The Ocean at the End of the Lane (Feb 2015)

[deborah]

Since February's mere hours away...

Here's the thread for February's book, The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman. :)

I won't be able to join in on reading/discussions until the 7th at least... but y'all feel free and enjoy! ^_^

...Can't wait to read my first Neil Gaiman. :D I've heard great things of his books! :) This particular book of his also sounds like something I wouldn't normally read, which is interesting in itself... Sometimes it's fun to step out of comfort zones and try new things. ;)

[deborah]

I just got The Ocean at the End of the Lane from the library! Yay! :D So now I can start reading, finally. ^_^

[deborah]

So I've read the prologue and the first three chapters... I'm enjoying it so far! It's one of those just-a-little-disturbing but also whimsical things... I really like Gaiman's style. I feel like it's rather like Diana Wynne Jones with a pinch of dark and without the hilariousness. So far, I'm really glad we picked this book!

My thoughts on it so far (don't read if you haven't read the first 3 chapters!)
(view spoiler)[Lettie's family intrigues me a good deal. >:D I feel like there's a loooot going on there that the hero (he doesn't have a name as far as I can tell... which is actually cool, methinks. :)) notices.

It's also interesting that it feels so normal and realistic, and yet has weird dreams and magical and fantastical stuff going on. Somehow, that makes it feel so different, and the fantastical stuff feels positively normal in the setting. It's weird! But so well done, so far.

I also think it's doing a good job of being from the POV of a little kid. I like his straightforward way of thinking, and the little touches like about Batman and the Narnia books and reading. :) (hide spoiler)]

I dunno. That's what I think so far. :) Looking forward to continuing...

Has anyone else started yet? :D

[A. J]

I'm gonna try and find this book at my library tomorrow.

[deborah]

Yay Abi! :D (Libraries are the best. ^_^)

[A. J]

I haven't been able to find it yet. :(

[Linda]

@Abi: You can't find it in library? :( Do you know if they have a copy at all or is it just borrowed at the moment?

I started reading today and so far I like it a lot! I've read the prologue and first three chapters now.

@Celti: (view spoiler)[I didn't even think about it until you said, but yes, his name hasn't been mentioned. I want to know more about Lettie's family. Who are they exactly?

Also, it was so sad that Fluffy got killed. I hate it when animals die in books. :( (hide spoiler)]

I'm looking forward to reading more. :)

[A. J]

I haven't been able to get a library card yet, so I can't borrow a copy from another library. :(

[deborah]

So I finished it! I gave it a brief, spoiler-free review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... It was a solid 4-stars for much of it, but it was a little bittersweet which almost dropped it to 2... Overall I settled for 3-stars. Scary and kind of sad are not my "things", but I loved a lot of it! :) I'm sooo glad we read it -- it was so intriguing and different! I really really want to read more Gaiman soon now. :D The writing was awesome and it was so dark and elusive and eerie... :) I will be writing up some more detailed spoilery thoughts soonish! :)

@Odile: Yes, that was sad! :( But I'm glad you're mostly liking it so far! :)

@Abi: Awww. :(