The Ocean at the End of the Lane in Once Upon a Time...

May 31, 2018 Jules rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, magical-realism, kindle-bought

I bought this three years ago, and can finally now say I’ve read a Neil Gaiman book. My husband has been trying to get me to read Good Omens for about twenty years, and in fact, he read this book shortly after I bought it. However, despite liking Neil Gaiman, he said he found this extremely boring, so I was very much hoping my experience was a more positive one. I can say, I didn’t find it that bad, but I definitely didn’t fall in love with it.

I loved the film Coraline and the TV series of Amer ...more

17 likes · Like · see review

Jul 15, 2016 Carrie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, asked-or-received-for-review, book-tours

How does one review a piece of literature that grabs on to you can connects with you with out spoiling the experience for others?

Neil Gaiman is nothing but a pure brilliance each time I read something he has written or hear of some thing he has said I am nothing but drawn and in awe. The Ocean at the End of the Lane is just another example of how amazing this mans mind is.

The story takes places mainly as a string of memory, the point of view of a man who needing sometime for himself after a fun ...more

9 likes · Like · see review

Jan 05, 2013 Rachmi rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorite, fantasy, magical-realism

Here's the thing, I love Neil Gaiman. His books always feel magical to me, whether it's in an eerie way or a fantastical magical way. I might be bias, though. Well I think I'm bias as I mostly love his books, including this one. So I won't tell you about his writing, the plot and such. I'll say they are great! However, there are moments that his stories feel drag on, fortunately not this one.

This book is so engaging I feel like I want to take a break from reading it, but I just couldn't. My head

Here's the thing, I love Neil Gaiman. His books always feel magical to me, whether it's in an eerie way or a fantastical magical way. I might be bias, though. Well I think I'm bias as I mostly love his books, including this one. So I won't tell you about his writing, the plot and such. I'll say they are great! However, there are moments that his stories feel drag on, fortunately not this one.

This book is so engaging I feel like I want to take a break from reading it, but I just couldn't. My head hurt from it, to be honest. I'm not sure yet whether it's a good thing for me or not. It started as a simple story or so I thought, a man remembering his childhood. Throughout the story it kinda reminded me of other Gaiman books, his children books, Coraline and a bit of Fortunately, The Milk. I couldn't point out where that reminded me, though. The feeling was just there. But at the same time it was all different.

And when I got to the end of the page, I was (and still am) confused and sad. This is a kind of book with story where I don't know who I should trust, not even the main character or the narrator. The man, well his 7-years old self told his POV, I believe his story but then as another character said “Different people remember things differently, and you'll not get any two people to remember anything the same, whether they were there or not.” made me questioning his memories. And add it with the boy's imagination it's so hard for me to decide whether he told the truth or it's just his imagination to erase his bad memories or else? So I guess there are two side stories here and it's up to me whom I should believe in.

It's also so vivid there is one particular scene that is so disgusting I wish I can erase it from my mind. And other scenes are also so clear for me to picture it.

I guess that's all I can say about this book. It's always hard for me to review Gaiman books, I don't know why. If you want a better review, you can check out other members’ reviews, especially my friend’s review. ♥ Sarah said it well and I couldn't agree more with her.
...more

5 likes · Like · see review

Apr 13, 2014 Katharina Gerlach rated it did not like it

Shelves: young-adult, adult

When I got the book I though it'd be a short read because it looked so slim. However, when I opened it, I realized that Harper had used a font so small you could barely read it with a magnifying glass. That's no way to print a book! That's why I gave this edition one star only.

Apart from that, the story is brilliant. I've been at odds with some of Gaiman's latest novels (the words imho was American Gods) and this one was closer to the things he used to write. I loved Lettie and couldn't put the ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Jun 09, 2013 Jill Heather rated it liked it

Four stars minus one because the book starts with someone killing a kitten.

2 likes · Like · see review

Jun 23, 2013 Jessica Andersen rated it it was amazing

Shelves: magick, fantasy, author-i-love, fairy-tale

I really liked this book. It is short, but Gaiman can say a lot in a little space. This story just gets going and is almost impossible to put down until you get to the end.

It reads very much like a modern fairy tale, but it isn't based on any other fairy tale I've ever read. To me, the universe feels like it could be the same as many of his books. Often when reading Gaiman's work, I wouldn't be surprised to see characters from other books just popping in. It makes me wonder if he really just li ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Nov 01, 2019 Rebecca Jo rated it liked it

Not even sure how I came across this but what an enchanting fast read. Magical & scary & heart warming all in one. Really enjoyed it.

1 like · Like · see review

Jun 26, 2013 Mia rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, fantasy, supernatural, horror, audiobook

I think honestly the framing device is what left me cold. There was no need to book-end the story with the perspective on an adult, because the book was not about an adult. I also think calling this an "adult" novel is stretching it (not that I think calling something YA is an insult). It's Gaiman, so the prose was stunning and masterful and there was something extra creepy in the normalcy paired with the supernatural.

I think the childlike atmosphere was horrifyingly well done, especially in the ...more

Like · see review