false 4 0 false false Sun Apr 12 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Mon Jan 12 16:14:13 -0800 2009 Sun Apr 12 14:04:18 -0700 2009
Really didn't enjoy this book.

Mr. Gaiman writes short stories really well. Dunno if it is his background (writing for magazines), but he has loads of brilliant ideas and writes some of the bestest short stories. Obviously, this worked well with Sandman. He wrote short arcs, often the lead character didn't appear, it was (basically) short stories that were linked.

Oddly, Mr. Gaiman writes very good children's stories, there are few of his books that I wouldn't recommend to kids in my class - Stardust and Coraline stand out, my class adore The Day I Swapped My Dad For Two Goldfish (which I use every year as an introduction to writing book reports). Even Mr. Gaiman's adult books can be read fairly safely by children and, on the flip side, his children's books can be read (and enjoyed) by adults.

But, I really didn't enjoy this book.

Which is odd because it was written for me to enjoy. It is a (grown-up) children's book. It is episodical (is that a real word?). It is a Neil Gaiman book but it just seemed to lack something. [Although maria did comment that she read the whole book in one sitting and questioned why I should be looking for depth in a Gaiman book.:]

Each episode is telegraphed from the first page of the chapter. There is no mystery, no suspense. And so it becomes a chore to read - there is no delight in discovering where Mr. Gaiman is taking you. And it is a children's book (and I know children) but some of the "jokes" seem too adult, too "clever". Maybe Mr. Gaiman knows children, better but I just felt it was too "knowing". Really, how much do kids know about graveyards?

Anyhoo, it's an enjoyable book if you are a Gaiman completest, otherwise read American Gods, read Stardust, pick up a short story collection Read Gaiman but not this one.

Oh, in passing, if you have a daughter, get her "The Blueberry Girl". Read it to her. Sit her down, read it to her, share the pictures, talk to her. It is beautiful and the sentiments are everything a parent should be saying to her daughter. Just thought I'd mention it.

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