[F2F Book Discussions] January 2014: The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

[Tina]

Hello everyone! Happy 2014! :)

To kick off this year's F2F Book Discussions, our first book for 2014 is Neil Gaiman's The Ocean at the End of the Lane. According to Goodreads:

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.

This is a short book that you can read in a few days (or maybe even in one sitting, because it's really engaging). :) Copies are available everywhere (view spoiler)[In case there's none, it's probably because of the Christmas rush, but they should have stock of this soon. :D (hide spoiler)]. If you want a reading plan, I'll post it later tonight. (Forgot my copy at home, so I can't make it now. :D) Reading plan here!

F2F Discussion is tentatively set on January 18. We're just working out some details, but we will post them here soon. :D

Oh, btw, the mods for this discussion are your TFG mods. Hihi. :D

Happy reading, everyone! :)

[Tina]

While we wait for the reading plan and we research for discussion questions...here's the first question for everyone:

If you've read the book...
...post about your thoughts about the book in 5 sentences or less, without spoilers. :D

If you haven't read the book... *
...Have you read Neil Gaiman's other books? What was it? Did you enjoy it? If you haven't read any, did you ever have him in your TBR or wish list? What was the first Gaiman you planned to read, if it wasn't this book?

* If you've read the book, you can also answer this question, if you feel like it. :)

[Louize]

If you've read the book...
...post about your thoughts about the book in 5 sentences or less, without spoilers. :D

The journey through the story is a kaleidoscope of imagination, worth taking, and wonderful.

If you haven't read the book...
...Have you read Neil Gaiman's other books? What was it? Did you enjoy it?

Yes. Had Stardust, Neverwhere, American Gods, Anansi Boys, M is for Magic, Coraline, The Graveyard Book, Good Omens, Odd and the Frost Giants, Click Clack the Rattlebag, The Wolves in the Wall, Fortunately the Milk, and (of course)The Ocean at the end of the Lane. I've enjoy every piece.

[Biena]

My answers:
(view spoiler)[
Have you read Neil Gaiman's other books?
No.

If you haven't read any, did you ever have him in your TBR or wish list?
Yes. Bought Coraline last year. Wishing to finish Sandman this year.

What was the first Gaiman you planned to read, if it wasn't this book?
Coraline. But from the looks of it, I'll be reading this one first :) (hide spoiler)]

[Questian]

Tina where cani find a ebook copy? thanks!!

[Monique]

Here are my answers!

(view spoiler)[
Yes, I've read the book, gave it 5 stars, and I'm lifting the following excerpt from my notes about the book last year:

The prose was simple, the scenes flowed, the descriptions were graphic and striking when required, and the themes were relevant. Neil Gaiman writes awesome children's stories, and this one felt to me like a children's story for adults.

Also answering the second set of questions, just because. :D

Have you read Neil Gaiman's other books?
Yes.

What was it?
I've read his full-length novel American Gods; his short story compendiums Fragile Things, Smoke and Mirrors and M is for Magic; his children's stories The Graveyard Book, Coraline, The Wolves in the Walls, Fortunately, the Milk, and Click Clack the Rattlebag, and; the first volume in the Sandman graphic novels/series, Preludes & Nocturnes.

Did you enjoy it?
YES! Never read a Gaiman that I didn't like. :)

What was the first Gaiman you planned to read, if it wasn't this book?
The first Gaiman I really planned to read was American Gods, but my husband advised me to try his short stories first. So I did, and I'm glad because it was a good "initiation" into the world of Gaiman.

(hide spoiler)]

[Bong]

The Ocean at the End of the Lane! Wow, I'm inlove this book! (view spoiler)[ it reminds me of Lettie Hempstock, and of course the pond! (hide spoiler)] :)

Love is the heart of all things. When there is love, there is also friendship. And one thing I like is looking at children who are so close to each other (view spoiler)[ seriously, nakakatuwa naman talagang tignan yung mga batang mag-aaway sa mababaw na dahilan tapos maya-maya bati na agad :) (hide spoiler)]. The Ocean... is beautifully haunting! It makes me miss my childhood. :) Oh memories where did you go? :D

I love Neil Gaiman books, I read Coraline, Stardust (view spoiler)[ all time favorite (hide spoiler)], Fortunately, The Milk, and Books Have Sexes. I really enjoy them so I'm looking forward to read his other works. :)

[Tina]

Hello everyone!

Here's our reading plan, to those who want to follow one:

Jan 3-7 - Pages 1-64 / Prologue to Chapter 6
Jan 8-12 - Pages 65-122 / Chapter 7-11
Jan 13-17 - Pages 123-178 / Chapter 12-Epilogue

[Maria]

If you haven't read the book...
(view spoiler)[
My first Gaiman is American Gods and I didn't like it - such a bore and a chore to read. My second Gaiman is The Graveyard Book but this time, I loved it. :)(view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Alexa]

If you haven't read the book...

(view spoiler)[I was surprised to find that I've actually read more again Gaiman books than I realized (Coraline, Neverwhere, Stardust, Fortunately the Milk, and The Graveyard Book), because I never consciously sought out his books. It always happens that I end up reading his books spontaneously (view spoiler)[as with most of the books I read, heh (hide spoiler)], like when I see them on a shelf (of a friend's or the library's, because I don't own any Gaiman book). I liked them all (5 pretty stars for the first two and 4 stars for the latter three). I also got to read the first 4 volumes of his Sandman series, which I loved. (hide spoiler)]

[Phoebe]

If you've read the book...
(view spoiler)[This book has the nostalgic feeling in it. It reminds me of my childhood stories, daydreams, fantasies and mysteries lurking around the corner-- the things I want to know or experience when I was little.

I read The Ocean at the End of the Lane, Stardust, Fragile Things, and Make Good Art. His other books were still at my book piles. (hide spoiler)]

[Tin]

If you've read the book...(view spoiler)[
This is one of those books that I will probably remember for a long while, if anything else for it's mood and it's tone and it's setting. It has an atmosphere that enthralls you. Haunting, mystical, eerie and mysterious. But it wasn't all that you feel like you are in a strange land, by which I mean that you feel lost in a surreal world. Because somehow, there is also that feeling of comfort in the story. (hide spoiler)]

Have you read Neil Gaiman's other books(view spoiler)[
Yes. American Gods, Anansi Boys, The Graveyard Book, Stardust, Fortunately the Milk. I enjoyed all of em. :D I am aiming to read the remaining 5 Gaiman titles on my TBR this year. (hide spoiler)]

[Gwaxa]

If you haven't read the book...
...Have you read Neil Gaiman's other books? What was it? Did you enjoy it? If you haven't read any, did you ever have him in your TBR or wish list? What was the first Gaiman you planned to read, if it wasn't this book?

(view spoiler)[Haven't read any of Gaiman's works before and I don't have him in my TBR. But this is only because I'm not really familiar with him (I dunno why O.O).
I'd like to read more of him this year and I think that this book is a good intro to his works. (hide spoiler)]

[Maria Ella]

If you haven't read the book...

I read Neverwhere and Stardust and it was fun. Tapos because I felt creepy reading the novel version of Coraline, I read it's graphic novel Coraline instead.
I dunno why, but I felt somewhat creepy in this work. :)

[Angus]

If you haven't read the book...

(view spoiler)[
I haven't read any of Gaiman's books. I have a copy of The Graveyard Book but I never got around to reading it. It's also the first Gaiman book I planned to read although I have a keen interest in American Gods. Unfortunately, I do not have a copy of it. And worse, I don't have a copy of The Ocean at the End of the Lane yet. It's out of stock in NBS. I have to check Fully Booked. Or if someone is willing to lend me his or her copy...
(hide spoiler)]

[Biena]

Angus: Try Powerbooks. Dami silang copy :)

[Angus]

^Powerbooks is under NBS. Wala na rin. :/

[Mae]

If you've read the book...
(view spoiler)[It is beautifully haunting and hauntingly beautiful. Eerie, nostalgic, and full of heart. It's one of my favorite reads from 2013. :) (hide spoiler)]

If you haven't read the book... *
(I'll answer this na rin because why not? :P )
(view spoiler)[I love Neil Gaiman. I've read Neverwhere (which was my first Gaiman), American Gods, Stardust, Fortunately the Milk, and Volumes 1-10 of The Sandman series. I've also listened to the audio recording of Click Clack the Rattlebag and Two Plays for Voices (featuring Snow, Glass, Apples and Murder Mysteries which are stories included in Smoke and Mirrors). Loved them all.

Didn't really plan on reading Gaiman at first. I didn't know who he was 10 years ago and I was introduced to his works only because I asked a friend to lend me a book - any book - and Neverwhere was what he handed to me. He's a big fan pala kasi. And now I am one as well. :) (hide spoiler)]

[Ycel]

First Gaiman book I ever read although I have had Anansi Boys, Good Omens, Stardust, Coraline, The Graveyard Book and American Gods for years now. I finished The Ocean at the End of the Lane in one sitting.

My thoughts:
(view spoiler)[
With Gaiman, all laws of physics go out the window, yet he dares combine magic with Dark Matter and all that quantum physics stuff and make eternity fit in a duck pond. Or a bucket. This book made me understand what Arthur C. Clarke said: “Magic's just science that we don't understand yet.” Gaiman illustrated it very nicely indeed.
(hide spoiler)]

[Bennard]

If you haven't read the book

My first Gaiman was Good Omens, his collaboration with Terry Pratchett. It was funny and it made me interested in his other works. So far, I've read American Gods, Fragile Things, Smoke & Mirrors, Sandman volumes 1-10.

In a way, I liked every Gaiman book that I read especially his short stories. I didn't really plan reading Gaiman's works but the blurb of Good Omens intrigued me enough to make me read it. I guess it was a good decision. That's why I still sometimes buy books unknown to me just because of their blurbs.

[Joy]

WARNING: (view spoiler)[Over-emotional fangirl gushing ahead, take caution. (hide spoiler)]

If you haven't read the book...

Neil Gaiman♥ is one of my most read author, to date I read 14. I read seven for 2013 which includes Fortunately, the Milk, The Wolves in the Walls, Stardust,A Study in Emerald, Cinnamon, Interworld (view spoiler)[ with Michael Reaves (hide spoiler)] and The Graveyard Book . And also seven books last 2012, Coraline, Fragile Things, Anansi Boys, Good Omens, Neverwhere, Smoke and Mirrors, and American Gods.

My first Gaiman book was American Gods. Reading his books is like being in a different dimension, like some magical, inexplicably odd and fascinating world is opening up to you. It's so astounding! So wonderful! Ever since I read that book, I never looked back. I started seeking Gaiman's works. His ability to tell stories is absolutely amazing that I find myself prolonging reading in fear of the pages running out and the story ending. Everything he's written is stunningly genius that it makes my imagination run wild.

I adore his Fragile Things and Smoke & Mirrors and that is saying something because I'm not fond of reading short stories. I love how he especially has introductions and explanations of the stories that you get a glimpse into his inspirations and writing process.

(view spoiler)[The Good Omens though--meh. They said it was funny... I tried justifying why it didn't work for me. Maybe I'll give it another try next time. (hide spoiler)]

and Oh! His voice...so glorious. And that wickedly inspiring Make Good Art commencement speech, it gives me chills every time I listen to it. :)

[Cris]

If you haven't read the book...

My favorite Neil Gaiman work is actually a short story from Smoke and Mirrors. It's called "Murder Mysteries," and when I chanced upon a beautifully illlustrated (by P. Craig Russell) graphic novel version, I was totally blown away.

[Monique]

Hi Cris! Speaking of favorite short stories by Gaiman, my all-time favorite would have to be Snow, Glass, Apples which is also in the Smoke and Mirrors collection.

Hope to see you at the discussion! :)

[Cris]

Hi Monique! Loved that short story, too! Quite a different take on Snow White.

PS. This is my first ever post on TFG. Still finding my way through the forums. :)

[Meliza]

If you haven't read the book...

I have read one Gaiman book, Coraline. I like the book but I just rated it 3 stars. I was quite busy at work that time so I read it hastily. Then afterwards, I saw ratings from friends and I'm wondering why I didn't rate it higher. Haha. I am planning to read American Gods because it's included in our ReaderCon Recommendation List. And of course, I'm about to start reading The Ocean at the End of the Lane this week.

[Tina]

If you've read the book...
Lovely storytelling that held me captive from page one. :)


And the other questions, because. :)

My first Gaiman was Stardust, which a friend recommended and was gifted to me on my 18th birthday. I read it during vacation and I remember describing it as "A fairy tale for adults." I loved that book, and I always tell people who want to try Gaiman to read this one first, because it's the kind of story that remained with me after all these years.

I've read a 3 Gaiman books all in all -- Stardust, Ocean, and just recently, Fortunately, the Milk. I have The Graveyard Book in my TBR. I'm not really a hardcore fan just yet, but I wouldn't mind reading his other books, too, especially if they all contain lovely storytelling. :)

--

I'll post discussion questions for part 1 tomorrow! :D

--

Cris: Hello! Yay for your first post! Hope to see you at the discussion. :)

[Tina]

Hello everyone! Here are the discussion questions for part 1. Keep your posts in spoiler tags if there are spoilers! :)

1. What do you think is going on in the narrator’s life when he returns to the lane? He was attending a funeral but what else is occurring in his life? How does this relate to what he experiences when he returns? Furthermore, whose funeral do you think was he coming from?

2. The narrator's story started on his 7th birthday party where no one came. Did you have a party on your 7th birthday? What would you have done if no one came?

3. What was your first impression of Lettie? Of the other Hempstocks? If you were the kid, would you trust Lettie, too?

[Lynai]

If you've read the book
Quoting my review: "The Ocean At The End Of The Lane is an enjoyable read but it is more than that. Once again, I was left dumbfounded by how Neil Gaiman tells a supposedly simple story about children and adults and friendship and growing up, but he has made it even more powerful with the eerily wonderful twists that only Neil himself can do. It is so easy to get into the story and into the character of the narrator, and towards the end, my imagination definitely had a good work-out."

Answering the second question just because. :P
If you haven't read the book...
Have you read Neil Gaiman's other books?What was it? Did you enjoy it?

I've read two other Neil Gaiman books before TOATEOTL: Coraline and Fragile Things. Both were definitely awesome reads (especially the latter) but reading TOATEOTL sealed the deal of me becoming a Gaiman fan. I am hoping to read another one of his short story collection this year, Smoke and Mirrors. :)

[Ranee]

I finished reading the book yesterday.
Mr. Gaiman does not know how to tell a story because he does not narrate, he brings you there so that you become part of the story. He makes you feel the happiness and the the fear, makes you want to hug the characters and just be a kid again

[Katrina]

If you've read the book
Read this back in October." Quoting my review:
It recalls the aspects of childhood we all buried for a reason, and all the imaginings we filled our heads with, to escape....[there's] the sense of returning to the past and turning things over in your mind and seeing both the fond and the terrible unearthed.

My only qualm is more of an observation. I'm a Gaiman fan -- read American Gods, Neverwhere, Anansi Boys, Smoke & Mirrors, Coraline, Stardust, The Graveyard Book, volumes 1-7 of Sandman as well as Sandman: Endless Nights -- and after a while I detect repeating motifs in his work. Normally it's unobtrusive, but this book has so many callbacks -- to Coraline, to Brief Lives -- that there's a feeling of deja vu. Then again Gaiman has said that this is a very personal book for him, so I think the motifs repeat because maybe they're biographical.

[Cherry]

If you've read the book...
I have read this when it came out last year, it was nostalgic and eerily magical, typical of Gaiman's work. :)

If you haven't read the book... *
I've read Stardust, Coraline, American Gods, Neverwhere, Wolves in the walls, Fragile Things, The Absolute Death, Books of Magic, but my favorite would be his entire graphic novel series, The Sandman. Definitely worth reading/re-reading:)

[Meliza]

Discussions Questions Part 1

1.(view spoiler)[Honestly, I have no idea whose funeral it is. But it never occurred to me that his parents or his sister died. With regards to what's occurring in his life... because his marriage failed, his children are all grown up, he looks kinda bored with his work, so I believe he has no purpose or goals or he's in a crisis in this period of his life. (view spoiler)[Okay, I don't know what I'm talking about. :P (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

2.(view spoiler)[I don't really remember but I think it wasn't really a party but just lunch or dinner with family and favorite relatives. Hehe. If no one came? Maybe I would have eaten the whole cake. Hahaha. Ok, seriously, I don't know, maybe I won't do anything but my parents would have done something to cheer me up. (hide spoiler)]

3.(view spoiler)[My first impression of Lettie: a smug kid that thinks she's an adult. And then the other Hempstocks appeared... oh, they're kind but weird. If I were the kid, maybe at first I would be uncomfortable talking to her, but I would trust her afterwards (when she holds my hand and tell me that she won't let me be hurt), because she seems to know a lot. And hey, I was just 7 years old. (hide spoiler)]

[Monique]

My answers:

(view spoiler)[
1. From my recollection of the novel, I think the narrator was going through a rough patch in his life. He had just attended a funeral, was feeling melancholy, and so when he saw That Lane, he remembered his youth. Perhaps, he has reached a point in his life when he felt that there was no one there for him, no one left to be with him, and this relates to his reminiscences because he remembered that during that time in his young life, he had a true friend in Lettie Hempstock. (view spoiler)[Lettie, who never left him and sacrificed so much for him. (hide spoiler)] The funeral he had just attended reminded him how real and final death is, and of course, he could not help but be reminded of Lettie. Couldn't recall whose funeral it was he had just attended, though.

2. I don't remember much of my 7th birthday party - this was the year I was in first grade, and I didn't like my old school and classmates back then. But my parents threw birthday parties for me every year anyway (for as long as I could remember, even until high school) and I always remember being happy because my cousins, who were my closest friends at the time, were always there. If no one came to my birthday party, I would definitely bawl cry.

3. My first impression of Lettie and the other Hempstocks is that they are a weird but warm bunch. They sort of reminded me of the aunts in the movie Practical Magic (with Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman) with their house full of herbs, dried stuff and whatnot. If I were a kid, I would be wary of Lettie but since I think I was a pretty naive kid back then anyway, I would trust her in the end. (hide spoiler)]

[Gwaxa]

Answers:

(view spoiler)[
1. What do you think is going on in the narrator’s life when he returns to the lane. He was attending a funeral but what else is occurring in his life? How does this relate to what he experiences when he returns? Furthermore, whose funeral do you think was he coming from?
- I think he was a having some sort of depression. He narrated that he was divorced, his kids were having their own lives, and that he was tired of the same old script that he followed whenever he met with the people in that funeral. He seemed lonely and alone. I think that reminiscing his childhood with the Hempstocks reminded him of a time wherein he was happy and with people that he considered important in his life. Whose funeral? It was not mentioned but my guess is a relative, some cousin or aunt/uncle, since the questions he anticipated sounded like questions your relatives would ask you.

2. The narrator's story started on his 7th birthday party where no one came. Did you have a party on your 7th birthday? What would you have done if no one came?
- I didn't have a party. I honestly can't remember what I did but I knew that I didn't have a party since my family is not big on parties. We usually just eat out for birthdays or special occasions. If no one came? I would have cried my eyes out and thrown a tantrum. I was a drama queen when I was a kid. Lol.

3. What was your first impression of Lettie? Of the other Hempstocks? If you were the kid, would you trust Lettie, too?
- Lettie seemed like that cool kid who acts and talks like an adult. The other Hempstocks seemed like the village weirdos but totally harmless. If I met Lettie when I was 7, I think I would have trusted her. She would've become my hero and I, her minion.
(hide spoiler)]

[Ingrid]

If you haven't read the book...
(view spoiler)[ I have yet to read Neil Gaiman's works. Dami kasing nagrerecommend, haha. I don't know where to start though. I've have a copy of The Graveyard Book and I wanted to start from there, had we not had TOatEotL for book of the month. (hide spoiler)]

Answers:

(view spoiler)[ 1. Midlife crisis, LOL. A lot seems to be happening at once, and I guess despite the gravity of the situations, he didn't seem to mind so much? Or maybe he just gave up because he couldn't do anything about it? Ewan.
Not sure whose funeral it was, probably a neighbor's.

2. Can't recall, but it was probably dominated by friends of my mom and dad. Friends rarely came, if at all. Not even neighbors. If nobody came, I would have been relieved, haha.

3. Weird, magical, out of this world creatures. I would, oh I would. (hide spoiler)]

[Ranee]

(view spoiler)[ 1. What do you think is going on in the narrator’s life when he returns to the lane. He was attending a funeral but what else is occurring in his life? How does this relate to what he experiences when he returns? Furthermore, whose funeral do you think was he coming from?

He is in his down side of life. The things he narrated, he seemed to hit rock bottom,dazed and confused with the goings of his life. Depression has made him regress back to the place where he found himself the happiest. As part of his regression, he lets his mind afloat and let his memory guide him, hence he finds himself driving back to that all too familiar lane. The funeral is someone close to him, I'm thinking either his dad or mom. It was indicated that his sister was waiting for him and needs him to be there. And initially, he wanted to just see their old place so the dead must be part of his family.

2. The narrator's story started on his 7th birthday party where no one came. Did you have a party on your 7th birthday? What would you have done if no one came?
I did have a birthday party. it is because I am firstborn and my my mom believes in the importance of the year 7 in a child's life. I had a magarbong party because there was lechon and parlor games minus the clowns and magic tricks. The kids who came are my classmates who are either sons/daughter of my mom's amigas. There were also kids of our neighbors and some cousins and aunts (you know how in the province, where your aunt is just 2-3 years older and cousins who are 15-20 years older, that kind of mix confuses me and I'm basically not close to them)
If no one came, I would be sad but I think my mom would be sadder and would be declaring F.O. to her amigas.

3. What was your first impression of Lettie? Of the other Hempstocks? If you were the kid, would you trust Lettie, too?
I like Lettie. If I had just burnt toast as breakfast, her invitation would be really enticing. But as a kid, if I do not get a "go" signal from my dad that I could, I won't go with Lettie. I am a masunuring bata. haha. I like granny figures, reminds me of lola basyang, so I liked Old Mrs. Hempstock. Plus, if you mention food, I like you in an instant. (hide spoiler)]

[kimyunalesca]

I love this book! it's adorable,short,quick read,relateable and nice to see/read some of Neil's POV as a kid mix into it. XD

there are sad,funny and shocking bits.I like the weird twist and definitely love Neil Gaiman!haha!

[Tina]

Commercial! Event invite sent, and here's the event thread. :)

Next discussion questions will be posted tomorrow. :D Chill discussion lang tayo, promise. :)

[kimyunalesca]

I forgot to include my other answers XD

1. What do you think is going on in the narrator’s life when he returns to the lane? He was attending a funeral but what else is occurring in his life? How does this relate to what he experiences when he returns? Furthermore, whose funeral do you think was he coming from?

I think there's quite a lot of things going on in his life and doesn't seem to remember much of his childhood until he went down the lane.At first I thought it was a family member and never thought much about it til I read the ending and I'm like NO! no way! D:

2. The narrator's story started on his 7th birthday party where no one came. Did you have a party on your 7th birthday? What would you have done if no one came?

Yes I did.Well if no one came I would be quite sad at first but as long as my family is there and presents all is well haha!

3. What was your first impression of Lettie? Of the other Hempstocks? If you were the kid, would you trust Lettie, too?

I think Lettie's fun to be with,weird and mature for her age although I'm not really sure how old she/the hempstocks are haha! I trust them they seem nice,friendly and helpful.

[Louize]

Part I

(view spoiler)[
1. What do you think is going on in the narrator’s life when he returns to the lane? He was attending a funeral but what else is occurring in his life? How does this relate to what he experiences when he returns? Furthermore, whose funeral do you think was he coming from?

I think he was pretty lonely, or perturbed. Someone close just died, but already lost years ago. Probably the ex-wife. I think he has mixed feelings of whether he should be sad, missing, or simply lost in the feeling. Maybe, because of all that confused feelings, he went back to that old lane, to a place where he felt comfortable.

2. The narrator's story started on his 7th birthday party where no one came. Did you have a party on your 7th birthday? What would you have done if no one came?

No, party. A party was the last thing I wanted for my birthday. If I had a party and no one came,(which seemed impossible, given all the cousins I have), I'll trust my brothers to eat all my cake, dump icing on my face, and pin the tail on me instead of on the donkey. Oh, wait... they did that, just don't know which birthday was that. And that was why I never liked having birthday parties, my brothers embarass me, the jerks! LOL

3. What was your first impression of Lettie? Of the other Hempstocks? If you were the kid, would you trust Lettie, too?

When I think of Lettie and her family, I think of "warm". I can't rightly explain it, but they are like chicken soup -warm on the belly- comforting me. I also think they are sturdy, exactly like what their name implies. The Hempstocks are irresistible, children are drawn to them.
(hide spoiler)]

[Questian]

THanks Ms. L!!! now i can read it na.. hehehe... salamat po ulit!!

[kimyunalesca]

Louize wrote: "BTW, here are the ebook and audiobook copies of the book.
https://app.box.com/s/j23vtvwu06mpknr...

Will remove it soon after the F2F discussion. Enjoy!"

Thank you so much for sharing! I love it when Neil read his books XD

[Phoebe]

(view spoiler)[1. What do you think is going on in the narrator’s life when he returns to the lane? He was attending a funeral but what else is occurring in his life? How does this relate to what he experiences when he returns? Furthermore, whose funeral do you think was he coming from?

I think that he needs a breather on his present situation. By going to the place he used to, I think it helps him unwind and brings back the memories and feelings he had when he was little. It's like finding some parts of himself again. The funeral maybe symbolizes the unearthing of his past life. I don't know haha.

2. The narrator's story started on his 7th birthday party where no one came. Did you have a party on your 7th birthday? What would you have done if no one came?

I think I have a party when I was 7, I barely recall it. But I'm pretty sure it was set on our backyard. I remember my sister's party more than mine haha.
If no one came, I will think that my parents failed to invite people. I will be sad, but then I will invite our neighbors and my cousins because they live so near, and be done with it haha.

3. What was your first impression of Lettie? Of the other Hempstocks? If you were the kid, would you trust Lettie, too?

As a socially awkward person, I don't think I could be Lettie's friend. Except when she really makes an effort to get to know me. I think Lettie is different. I like different. Hempstocks look kind and nice, they would totally win me over so I will trust Lettie. (hide spoiler)]

[Tina]

Hello friends!

I am so sorry for not posting any discussion questions na, because I had other life stuff to work on first. SO, para di naman pilit, I won't post any questions anymore (and I still have stuff to do that isn't related to this, sorry! :( ). I suggest you guys just enjoy reading the book, and we'll have a short, chill discussion on Saturday. Okay ba? :)

If you finished the book, you can post a comment here about what you thought about it. Did you like it? Did you love it? Will you read more Gaiman after this?


And then, please don't forget to check the F2F thread for the activities for Saturday. :)

[Angus]

Answers:

(view spoiler)[
1. He's going through big life problems (could there be anything bigger?). He mentioned something about being separated from his wife. The funeral scene at the prologue set the mood of the novel, which is melancholy. I think the funeral is a metaphor for a death of a part of his life. He mentioned something about being separated from his wife (the death of his marriage), but I suppose there's a grander death waiting. I think he attended the funeral of a family member.

2. I had a birthday party when I was six. It was well-attended (cousins and neighbors and playmates). I think it was the last party that I had. I was a budget-conscious kid, I always insisted on being given money or using the party money for school supplies. This must have been a relief to my parents? Anyway, I wouldn't know what to do if no one attended my party. Perhaps I would sulk and feel insulted, and maybe I'll never do it again. And maybe I'll seek revenge, hahaha!

3. Lettie seemed like a gossip-monger. I thought they were a weird lot who kept to themselves. I would have been a bit wary of Lettie, but I would also have been impressed because she's older and because she seems to know a lot of things.
(hide spoiler)]

[Cary]

Tapos na ko, yes!

(view spoiler)[ I'm not sure though if I liked the book. I find it dragging, maybe because of too much description and I'm kind of lazy lately to use my imagination and get myself immersed into the story. I liked some lines though and the book reminds me of the sense of an ending (na nagustugan ko din naman). (hide spoiler)]