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The Ocean at the End of the Lane

Neil Gaiman

Start date: October 15, 2013

Finish date: October 31, 2013

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What Members Thought

Nov 21, 2016 Trisha rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

"I do not miss childhood, but I miss the way I took pleasure in the small things, even as greater things crumbled..."

What an absolutely stunning book. It has a very nostalgic feel of an adult looking back over his childhood and remembering things that were. But it's also the look back with the eyes of an adult - and not being 100% sure that what you remember with the lens of a child is true.

First, I did this as an audio book and it was read by Neil Gaiman. Amazing. Nothing is better than the a ...more

7 likes · Like · see review

Aug 09, 2015 Catsalive rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2015, 2023

6/4/23: We all remember things differently & childhood memories are even more fallible than most. Told from a 7-year-old's point of view, I can imagine being absolutely terrified by some parts of this tale as a child, & equally fascinated by others. The part with dad & the bath, oh my! The bogeyman in this is Ursula Monkton, only giving people what they want - there's a chilling thought.

If the Varmints tore out his heart, what did Lettie Hempstock have to recover from, who has the most to regret ...more

5 likes · Like · see review

Dec 19, 2013 Snuffles rated it it was amazing

Shelves: scifi-fantasy-horror, 2016

Another airport book. Picked it up on my way back from Iceland, in Copenhagen. I had seen it there on the way to Iceland and had played with the idea of buying it back then already, so I was happy to find it again.

I expected something entirely different, but I wasn't disappointed. Quite the opposite. This book was very... different (sorry for reusing the word ;)) - full of otherwordly things and slightly dark. Reminded me a little of Stephen King's style, but less gory and with less horror. Sort ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Aug 14, 2014 Maria rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I really enjoyed this book. It's a story that kept me hooked and was so well written that I could imagine the scenes playing out before me. The author is a great storyteller with a wonderful imagination. This story seems to be all about how memories are unreliable and how reality and fantasy easily become blurred when looking back on childhood events, and life in general. Gaiman's fantastical tale is one that will make you think.

The narrator is a forty-something man revisiting his childhood hom ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Apr 26, 2017 Jen rated it really liked it

Shelves: audio-books, 2017

Beautifully written! I either LOVE or really dislike Neil Gaiman's writing, there is not much of an in-between for me. This book hit the spot. The narration was wonderful, the story beautiful. Thank you, Mr. Gaiman. ...more

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Aug 12, 2014 Nancy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: sci-fi

This was my first Neil Gaiman book and I loved it. It was equal measure scary, fascinating and fabulous. Bring on the rest of his work!

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Jul 25, 2013 Gabriela rated it it was amazing

Shelves: nook

I really loved this book! It reminds me of all the innocent childhood thoughts and adventures. Everyone should read this.

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Aug 12, 2013 Jen Knox rated it really liked it

I really enjoyed this book. The action moved well, and there was a lot of personality to the narrator. There was something so familiar about this book, something comforting and predictable. A perfect bedtime book.

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