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franzys_whip's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Physical abuse, Suicide, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Emotional abuse, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
renettereads's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
A man finds himself unexpectedly drawn back to his childhood home and the Hempstock farm at the end of the lane. Once there, he starts to recall a thrilling incident filled with magic and mystery.
This book was my surprising five-star read of 2022. I found it mysterious and ambiguous in the best way in that this entire boy’s world is being turned upside down, and he’s struggling to comprehend it all, and it only felt right that we felt the same reading this story. Though it’s dark, eerie and melancholy almost throughout, there’s a measure of cosiness that reminded me of something like The Witches. I loved the fairytale elements, and Gaiman’s writing, as always, is minimal but expertly done to deliver punchy prose that conjures up the most beautiful imagery.
It’s a book I can see myself going back to over and over again because, despite the fact that I didn’t grow up in England as a boy, there was such a sense of nostalgia. Being that age, scared of everything and struggling to separate adults from bad deeds. I loved the sense of survival in this book, and the Hempstock family absolutely stole my heart.
Moderate: Suicide and Blood
Minor: Animal death
smallish_bird's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Infidelity, Suicide, Violence, and Blood
Minor: Confinement and Sexual content
oliverreeds's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Car accident, and Injury/Injury detail
batcaves's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Car accident, and Injury/Injury detail
remytherat's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Body horror
Moderate: Blood
enabditouri_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, and Blood
Moderate: Death and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death
aheartofsunflower's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Minor: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, and Blood
wiktoria88's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Moderate: Animal death, Suicide, and Blood
spinesinaline's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
The main issue for me with this one is that I was expecting a very creepy adult book. Instead, it most reminded me of The Graveyard Book, Gaiman’s short story collection for children. While I wouldn’t call this one a children’s book because of the adult content, it feels like a children’s book written for adults.
And it is in a way, as it follows an older man who has returned home and suddenly remembered his childhood. We get his adult perspective paired with his memories as a child guiding us through the story.
I wouldn’t say this is necessarily bad but it was so different from what I was anticipating that I was just disappointed that it wasn’t the adult book I was looking for. I did really enjoy the beginning and ending but the middle sagged a bit for me with this childlike story aspect and likely promise of a happy ending tamping down the suspense and creepiness level.
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, and Suicide
Moderate: Sexual content and Blood