The Graveyard Book in SciFi and Fantasy Book Club

Mar 24, 2011 Suz rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook, childrens, young-adult, fantasy, award-winner

I absolutely adored this book.

It's the story of a young boy and his growing up... in a graveyard. There are several vignettes told through his life, and they all connect at the end. I love the use of the man Jacks.

I love Gaiman's story telling, and always, his voice acting for the audiobook is just awesome.

If I had a kid, this would definitely be on its bookshelf. ...more

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Aug 04, 2009 Christine (AR) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: sff, tween

Nobody Owens is adopted by the residents of a graveyard.

I think this is my favorite Gaiman so far. Bod broke my heart, Silas and Liza were solemn and quirky, Jack was frightening; and the language was simple and just about perfect, with sections I had to go back and underline so I can find them again.

Eerie and wistful and scary and ultimately uplifting -- kind of like a twisted version of Oh The Places You'll Go if Seuss had thrown in ghosts and family-killers. Recommended for everyone over 11.

A ...more

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Jun 16, 2009 Meghan rated it liked it

Shelves: dmbc, childrens, own, book-club, award-winning, brit-lit, fantasy, british, sfbc, kindle

I really am giving this one 3.5 stars. The only reason why I don't give it 4 is that I thought the story as a whole was underwritten. Understanding that this was written for a younger audience, I can understand why Gaiman chose to keep the story simple. However, he weaves an enchanting tale that left me wanting more.

Citing that The Jungle Books heavily influenced him, as well as seeing his 2-year-old son playing in a graveyard, Gaiman writes a story full of wonder and mystery, of love and loss, ...more

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May 09, 2010 Stacy rated it really liked it

Shelves: scifi-horror-thriller, myths-fairytales, magical

I loved all the ghostly history and research that went into this book. I love the premise of a human boy raised by ghosts, and I loved that in the final chapter, as Bod mounted the stairs behind Mr Frost my heart literally started beating faster. I stayed up late to finish it and when I went upstairs to the bathroom I got a little creeped out, like someone might be behind me. Or waiting for me in the dark.

That's what I pay for, folks. Scare me, please. ...more

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Jan 12, 2009 Gavin rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy, youngadult, reread, 2009, bestof2009, 2012

I've been waiting a long time for "The Graveyard Book". I fell for Neil Gaiman when a friend handed me "Violent Case" over two decades ago. Then I read "Black Orchid". Then someone gave me the first "Sandman", I read all of them, and loved them. There were other comics and graphic novels, mostly with Dave McKean.

So when Gaiman wrote "Good Omens" with Terry Pratchett was thrilled, but it didn't read like the comics, didn't have the edge of "Sandman", that funny, twisted, dark and lovely take on t ...more

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Apr 01, 2010 travelgirlut rated it liked it

This was a good story, but I wasn't really pulled into it until towards the end. I almost put it down for good at the beginning, but I'm glad I kept going. I think it had to do with my mood when I started reading it rather than the book itself. It's about a baby who's raised by a bunch of ghosts in a graveyard and his adventures growing up. It has a nice message about living your life to the fullest. ...more

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