book review
Title: The Ocean At The End Of The Lane
Author: Neil Gaiman
# of Pages: 192
Summary (from amazon.com): Forty years ago, our narrator, who was then a seven-year-old boy, unwittingly discovered a neighboring family’s supernatural secret. What happens next is an imaginative romp through otherwordly adventure that could only come from Gaiman's magical mind. Childhood innocence is tested and transcended as we see what getting between ancient, mystic forces can cost, as well as what can be gained from the power of true friendship. The result is a captivating tale that is equal parts sweet, sad, and spooky.
Opinion: As Gaiman's first adult novel in a few years, I really didn't know quite what to expect. I was entirely surprised and charmed by this novel, whose initially length made me think that I wouldn't, frankly, have enough time and story to really dive right into. But I did, and while immersed in it's pages, it made me think about all the things I remembered about my own childhood - what I believed to be real, the nature of friendship, the things that scared me, and whether it really did happen the way I might remember it now. Yet it is and will probably always be Gaiman's style that keeps me continuing to read his stories - so easy, well-written, and language that is itself emotive. I was very pleased by this book, and even more so that I now know the weird sea monster/dinosaur he drew in it during the book signing is actually a very important character!
Now Reading: Dead Ever After (The Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 15) by Charlaine Harris
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