The Graveyard Book

[LaLaLa Laura]

In this Newbery Medal-winning novel, The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, "Bod is an unusual boy who inhabits an unusual place—he's the only living resident of a graveyard. Raised from infancy by the ghosts, werewolves, and other cemetery denizens, Bod has learned the antiquated customs of his guardians' time as well as their ghostly teachings—such as the ability to Fade so mere mortals cannot see him.

Can a boy raised by ghosts face the wonders and terrors of the worlds of both the living and the dead? And then there are being such as ghouls that aren't really one thing or the other."

[Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ Jenn Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ]

I absolutely loved this story, one of my favorites by Gaiman. I recently added the graphic novel to my wish list :)

[Julia]

I agree, Jen. I read this first in 2009, and wrote a rather short review but gave it 5 stars.

"The only other book that left me with the feeling of this one is Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury. It's not just that Bod, the main character, is a boy (like Will and Jim)facing evil, but Gaiman has woven a world that has the same eerie magnetism Bradbury created. (view spoiler)[ I love the relationship of Bod (Nobody Owens) with his ghostly family in the graveyard--my favorite is Liza Hempstock and the whole storyline of Bod trying to make a memorial for her. The idea of the SLEER is one of the best creepy nightmares ever. And Silas, along with Miss Lupescu, are great guardians. The ending is just as it should be--and the Grey Lady waits for all of us on her huge horse. (hide spoiler)] I read this in one sitting, since it was almost like being in a trance."

[Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ Jenn Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ]

Julia wrote: "I agree, Jen. I read this first in 2009, and wrote a rather short review but gave it 5 stars.

"The only other book that left me with the feeling of this one is [book:Something Wicked This Way Come..."

I agree Julia. I was truly swept away by the story. I think I need to read it again :)

[Greg]

Totally agree Jen & Julia. This was a wonderful, magical book! I find some others by Gaiman equally spellbinding, but The Graveyard Book is definitely up on the top teir with his best.

I'm looking forward to my re-read next month. For those who don't know it, he's also an excellent reader of his own work (and an audiobook read by him is available) - a master storyteller both on paper and in spoken word.

What sets Gaiman apart for me is that he takes his storytelling mastery and mixes in both a beauty of language and a true sense of wonder. I find him absolutely enthralling!

I love your description of "eerie magnetism" Julia. You're so right. His words have all that great strength, the pull of gravity or tides.

[Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ Jenn Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ]

Greg,
I'll have to check if I can find Gaiman reading The Graveyard Book :)

[Melanti]

There's two versions of the audiobook - full cast and narrated by Gaiman. I second the fact of Gaiman being fantastic at reading his own books.

I really enjoyed this book when I read it a few years ago but I doubt I'll have time to re-read it, especially as it's one of the very few Gaiman books I don't own.

I do remember that this one really just made me smile as opposed to Coraline which really gave me the creeps.

[Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ Jenn Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ]

Now did Coraline give you the creeps b/c of the narration by Gaiman or was it the content in general, Melanti? I have yet to read Coraline but I do enjoy creepy when I'm in the mood.

[Melanti]

The content. Something about the "other" parents and those button eyes gave me the creeps.

I did stoop to watching the movie version which I almost never do for books I've liked, and that version just made me yawn.

It's mostly the little kids' books that I've listened to Gaiman's narration on - like Fortunately, the Milk or The Wolves in the Walls.

That's mostly because by the time I realized how good he was at the narrations, I'd already bought and read copies of the print books.

[Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ Jenn Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ]

Thanks for the other nods to a few more of Gaiman's narrations, Melanti, will definitely download some audios of his! :)

[Greg]

Jen, another short one suitable for kids is Odd and the Frost Giants - there's an audiobook of him reading it that I found absolutely charming. I loved it!

[Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ Jenn Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ]

Does Gaiman have an audio omnibus? ;)

[Meera]

I read this book few years ago and I really liked it. I think he's a talented author because this book, even though it had ghosts in it, I didn't find it creepy but some of his other books like Coraline and his Sandman graphic novels are creepy and disturbing, especially the Sandman novels. And then his other novels are solid fantasy/urban fantasy that just tell a good story like this one. I like all of his work but this one stood out for me.

[Melanti]

Jen ƸӜƷ wrote: "Does Gaiman have an audio omnibus? ;)"

I could have sworn that I answered this!
No omnibus for his longer works, but there is an omnibus for his short kiddie fiction.
The Neil Gaiman Audio Collection CD

Though when I searched to add that collection, I saw this one -- which from the reviews sounds like it includes Coriline and The Graveyard Book.

The Ultimate Neil Gaiman Audio Collection

It does seem harder to find a copy of that version though.

[LaLaLa Laura]

what is an audio omnibus?

[Melanti]

Just like a print omnibus. Multiple books on the same CD set/audio file.

In this case, it's 4 really short children's books and I think it still comes in at just an hour or so for all of them.

[Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ Jenn Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ]

Melanti wrote: "Jen ƸӜƷ wrote: "Does Gaiman have an audio omnibus? ;)"

I could have sworn that I answered this!
No omnibus for his longer works, but there is an omnibus for his short kiddie fiction.
[book:The ..."

Yay! Thanks Melanti :)

[LaLaLa Laura]

thank you Melanti!

I know wonder, why couldn't Bod's real mother become his ghost mother after she was killed in the beginning? She was able to go to the cemetery and ask they take care of him .

[Meri]

Have already started reading this, not having read any of his books before and I'm hooked already. Reminds me of a Nightmare before Christmas. I think Bod's mother couldn't stay in the beginning as she was not to be buried there. The graveyard only contains those whose mortal remains lie buried there. Did I read that there are no fresh burials? That it is no longer available for more burials? That part confused me a bit.

[Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ Jenn Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ]

To add to Meri's comments, it is my understanding that the dead in paranormal stories must undergo transformations just after they die. Bod's mother hadn't or didn't want to transform is my opinion.

[Ivan]

This is my favorite of what I've read by Gaiman - and I've given this book to a niece and a nephew. The story is so well plotted and told. I was swept away.

[Holly]

Meri wrote: "Have already started reading this, not having read any of his books before and I'm hooked already. Reminds me of a Nightmare before Christmas. I think Bod's mother couldn't stay in the beginning ..."

That's right. They had stopped burying people at the cemetery and then it was converted to a nature reserve.

[Holly]

So, one line seemed to be repeated throughout the story, "Find Your Name." It was in the lullaby and then stated by the Sleer as well. Obviously, I would interpret this to mean, find out who you are. Yet, I never felt that Bod was confused about who he was. Sure, there were the questions about why he couldn't leave the graveyard and why he could/couldn't do some of the things that the ghosts could do. But, I never saw that as being this crisis of "Who am I?" Did I miss something in my reading of this story?

[LaLaLa Laura]

That is an interesting point, Holly. Even his name "Nobody" indicates a lack of identity. Yet he never seemed to be unsure of himself, except maybe when he started school . I guess it's just that Bod was not part of our traditional society. He and his family were part of another dimension.

[Julia]

I finished reading the two-volume graphic novel of this book, which was fascinating. Amazon says:

"Inventive, chilling, and filled with wonder, Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book reaches new heights in this stunning adaptation. Artists Kevin Nowlan, P. Craig Russell, Tony Harris, Scott Hampton, Galen Showman, Jill Thompson, and Stephen B. Scott lend their own signature styles to create an imaginatively diverse and yet cohesive interpretation of Neil Gaiman's luminous novel.

Volume One contains Chapter One through the Interlude, while Volume Two will include Chapter Six to the end."

While I still prefer the novel itself, especially Gaiman's descriptions of the Sleer, the seamless blending of artistic styles in these two volumes is captivating.

[Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ Jenn Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ]

Question for all: If the book was made into a movie, who would you like to see casted?

[Julia]

Not sure about the cast, but the film is on the way:

"On August 24, 2014, Gaiman confirmed that Ron Howard is directing the film." https://twitter.com/neilhimself/statu...

I would hope it would be done in animation rather than trying to do it with live actors. It's just too magical.

[Greg]

Just started my re-read of this today - enjoying and savoring the experience!

[Greg]

On chapter 4 now.

I love Miss Lupescu. So like Neil Gaiman to include characters like this that (view spoiler)[at first seem unpleasant and strange but turn out to have a good heart (hide spoiler)]. Can't help but smile in the afterglow of chapter 3 where (view spoiler)[Miss Lupescu suggests she'd like to come back and teach Bod again and he says, "I'd like that." (hide spoiler)] As with much of Gaiman's work, there's a great deal of darkness on the surface but a good-heartedness at the center. Such a pleasure to read!

For those listening to the audiobook narrated by Gaiman himself, I love (view spoiler)[Bod's "help" in Night Ghast (hide spoiler)]. I can just imagine my nephew when he was younger sitting in rapt attention as he listened to Gaiman's reading. What a storyteller!

[Lamilla]

I'm reading it, I believe, for the fifth time. Like it very much, as usual

[Greg]

I think it's the third time for me Lamilla :)

About halfway through now.

I love the part where he (view spoiler)[gets Liza a headstone. (hide spoiler)] Yet another great character.

[Becky]

I thought this was a great story. I listened to the audio version of Gaiman reading it and I'm sure that improved the experience. I very much agree that he's good at reading his own books (not all authors can pull that off--I recently tried listening to Madeleine L'Engle reading A Wrinkle in Time and couldn't get past the first five minutes).

At the moment I'm in the middle of Vol. 1 of the graphic novel adaptation and I'm enjoying it, especially the renderings by multiple artists. It gives the story great dimension.

[Greg]

I know what you mean Becky. Authors are not always so good at reading their own work. I very much like Beloved but was not so crazy about an audiobook I got of Toni Morrison reading it herself. But Gaiman is certainly a fantastic reader as well as writer!

[Greg]

Holly wrote: "So, one line seemed to be repeated throughout the story, "Find Your Name." It was in the lullaby and then stated by the Sleer as well. Obviously, I would interpret this to mean, find out who you ..."

Holly, I think maybe there's one other thing going on as well:

Bod was still trying to find out about his real parents (and I guess by extension the "real" name that his birth parents had originally called him), but then, in the end, he realizes it doesn't matter. The Owens were the ones who raised him, and that was enough. The Owens' last name was all he needed. So he accepts that his "true" name is "Nobody Owens."

Maybe it's kind of like an adoptive kid who, although secure in himself, still wonders who his "real" parents were ... but then later reaches a point where he accepts that it doesn't matter because his "real" parents weren't his biological parents but instead the ones that raised him.

In the last moment with the Sleer, when the Sleer wants to know his "real" name, the book says: "And in that moment, Bod understood. Everything slowed. Everything came into focus. 'I know my name,' he said. 'I'm Nobody Owens. That's who I am.'" The only way I can make sense out of that is that his birth name didn't matter. His "real" name was the one the Owens gave him.

[Greg]

Just finished my re-read. Very enjoyable!

So, just wondering, does anyone else get the impression that Silas was a (view spoiler)[vampire (hide spoiler)]? I'm thinking that based on (view spoiler)[the earth from his homeland in the crate, the paleness, the cold skin, etc, revealed toward the end - also because the other members of the Honor Guard were a werewolf, a mummy, and an ifrit. (hide spoiler)]

[Julia]

I immediately saw Silas as a vampire and Miss Lupescu, the Hound of God, as a werewolf. In an interview with the LA Times, Gaiman said: "He also wanted to emphasize that, despite some trying times, he will not arrive at Royce Hall as glum as, say, Silas, the dour vampire who becomes an orphan’s protector in “The Graveyard Book.” http://herocomplex.latimes.com/uncate...

It's so very like Gaiman to make these two Bod's protectors, despite the usual depiction of vampires and werewolves.

[MiA]

What I liked most about the book is that Gaiman messes with the obvious. The concept of "Never talk to strangers" that is taught to children worldwide as a way of protection, is exactly what brought Scarlet and Bod together as good friends. The setting itself being a graveyard is the creepiest thing an adult might think of, let alone a child, is the safe house of Bod and his only protection. Ghosts are not so scary after all and the vampire, werewolf, mummies and ifrit are not the horrifying bad guys but dressed up guys were in the end.

[LaLaLa Laura]

ahh good point, Mawra. my mom says don't be afraid of the dead ... It's the living you have to watch out for!

[MiA]

A very wise mom, indeed. I couldn't agree more.