IGGPPC : Iggle BookWorms discussion
This topic is about
The Ocean at the End of the Lane
Book Discussions
>
October 2013 Book of the Month: The Ocean at the End of the Lane
date
newest »
newest »
message 1:
by
Michelle
(new)
-
added it
Oct 01, 2013 07:54PM
Here is the book discussion thread for October. I just bought it a couple weeks ago and I'm super excited to read it!!
reply
|
flag
I read it a couple of months ago and loved it! I'll be interested in what everyone else thinks.
I'm pretty geeked out about this book (no pun intended)! :D Neil Gaiman is probably one of the best authors of, well, always. Coraline, anyone?
I have this and am excited to read it, but I have some library books to get through so I don't know if I"ll get to it this month
I told myself that I was going to read one chapter before bed. Silly me. I forgot I was beginning one of Gaiman's books.SPOILER WARNING.
So, this book was every kind of wonderful.
I just have a question to put to you all: does anyone else here think that the Hempstocks are an allegory (or symbol, I suppose) of the Christian Trinity? Lettie would be Jesus, of course, since she can leave the farm, talk with the boy, and died in his place. The old woman is probably God, considering she is "in charge" of time and all, and Ginny would be the Holy Spirit, who can commune with everyone and seems to be everywhere when she needs to be. Plus, Gaiman does refer to Narnia, which is a Christian allegory. Hum. What do you all think?
I didn't even think of that and wouldn't, probably because I don't have much knowledge about Christianity, but the way you put it does make sense! I think what I loved most about the book is that you can interpret it as you wish. To me, they remind me of my mom, aunt and grandmother, really.
I agree with Simay. I loved reading the book blind, not wanting to look into it. The story had so many little dips and weaves, you can really interpret it in so many ways. I can't want to go back and pick into the little bits. (I wanted to be the girl that makes notes in the margin the first time, by my sister read my copy after.)
SPOILER! (Kinda)I saw the Hempstocks as the Furies/Fates; the maiden, mother and crone. They are a recurring theme in many myths and crop up in Gaiman's work quite often.
Badschnoodles wrote: "SPOILER! (Kinda)I saw the Hempstocks as the Furies/Fates; the maiden, mother and crone. They are a recurring theme in many myths and crop up in Gaiman's work quite often."
OOOOoooh, I like it, Badschnoodles! :D Now I have to read the myths on those to find similarities. Love it!
Truly loved this book and to date is my favorite Gaiman book, although I have not read them all. I agree with Badschnoodles, I thought of the Hempstocks as the furies.
Not sure if this is okay since the post is quite old but wanted to comment. Please let me know if it is an issue! Spoilers!
I loved this book! It first introduced me to Neil's work in written form. Absolutely on Maiden, Mother, and Crone. For Wiccans that is the triple Goddess, but of course that trinity is in lots of different faiths and cultures. It was super sad to me though about the main character not remembering but always returning. I loved the nameless narrator of the story. The boy didn't need a name and totally made it feel wider and ehhh more open to put yourself in the story. I thought the lady darkness creature was scary and realistic. It was a wonderfully interperative story. But i didn't end it feeling happy, just sad. I think it is my favorite more adult book of Gaiman's.
