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teabrewer's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Coraline is a children's book. One with body horror, blood and child death, but a children's book none the less. It didn't affect me emotionally as much as my average five stars. But, it is a wondeful version of those, written with the young readers in mind. The analogies to insects, spiders, camufkage and mimicry were a awesome touch. The dark ambiance and hints to something older than the other mother too. It is clear this book was written with care and dedication! I also found interesting how the narrative sometimes criticises the dad, that is so clearly inspired by the author himself. Like a quiet apology.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Blood, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
parmydaaa's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death
melissaslibraryy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
I grew up watching and loving the movie and now that I was in the mood to read the story behind it, I’m glad it’s another book off my physical tbr. The illustrations were great and slightly creepy & it was overall a fun and fast paced read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail
majormnkey's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement
Moderate: Kidnapping
Minor: Animal death, Child death, and Death
chainsawmochi's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I have long been a fan of Neil Gaiman's works. "Good Omens" has sat at the top of my favorite books list for years, since college at least. Likewise, the film version of "Coraline" has been a personal favorite since I first watched it. One would think that I would have read the book version of "Coraline" at some point, but for some reason, I simply had never picked it up.
Recently, I saw that it was available online through the Libby App, via my local library. On a whim, I borrowed the lone copy available and dug in. Life got in the way, as it tends to do; it took me far too long to actually manage to read the entirety of the book. It's not a very long novel, as it is classified as a children's book. Yet every moment spent not reading it was maddening. I wanted so deeply to delve back into the world of "Coraline," back into Gaiman's blunt yet whimsical prose.
Finally, while I was watching for a doctor's appointment today, I finished the book. "Coraline" is a five-star read, no doubt about it. Gaiman has a wonderful ability write in the way I remember thinking as a child. Everything is very matter-of-fact, yet there is magic there, in those words. He crafts a beautiful, disgusting, haunting world that suits Coraline's character very well. I viewed her story as a story of growing up too quickly, of yearning to still be a child, of learning to slow down and appreciate the small things. The things that make us mothers and fathers, children and family. The things that make us human, boring, normal, and unique. Coraline's world is full of juxtapositions and non-sensical parallels. She begins as a child that no one listens to--but by the end, she realizes she was not listening, either.
"Coraline" comes highly recommended if you have an afternoon or two to spend in a world very much like our own, with a few extra shadows and a few extra nightmares at the edges.
Recently, I saw that it was available online through the Libby App, via my local library. On a whim, I borrowed the lone copy available and dug in. Life got in the way, as it tends to do; it took me far too long to actually manage to read the entirety of the book. It's not a very long novel, as it is classified as a children's book. Yet every moment spent not reading it was maddening. I wanted so deeply to delve back into the world of "Coraline," back into Gaiman's blunt yet whimsical prose.
Finally, while I was watching for a doctor's appointment today, I finished the book. "Coraline" is a five-star read, no doubt about it. Gaiman has a wonderful ability write in the way I remember thinking as a child. Everything is very matter-of-fact, yet there is magic there, in those words. He crafts a beautiful, disgusting, haunting world that suits Coraline's character very well. I viewed her story as a story of growing up too quickly, of yearning to still be a child, of learning to slow down and appreciate the small things. The things that make us mothers and fathers, children and family. The things that make us human, boring, normal, and unique. Coraline's world is full of juxtapositions and non-sensical parallels. She begins as a child that no one listens to--but by the end, she realizes she was not listening, either.
"Coraline" comes highly recommended if you have an afternoon or two to spend in a world very much like our own, with a few extra shadows and a few extra nightmares at the edges.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death
Minor: Body horror, Child death, and Kidnapping
danimacuk's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death and Abandonment
Minor: Confinement
allyareads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement
Minor: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Blood, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
epeolatrist's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, and Confinement
Moderate: Kidnapping and Abandonment
matildag00's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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? No
4.0
A great fucking children's book! Such a good atmosphere. Listened to it, narrated by Neil Gaiman and hearing his words in his voice and the added affects and sounds were creeping me the hell out but in such a good way!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, and Confinement
Moderate: Death, Kidnapping, and Abandonment
Minor: Animal death and Blood
michael_langeloo's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
So glad I read this as an adult but I know that younger me would have loved it as well. Such a good story about a young girl, being brave and learning how to believe in herself and what she is capable of. Beldam was of course creepy and every scene that she was in was intense. While this book left me with possibly having some nightmares, if also kept me hooked until the last page, I just needed to know how it ended up for Coraline Jones.
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal death, Child death, and Death