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tarareadsalot's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Torture, and Grief
Moderate: Addiction, Body horror, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Grief, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual content and Suicidal thoughts
spookfish's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
It's always difficult to review horror, as I have to separate my physical feelings of discomfort with what I think objectively about it.
Found myself asking "why?" a lot of the time, without answer from Gaiman. There are parts of this book where it doesn't feel sure of where it is trying to head itself. It makes sense knowing this was supposed to be a short story that was extended into a novel. Not a bad book by all means, just... lacking something for me.
Found myself asking "why?" a lot of the time, without answer from Gaiman. There are parts of this book where it doesn't feel sure of where it is trying to head itself. It makes sense knowing this was supposed to be a short story that was extended into a novel. Not a bad book by all means, just... lacking something for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, and Confinement
Moderate: Infidelity, Suicide, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Death, Sexual content, and Blood
jolineliest's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Violence
Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Suicide, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Vomit, Grief, and Car accident
cathicks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
This book was absolutely heart-wrenching and the entire time reading I kept thinking “he’s just a baby” (7 but still). The relationships he has with Lettie, her family, and Ocean is just beautifully written.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Child abuse and Confinement
Minor: Animal death
tabookish's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicide, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Infidelity, Grief, and Abandonment
riverofhorton's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
So I went into this book thinking it was a kid's book and would be a fun frolic in a fantasy world. A kid's book it most definitely is not, despite the main character being 7 through the main part of the story. Once I realised and came to terms with my own assumptions being wrong, I found the book to be really enjoyable.
It tackles a few quite mature themes through the wonder of a child's perspective, which is something I don't think I've seen before. It takes place pretty much in our world but with a bit of magic thrown in, some being things that are still magic to us as children, giving the impression that there is magic to be found in the real world, if you look through that child-like lens.
I did also appreciate some of the little call backs to things that previously seemed unimportant.
I also liked that it ends in such a way as to facilitate re-reading.
It tackles a few quite mature themes through the wonder of a child's perspective, which is something I don't think I've seen before. It takes place pretty much in our world but with a bit of magic thrown in, some being things that are still magic to us as children, giving the impression that there is magic to be found in the real world, if you look through that child-like lens.
I did also appreciate some of the little call backs to things that previously seemed unimportant.
I also liked that it ends in such a way as to facilitate re-reading.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
antarcticophile's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
4.5
A wonderful sprint through a fantastical but familiar land in the shoes of a child.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Suicide, and Violence
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Death, Infidelity, and Sexual content
Minor: Body horror, Confinement, and Blood
scruffie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, and Violence
Moderate: Animal death
ekcd_'s review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Do not read this expecting Sandman or Stardust or Good Omens. It’s not a matter of quality, it’s a matter of completely different genres.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, and Death
ggcd1981's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-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
4.75
The Ocean at the End of the Lane é um livro com magia caprichosa, por falta de uma melhor tradução para whimsical, como é padrão das obras de Gaiman. Eu gostei bastante do livro, apesar de o início da obra passar a impressão de que iria ser mais realista do que acabou sendo. Isso foi positivo pois a partir de certo ponto a obra assumiu um clima fantasioso com magia quase folk. O clima era whimsical e cozy também com as cenas e descrições de comida caseira de fazenda com o fogo queimando ao fundo. O personagem principal, após um funeral, visita a fazenda das mulheres Hempstock, onde sua memória dizia que viviam sua amiga Lettie, a mãe Ginnie e a avó, a velha senhora Hempstock. O local onde havia um lago que a menina costumava dizer ser um oceano. Na fazenda ele lembra da aventura esquecida que viveu com Lettie. Na sua infância, acompanhado de seu pai, encontrou em um carro o corpo morto, após o suicídio, do pensionista que alugava um quarto em sua casa. Devido a esse fato o garoto acaba na fazenda Hempstock enquanto a polícia faz seu trabalho. Certa manhã, o narrador acorda engasgado com uma moeda. Sua irmã o acusa de atirar moedas nela. Lettie diz que a morte do pensionista, um mineiro de opala, liberou algum tipo de poder que está tentando retribuir às pessoas, mas fazendo isso mal. O narrador e Lettie atravessam a fazenda Hempstock até entrarem em um universo alternativo, onde encontram um grande ser feito de tecido esvoaçante, a criatura que está causando problemas financeiros no mundo humano. Lettie pronuncia um encantamento mágico que prende a criatura ao seu lugar para que ela não possa mais interferir. Durante o confronto, o narrador solta brevemente a mão protetora de Lettie e uma coisa parecida com um verme entra em seu pé. Em casa, ele consegue arrancar a minhoca, mas um pedaço dela fica alojado dentro dele. No dia seguinte, a mãe do narrador, apresenta ele e sua irmã à nova babá, Ursula Monkton. Ela parece gentil, mas o narrador tem um mau pressentimento sobre ela. Ele foge para contar a Lettie, mas Ursula o encontra no caminho e, quando ele corre para casa, ela já está lá dentro, onde promete que ele não conseguirá escapar dela. Ele tenta ligar para os Hempstocks, mas a voz de Ursula controla o telefone, e quando ele quer falar com o pai sobre ela, ela impede. Ele percebe que ela é a criatura de pano, que escapou do mundo dela e invadiu o dele através do verme em seu pé. Essa parte do livro foi bastante sufocante pois o menino parecia não ter escapatória de Ursula e isso foi angustiante. A criatura foi tão longe a ponte de seduzir o pai do narrador. Após uma tentativa de fuga em que é salvo por Lettie o narrador e a garota voltam para casa dele, onde esta usa brinquedos mágicos para prender Ursula na propriedade. Lettie pede a Ursula para usar o buraco de minhoca para sair antes que os sombrios Hunger Birds venham até ela. Úrsula tenta, mas um pedaço do buraco de minhoca fica preso no coração do menino. Os pássaros famintos mergulham do céu e devoram Úrsula; então, eles querem consumir o menino. Lettie retorna com um balde de água de seu lago. O narrador entra no balde, cai em um oceano profundo, entende de uma vez todos os segredos do universo e vê que Lettie é um ser feito de lençóis sedosos e ondulantes e luz de velas. O menino vem à tona e descobre que está com água até os joelhos no lago da fazenda. O livro culmina quando os Hunger Birds se aglomeram fora do reino mágico da fazenda e insistem que não podem sair até que o garoto e o pedaço de buraco de minhoca preso em seu coração sejam consumidos. Ameaçando comer o universo a menos que recebam o que desejam. O menino não suporta ser a causa do fim de tudo; ele solta a mão de Lettie e corre pelo campo, oferecendo-se como sacrifício. Lettie o derruba e o protege enquanto os pássaros famintos a atacam para chegar até ele. A velha Sra. Hempstock aparece como uma mulher alta e majestosa que exige que os Hunger Birds cedam, ou ela os destruirá todos. Os pássaros famintos substituem tudo que comeram (menos Ursula) e partem. Lettie, gravemente ferida, parece à beira da morte. O grupo a leva até o lago, que se transforma em oceano e a absorve. Décadas depois, o narrador encerra sua lembrança. A velha Sra. Hempstock e Ginnie aparecem; elas explicam que Lettie queria que ele visitasse o lago para ver como ele está. Ele descobre que ela não o salvou dos pássaros: eles o mataram, mas ela o levou para o lago e o reanimou. O narrador agradece à velha Sra. Hempstock e vai embora. Ao sair, ele esquece novamente o lago, a casa da fazenda e suas aventuras ali.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Death, Infidelity, and Grief
Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Sexual content, Suicide, and Gaslighting