well, I'm happy to proclaim that Gaiman has created a really well-rounded charismatic character in the chief protagonist Bod, and if he were looking to create an equal to rival Kipling's Mowgli then I think he's succeeded, admirably. Silas, Bod's vampiric guardian, is another well realised character in this novel. He's a character that comes across with a great deal of enigmatic depth, and the phrase `still waters run deep' comes to mind when I think of him. I also think that this is the first time ever that I've been so endeared to a character who is traditionally considered to be an icon of horror.
Sadly however that's where the good characterisation diminishes somewhat for me, and with the possible exception of `the man Jack', all of the other characters come across as being somewhat flat and mere `players' in the story. Don't get me wrong, the portrayal of the other characters is certainly adequate, more than enough to ensure the novel keeps its gleam, but given the richness of character that could have been realised with such an imaginative cast of ghostly figures, I would have liked to have seen some of the other characters being better developed, at least up to the same standard as Silas.
In closing then the main question remaining is whether this is a novel that I recommend reading? Well if you're a junior then absolutely. It's a fantastic novel with a flowing, interesting storyline that juniors are certain to love. I promise! :o)
What about the more mature reader? Well as I've said above it's marketed towards all ages and the story has enough maturity to make it a novel for all ages. It's certainly a light read so if your expecting something as deep and engaging as a Tolstoy or Murakami then you're going to be disappointed. However, if it's a light read you're after then I can think of no better. It entertained me completely and as a reader who normally gets his kicks from the more dense prose of writers such as Steinbeck, Doestovsky and Hamsun etc. that's a big achievement. Bearing that in mind I'm confident that The Graveyard Book will entertain just about anyone. Go buy it!
not up to his usual standard..., 16 Nov 2008
I couldn't wait to get my hands on this one, but when i did... i wasn't satisfied.
This book isn't bad at all, and if you are a neil-fan, by all means read it. But, this book just wasn't as inventive, as surprising, touching or original.
the concept is great... the excecution.. not that great. There is nothing new, and i felt that i'd seen all the tricks before.
(Strangely, the book read as a script. i could just see the film sequences in my head.)
Also having read M is for Magic, i was already familiar with a great deal of the story. i almost skipped that part, but forced myself to read it again.
I sometimes thought: this is a real children's book, don't be so critical, but then characters such as victor hugo and the 66th president of U.S.A. are introduced, and i can't imagine kids being that familiar with french literature... It felt like Neil was sending me straight to wikipedia, to read up on some elemental history.
and the end... well... i suppose it was poignant, but i was not satisfied.
i remember being shattered coming to the end of neverwhere, wanting it to go on forever... i hardly dare pick up coraline again, because it disturbed and frightened me so.
The Graveyard book left me... unimpressed.
FABULOUS, 15 Oct 2008
I bought this book (for my daughter) on recommendation. I wasn't sure what to expect. I read it before I gave it to my child as I invariably do. I gave it to her with a smile and a wink and assured her she'd be scared (her idea of a good read! she's 9!) She marched downstairs the next day and declared she didn't know what I was talking about and it wasn't scary. The following morning (after having read a couple more chapters) she gave me the biggest smile and said "it's brilliant! I love it!" Apparently it had then become scary enough for her. :0)
That was 3 weeks ago - now most of her friends mothers have bought | | |