From the Bookshelf of Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge

The Ocean at the End of the Lane
by
Start date
January 13, 2015
Finish date
January 17, 2015
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By Book Riot · 1 post · 5295 views
last updated Dec 16, 2014 09:22AM
Free copy of Proximity Factor this July, no reviews required. Just enjoy.
By S.S. · 1 post · 9 views
last updated Jul 18, 2024 06:08AM

What Members Thought

L.h.
Honestly, Neil, this was not your best work.

I got what you were going for. You've spanned countless genres and subgenres across your work, even given birth to a few new ones, but the magical realism memoir just feels half-hearted from you. Your characters are interesting, as always, your prose is clear and strong, as always, but the story dragged or skipped with alarming incongruity. Was this two stories, perhaps? Did you fall asleep writing one, and wake up to start writing the other, without
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Bill Doughty
I'm torn. It's good - probably very good - but it feels like a big, fat, softball right across the center of the plate for his fans. A magical world alongside (but hidden from) our own where things turn sinister when the protagonist inadvertently wanders from the safe path... it's Gaiman 101, mixing bits of his childhood in with tropes that will be familiar to anyone who has read his comics or prose work. I know he can stretch himself to do work I can admire even if I don't love it. He's not doi ...more
Carly Thompson
3.5 stars. Magical story about childhood, friendship, helplessness, and evil. An enthralling story in Gaiman's typical style. Although written for adults, the book is also suitable for teenagers.

I listened to the audio version narrated by the author and enjoyed it very much. Gaiman reading his own words highlighted some of the autobiographic touches to the story. Since I was listening to the story, I didn't have the ability to linger over some of my favorite passages.

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Shannon
With hauntingly beautiful characters and a dreamlike quality surrounding the entire story, this is a novel worth slipping into. Despite its short length, it captures truths about the impermanence of childhood and asks big questions about how reliable memory really is. How often do we miss the bigger picture because our vision is too narrow?
Tiffany
Jun 28, 2014 rated it it was amazing  ·  review of another edition
It's impossible for me to rate a book by Gaiman with less than 5 stars. Enchanting and dark and comforting. All at once. Of course I adored this story. ...more
Wendy E.
Sep 24, 2013 rated it really liked it  ·  review of another edition
He can certainly create tension and fear with his writing!
Christine
Dec 04, 2013 rated it really liked it  ·  review of another edition
A bit odd, but at the end I was blown away by all the layers of reality/unreality/perception and how it translated. Giving Tree meets Life of Pi ending meets Dr. Who (thank you, MB - you were exactly right - it would have made a great Dr. Who episode).
Kate
Gaiman's most recent novella is an exploration of childhood fears. The imagery is so vivid that I felt horrified picturing the antagonist. A neat little work. ...more
Deanna M
Dec 04, 2013 marked it as to-read  ·  review of another edition
Liz
Dec 09, 2013 marked it as to-read  ·  review of another edition
April
Dec 17, 2013 rated it liked it  ·  review of another edition
Shelves: casualsummer
Laura
Feb 02, 2014 rated it it was amazing  ·  review of another edition
Adjrun
Sep 15, 2016 rated it really liked it  ·  review of another edition
Maggie Downs
Feb 07, 2014 rated it really liked it  ·  review of another edition
Jess
Feb 28, 2014 rated it really liked it  ·  review of another edition
Shelves: bookclub, 2014-audio
Kristi
Mar 21, 2014 marked it as to-read  ·  review of another edition
Shelves: fantasy
Tara
Jun 26, 2014 marked it as to-read  ·  review of another edition
Sarah
Aug 03, 2014 marked it as to-read  ·  review of another edition
Carrie
Sep 19, 2014 rated it really liked it  ·  review of another edition
Patricia
Oct 08, 2014 rated it it was amazing  ·  review of another edition
Shelves: booksilove, fantasy
Cari
Oct 13, 2014 rated it really liked it  ·  review of another edition
Leeann
Dec 16, 2014 rated it really liked it  ·  review of another edition
Felicia Zondlo Ko
Mar 22, 2015 rated it really liked it  ·  review of another edition
Shelves: 2015
Jill
Jul 02, 2015 marked it as to-read  ·  review of another edition
Sarah left GR
Jul 22, 2015 rated it it was amazing  ·  review of another edition
Shelves: fiction