mattyvreads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
I love a magical, mythical story for adults. Gaiman has done it again.
The story is equal parts horror and mystery and fairytale, while deeply rooted in a grounded reality. This book was strangely moving in parts. I soaked up every word. Enthralling and rich, with beautiful prose. I was absolutely captivated.
One of the most successful parts of the book is how the author uses memory: repression, revelation, unreliability, omission. We read about the narrator’s story in great detail, but never know his name. It’s not important. In the prologue, the narrator is leaving a funeral. He knows whose funeral it is, but we don’t have it. It’s not important for us to know.
The story is thought provoking and wonderful. Time will tell if it will become as big of a classic as “Coraline.” I do hope it does.
The story is equal parts horror and mystery and fairytale, while deeply rooted in a grounded reality. This book was strangely moving in parts. I soaked up every word. Enthralling and rich, with beautiful prose. I was absolutely captivated.
One of the most successful parts of the book is how the author uses memory: repression, revelation, unreliability, omission. We read about the narrator’s story in great detail, but never know his name. It’s not important. In the prologue, the narrator is leaving a funeral. He knows whose funeral it is, but we don’t have it. It’s not important for us to know.
The story is thought provoking and wonderful. Time will tell if it will become as big of a classic as “Coraline.” I do hope it does.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, and Suicide
Moderate: Sexual content and Infidelity
Minor: Animal death
kim_lommaert's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Suicide, Child death, and Death
wanderingmeek's review against another edition
I am DNFing this. The child abuse is to much for me. I get the premise I get that the authors mind seems pretty brilliant. The plot is bizarre and I don’t care how short this is. I can’t put myself through this anymore.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Suicide
Trigger warning for pet death tooaj_langley's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Suicide
Moderate: Child death
nicolinebl's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I don't know what to say other than I adore Neil Gaiman and his writing, and this was yet another fantastic novel by him. The beautiful illustrations from Elise Hurst made it even better, and are very fitting to the story. An element of spookiness, but not too spooky.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Child abuse, Body horror, and Child death
Moderate: Animal death, Animal cruelty, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Murder, Physical abuse, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Infidelity and Gaslighting
cherub__'s review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Most of the professional reviews dating to Ocean's release agree that it is one of Gaiman's most personal works, and after my first read through I also agree with this consensus. The narrator is deeply reflective on his childhood both in and out of the frame structure. The themes expressed via Gaiman's trademark magical realism feel closer to home, or at least more grounded, than in his adult novels.
My library's copy also had an interesting "reading group question" in the back, which noted that the Hempstock women mirror the neopagan Triple Goddess, but also differ from the archetype in different ways. The similarities are relatively obvious: there are 3 Hempstock women, there are direct associations between each woman and different phases of the moon, the narrator comments that he is sometimes uncertain of how many women are actually there (the three being one), the association of the Hempstocks with water and weaving/sewing, etc. The differences are slightly harder to tease out: the grandmother seems to be represented by the full moon rather than the waning moon, the grandmother is the most powerful of the three, the maiden is the most active rather than the traditional mother, etc. Ocean is another fascinating glimpse into how Gaiman borrows from myth but re-writes them into his own version. For a full discussion on Gaiman's use of the Triple Goddess, see: https://the-artifice.com/neil-gaiman-triple-goddess-archetype/.
Ocean is a lovely read and I found myself identifying strongly with the boy in the beginning, and again at the end when some of his adult life is described. I give it 4 stars instead of 5, however, because it felt fleeting -- maybe a little like childhood? I do not think it will become one of my literary touchstones because of that lack of permanence. But, I may reevaluate this in time.
Spoiler
(to name a few: child abuse, infidelity, loneliness)My library's copy also had an interesting "reading group question" in the back, which noted that the Hempstock women mirror the neopagan Triple Goddess, but also differ from the archetype in different ways. The similarities are relatively obvious: there are 3 Hempstock women, there are direct associations between each woman and different phases of the moon, the narrator comments that he is sometimes uncertain of how many women are actually there (the three being one), the association of the Hempstocks with water and weaving/sewing, etc. The differences are slightly harder to tease out: the grandmother seems to be represented by the full moon rather than the waning moon, the grandmother is the most powerful of the three, the maiden is the most active rather than the traditional mother, etc. Ocean is another fascinating glimpse into how Gaiman borrows from myth but re-writes them into his own version. For a full discussion on Gaiman's use of the Triple Goddess, see: https://the-artifice.com/neil-gaiman-triple-goddess-archetype/.
Ocean is a lovely read and I found myself identifying strongly with the boy in the beginning, and again at the end when some of his adult life is described. I give it 4 stars instead of 5, however, because it felt fleeting -- maybe a little like childhood? I do not think it will become one of my literary touchstones because of that lack of permanence. But, I may reevaluate this in time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Suicide
groliffe's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
Minor: Abandonment
szote's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Alcohol, Death, and Suicide
bumblemee's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
3.0
Ich mochte die irgendiwe wunderliche und creepy Atmosphäre der Geschichte, ebenso die Erzählung aus Sicht eines Kindes. Richtig reingekommen bin ich aber irgendwie nicht.
Die Hempstock Frauen sind allerdings super cool!
Die Hempstock Frauen sind allerdings super cool!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Body horror
Moderate: Animal death, Suicide, and Sexual content
amaliesofie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, and Child abuse
Moderate: Suicide and Animal death