Reviews

Nobody Owens doesn't fear death because a graveyard adopted him from toddlerhood, #squadgoals.

Neil Gaiman manages to turn nightmares into dark cozy burrows you'd live in, comfortably.

Silas is bae

riley_ng15's review against another edition

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5.0

Có lẽ mình falling in love with Neil Gaiman rồi :>>

pumpkin_am's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious reflective 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

4.5

sassou's review against another edition

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adventurous inspiring

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

2.75

laurathedogpotato's review

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adventurous funny lighthearted 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

It’s a little simpler than I expected it to be - not that that’s a bad thing by any means. It was an easy enjoyable read, set in a lightly magical world with wonderful intriguing characters that I wish you spent more time with.

Content Warnings

aelsherif's review against another edition

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4.0

4.5/5 stars, I really liked this book and apart from few not-very-interesting parts in the middle, it definitely would have been 5 stars.

This is my 4th Neil Gaiman novel, and so far I have been disappointed that none of the three I've read blew me away (Norse Mythology was good but so boring at parts, Coraline I think I enjoyed the movie more and Good Omens which was very funny but not much more), but Neil Gaiman is one of the people that I haven't heard anyone hating his books or doubting his writing skills, in addition to writing for Doctor Who, being a great narrator for his books, collaborating with Sir Terry Pratchet and being a very likable person on anything I've seen of him, I hold so much respect for the man.

Back to the Graveyard Book, the story follows a baby who by mere coincidence escape murder by the hands of an assassin called Jack who managed to kill his family and gets rescued and raised by the ghosts living in the nearby graveyard. Being given the freedom of the graveyard, 'Nobody' lives as the only living being there, and goes on adventures in the wondrous world of graves and tombs using his taught skills such as being invisible or phasing through objects.

There was not a single unlikeable character in the novel, Silas the guardian shrouded in mystery who you can't help to love, the kindly parents in the Owens, Scarlett whom I enjoyed every one of her scenes, the man Jack who is terrifying from his first to his last appearance, and Nobody Owens, a so well written and lovable protagonist who kept growing as a character and developed with each mini-story in both skills and personality.

I felt the only shortcoming of the Graveyard Book was Neil Gaiman's decisions to make the middle part a series of short stories rather than following the main plot which was so interesting, as even though most of them were incredible as the one with the witch's tomb, some just felt pointless and a tad boring such as the one with the dance and the bully.

I listened to the audiobook version of the novel read by a full cast which I think did a wonderful job and added a lot to the story. Really, really liked it and will definitely not be my last read of Neil Gaiman.

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