Reviews with content warning for Injury/Injury detail - The Ocean at the End of the Lane

I have complicated feelings with this book, mainly because as I was reading it, I found it hard to understand what was happening and play it all out in my head. However, reading the conversation with Neil Gaiman that was in the end of my edition, allowed some things to make sense to me. It is a very personal book for Gaiman and I understood this a lot more when reading that part of the book.

It did take me a while to get into the book but it did start to get interesting about half way through and I was intrigued to see how it would end. I think the fact that it was told from a child's perspective also made some experiences seem more real to me and did add depth to the book. I think it made me empathise with our MC more.

One thing that I would disagree with a lot of reviews though, is that they said the writing was lyrical, and this didn't really ring true for me, personally. I think the writing was good at getting us into the mind of the main character, but I wouldn't say it was as lyrical as I had hoped. I also thought the plot was just a little strange in places and didn't flow well in parts, but that could just be personal preference also.

I don't personally think this is Gaiman's best, but I still enjoyed many elements of the book all the same.

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rachelditty's review

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adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

A friend of mine told me this was one of her favorite books, so I picked it up for my daily commute to and from work. Neil Gaiman's narration was smooth and enticing; I'd love to listen to more of his books narrated by him, he's got a great voice for it.

I really loved Lettie's relationship with our narrator, and it wasn't until I finished the book and there was an excerpt from a podcast interview with Gaiman that it registered that we never learn the narrator's name! That pulled the rug out from under me so thoroughly, I never would have noticed if someone else hadn't said it. I loved the Hempstocks and their mysterious abilities. The terms and procedures they do are so creative and unique. It was so fun to watch them work.

The ending was really something, too.

Having our narrator go back to the ocean and remember, thanking Lettie for what she did, only to bring the dishes back to the house and ask Old Mrs. Hempstock to say hi to Lettie when she comes back from Australia. It's an ending I expected to be sad about because he doesn't remember, but it felt so content, and I was glad he didn't remember, living on for Lettie and her sacrifice for him.

Some quotes I liked:

"You get on with your own life. Lettie gave it to you. You just have to grow up and try to be worth it." (5:20:55)

"'You don't pass or fail at being a person, dear.'" (5:36:13)

I'll definitely have to pick up more of Gaiman's work in the future. This is the second book of his I've read, and I've really enjoyed both! What a great writer.

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franzys_whip's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective relaxing tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

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irinalast's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional 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

4.0

Feelings of wonder and dread; uneasy but charming read.

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mooshake's review

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

whos the best audiobook narrator and why is it neil gaiman

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sofiematthe's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
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

3.5

Nobody actually looks like what they really are on the inside.

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smallish_bird's review against another edition

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emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This book aches from warmth and pain in equal measure. Reading it, I felt like I was a kid again; it's full of love and hope and fear and loss.

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anastasiamakes's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious reflective slow-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? No

3.0

Hmm.

In the acknowledgements of this book, Gaiman mentions that this was meant to be a short story, but it got away from him. And personally, I felt that - I'm not a short story person.

It also reiterated to me that I don't like horror, which I didn't realise this was. There were some absolutely beautiful, fantastical passages in here, and then I felt those were just ruined by segments of horror and gore.

All a bit "it was all just a dream, or was it?" for my tastes.

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