trude_am's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
fragwai's review
3.0
Most of the stories where five stars however quite a few seemed less than his usual standard.
fionab_16's review
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
_lunaria_'s review
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
coleyreads's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I don’t know if my loving the film has impacted this reading experience but I absolutely loved Coraline. The “other stories” however were a hit or miss! Some I liked and others I genuinely skipped.
Coraline is one of those staple stories from my childhood that bring me so much joy and I’m surprised it’s taken me this long to get round to the book. This is also my first Neil Gaiman and I really gelled with the writing style. It was airy and thoughtful but also solid and direct. It took me right into Coraline’s world, and the world of the “other mother”. My brain couldn’t help but play the little exploration song while I read this. 5/5⭐️
Now for the other stories… here are the ones I enjoyed!
- Troll Bridge
- Don’t Ask Jack
- October in the Chair
- Chivalry
- The Price
- How to Talk to Girls at Parties
The rest I read and disliked or started reading and skipped. Mostly because they were boring. All these stories took on elements of fairytales, whether it was characters, settings, ideas etc. which I liked. Sadly, though, I need to deduct a little half star to honour my dislike of some of the stories.
This hasn’t put me off Neil Gaiman and I’m going to pick up more of his work soon!
Coraline is one of those staple stories from my childhood that bring me so much joy and I’m surprised it’s taken me this long to get round to the book. This is also my first Neil Gaiman and I really gelled with the writing style. It was airy and thoughtful but also solid and direct. It took me right into Coraline’s world, and the world of the “other mother”. My brain couldn’t help but play the little exploration song while I read this. 5/5⭐️
Now for the other stories… here are the ones I enjoyed!
- Troll Bridge
- Don’t Ask Jack
- October in the Chair
- Chivalry
- The Price
- How to Talk to Girls at Parties
The rest I read and disliked or started reading and skipped. Mostly because they were boring. All these stories took on elements of fairytales, whether it was characters, settings, ideas etc. which I liked. Sadly, though, I need to deduct a little half star to honour my dislike of some of the stories.
This hasn’t put me off Neil Gaiman and I’m going to pick up more of his work soon!
clifford19691's review
adventurous
dark
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
fletchie's review
5.0
I bought this book mainly for Coraline, but there are some delightful short stories in here as well.
Coraline was fantastic, and nothing short of what I've come to expect from one of the most imaginative and original contemporary fiction authors out there. I've often heard it described as a 'faerie tale for adults', but see no reason why a great number of children wouldn't or shouldn't enjoy the story just as much as I did.
The collection of short stories was also great. None of them are longer than about twenty pages and a few come in at under ten. Regardless of length, they show the same imaginative scope as Coraline, and still manage to fully entertain. I've recently read Smoke and Mirrors, a collection of Gaiman's short stories, and there was a little bit of overlap between that book and this. I view it as a testament to Gaiman's writing style and ability to engage with the reader that I didn't skip these stories over, stories that I had the privilege to read and enjoy fairly recently. I felt compelled to read them again, and I found myself just as, if not more entertained than the last time I read them.
Even if you just read the book for Coraline, which is a fantastic standalone story in itself, I urge you to finish it off and read the accompanying short stories. It is most certainly worth your time.
Coraline was fantastic, and nothing short of what I've come to expect from one of the most imaginative and original contemporary fiction authors out there. I've often heard it described as a 'faerie tale for adults', but see no reason why a great number of children wouldn't or shouldn't enjoy the story just as much as I did.
The collection of short stories was also great. None of them are longer than about twenty pages and a few come in at under ten. Regardless of length, they show the same imaginative scope as Coraline, and still manage to fully entertain. I've recently read Smoke and Mirrors, a collection of Gaiman's short stories, and there was a little bit of overlap between that book and this. I view it as a testament to Gaiman's writing style and ability to engage with the reader that I didn't skip these stories over, stories that I had the privilege to read and enjoy fairly recently. I felt compelled to read them again, and I found myself just as, if not more entertained than the last time I read them.
Even if you just read the book for Coraline, which is a fantastic standalone story in itself, I urge you to finish it off and read the accompanying short stories. It is most certainly worth your time.
elise04's review
3.0
Coraline is my favourite film, so as much as it saddens me to say as I much prefer reading books first, it was always going to be hard for the book to live up to the film, and I was never going to be able to read it without drawing comparisons between the two. The extra scenes in the book (despite the events occurring at a much faster rate) were excitingly creepy and I found there was a much deeper plot line in the book. The mentions of the tunnel being “very old and very slow” got me thinking more about the origins of the beldam and I thought a lot more about who the children were, and who the cat was while reading the book. It was incredibly intricate, so even reading it as an adult it was still thoroughly creepy and enjoyable, even though it is a children’s book. The film will always hold a special place in my heart, and I like how coralines character was further developed in longer scenes in the film but after reading the book, I wish they had included more of the mystery surrounding the beldam and the tunnel in the film.
saymore's review
3.0
I wish children's ghost stories, horrors and creepy folktales were way more prevalent in media because they're loved by kids and adults alike. I can't get enough of them, and Neil Gaiman definitely writes some of the best out there!
Coraline was definitely 5/5 and I really enjoyed all of the other stories too but, as with all short story collections, not every one is perfect.
Coraline was definitely 5/5 and I really enjoyed all of the other stories too but, as with all short story collections, not every one is perfect.
ponkle24's review
3.0
Caroline 3.5
24 blackbirds... 2.5
Troll bridge 4
Jack..2
How to sell the ponti bridge 4
October in the chair 2
Chivalry 3
The price 3
How to talk to girls...2.5
Sunbird 2
The witches headstone 3
24 blackbirds... 2.5
Troll bridge 4
Jack..2
How to sell the ponti bridge 4
October in the chair 2
Chivalry 3
The price 3
How to talk to girls...2.5
Sunbird 2
The witches headstone 3