"The Ocean at the End of the Lane" by Neil Gaiman

Once in a while, I like to pick up a book to read that I've never heard anything about.  I like to browse the library stacks, pulling off books and reading their dust jacket flaps until I find one that interests me.  That's how I found this book.  Yes, I've read things by Neil Gaiman before, but I'd never heard of this particular book of his.  It looked and sounded interesting, so I checked it out and read it.

I'm not always a huge fan of magical realism.  I mean, some...