Ocean at the End of the Lane

[LaLaLa Laura]

"Sussex, England. A middle-aged man returns to his childhood home to attend a funeral. Although the house he lived in is long gone, he is drawn to the farm at the end of the road, where, when he was seven, he encountered a most remarkable girl, Lettie Hempstock, and her mother and grandmother. He hasn't thought of Lettie in decades, and yet as he sits by the pond (a pond that she'd claimed was an ocean) behind the ramshackle old farmhouse, the unremembered past comes flooding back. And it is a past too strange, too frightening, too dangerous to have happened to anyone, let alone a small boy.

Forty years earlier, a man committed suicide in a stolen car at this farm at the end of the road. Like a fuse on a firework, his death lit a touchpaper and resonated in unimaginable ways. The darkness was unleashed, something scary and thoroughly incomprehensible to a little boy. And Lettie—magical, comforting, wise beyond her years—promised to protect him, no matter what.

A groundbreaking work from a master, The Ocean at the End of the Lane is told with a rare understanding of all that makes us human, and shows the power of stories to reveal and shelter us from the darkness inside and out. It is a stirring, terrifying, and elegiac fable as delicate as a butterfly's wing and as menacing as a knife in the dark."

Feel free to discuss your favorite or not so favorite moments, characters and quotes.

Please use spoiler tags when possible.

Thank you!

[LaLaLa Laura]

I know it's early but has anyone started this yet w

[Melanti]

I read this one back in July and really enjoyed it.

It definitely qualifies as "short"! I started it on my way to work and was finished on my lunch break.

[Julia]

I bought it as soon as it came out, and Melanti is right--it's a fast read. I'm looking forward to a second read, as those usually let me see things I hadn't picked up the first time.

[LaLaLa Laura]

I agree. it was good and a quick read. I love when he talks about the little yellow sink "just my size"

[LaLaLa Laura]

The boy is so innocent and adorable in the book. It makes me think of what my son will be like at age 7.

We never learn his name, do we?

[Cathy]

LaLaLa Laura wrote: "The boy is so innocent and adorable in the book. It makes me think of what my son will be like at age 7.

We never learn his name, do we?"

I don't think we do, no. I started it last week and since it's so short I was finished by the day after. This was a peculiar book, in the sense that I have no idea how I actually feel about it. I didn't dislike it, but I wasn't swept off my feet either, as many people seem to be.

I suppose I mainly didn't pick up on a lot of things I should've picked up on. It's also not my favourite genre, but I did end up loving the characters (especially the narrator and Lettie, and the bond that's slowly forged between them) and the writing. The writing is hauntingly beautiful.

It made me feel pretty nostalgic.

[Jessica]

LaLaLa Laura wrote: "The boy is so innocent and adorable in the book. It makes me think of what my son will be like at age 7.

We never learn his name, do we?"

You never are told his name. Based on the evening I went to where Gaiman discussed the book. I read it thinking it was him as a child. He wrote this story for his wife...As a way to introduce her/ show her what he and his childhood was like. So much of his childhood (buildings, etc) are gone now. He couldn't really show his wife where he grew up, physically. But he figured he could do it through a story. The story, which is beautiful, is dedicated to her. I think I enjoyed this so much more when I learned all of the above. It made it the most unusual and exciting biography-esque story ever!

Hope this helps some. :)

[Julia]

Jessica, thanks so much--so glad you were able to hear him talk about the book, and I appreciate your sharing those insights with us.

[Melanti]

Yes, thanks!

I haven't re-read it yet but when I do, I'll be sure to keep that in mind.

[LaLaLa Laura]

Jessica wrote: "LaLaLa Laura wrote: "The boy is so innocent and adorable in the book. It makes me think of what my son will be like at age 7.

We never learn his name, do we?"

You never are told his name. Bas..."

Thank you for responding, Jessica. And thank you for sharing Your experience with us too.

How amazing that he wrote this story for his wife out of love...and what a beautiful story that came from that love.

[Jayme]

I finished the book last night and I'm still thinking about this little gem as I'm drinking my morning coffee. Not only is the story entertaining, it is also nostalgic and sad. It asks some thought-provoking questions of the reader (at least this reader) "what do you really remember of your childhood" "are those memories true?" and "who are the grown-ups who shaped us?"

I also loved the title - very subtle and I almost didn't pick-up the meaning until I started writing my thoughts. The idea that the little boy walks down the lane and as an older man he walks down memory lane to find the answers.

And thanks Jessica for the insight about the reason he wrote the book - very helpful.

[Teresa]

I just started listening to this again the other day. I read it back in August, and loved it then. I'd like to be more active in the group, so I thought I'd give it a re-listen (well, a listen, cause the first time, I read it rather than listened to it lol). But I found it to be typical Gaiman- very magical and enjoyable!

[Katy]

Read this one a while back. Loved it!

[Gary]

Read this and really enjoyed it. Loved the main characters. I also found it very nostalgic and it made me think a lot about my own childhood memories and my children now. I've already re-read parts of it and each time I do I get more out of the story. A fantastic read!

[LaLaLa Laura]

thank you everyone for sharing how you feel about the book! another nice pick from our people!

[Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ Jenn Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ]

I know that Jessica had mentioned that Gaiman wrote the book about this being a reflection of his early childhood, hence why the young boy had no name.

I wanted to add, I liked that the boy wasn't named, because then the childhood can be seen through most of our eyes as reflections of former selves.

[LaLaLa Laura]

I had read it too Alicia. I agree it was a good one!

[Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ Jenn Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ]

My review:

I did enjoy the story and its abstract nature on time and the images we conjure as children/adults to cope. The family, Hemstocks, were amazing as time. Time being devoured, time revisited, time that we have no control over, time we wish to erase, and time that has been around forever, an interesting concept on Gaiman's part. An enjoyable story. 4/5 stars. Why 4? As much as I enjoyed the story, I didn't find it completely original as in reminded me of A Wrinkle in Time (not a bad thing, mind you).

[Erin]

I've meant to read this book since it came out. I was excited to find this group (Short reads! What a great idea!) and even more excited to see this book as a group read.

I really enjoyed the book. There are unanswered questions; the mythology isn't spelled out in minute detail as you often get with fantasy. But this book is more about exploring ideas and creating atmosphere than about explaining the laws of this particular world and its magic. I enjoyed that it was mostly told from the perspective of the child. It's beautifully written. It's kinda "weird," but not in an inaccessible way. It's also kinda sad -- though mostly in a solemn, thoughtful way. I read it on my Kindle and highlighted a lot of quotes. My favorite is:

"I liked myths. They weren't adult stories and they weren't children's stories. They were better than that. They just were."

I'm looking forward to participating in more Short & Sweet group reads, and hopefully finishing the book earlier in the month next time! December is just so crazy.

Erin

[Erin]

Jen ƸӜƷ wrote: "The family, Hemstocks, were amazing as time. Time being devoured, time revisited, time that we have no control over, time we wish to erase, and time that has been around forever, an interesting concept on Gaiman's part. "

I love that analysis, Jen!

[Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ Jenn Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ]

Thank you Erin :)