abrdoodle's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
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? No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Body horror, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, and Suicide
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Animal death, and Infidelity
Minor: Death and Grief
booksjessreads's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Body horror
Moderate: Animal death, Car accident, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, and Infidelity
Minor: Sexual content
rachelditty's review against another edition
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.
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.
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.
Spoiler
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.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror and Suicide
Minor: Death, Animal death, Violence, Child abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
franzys_whip's review
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Gaslighting, Suicide, Death, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Body horror, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, and Blood
irinalast's review against another edition
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.
Content Warnings
Minor: Physical abuse, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Violence, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Suicide, and Toxic relationship
mooshake's review against another edition
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Body horror, Child abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Grief, Suicide, and Confinement
sofiematthe's review against another edition
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Infidelity, Sexual content, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Suicide
smallish_bird's review
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Body horror
Moderate: Infidelity, Animal death, Blood, Suicide, Death, and Violence
Minor: Sexual content and Confinement
anastasiamakes's review against another edition
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Animal death, Infidelity, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Suicide and Death
markwillnevercry's review against another edition
3.0
I do not know. It was good at places. I really liked the way that magic was unexplained, I liked the part where the main character talks about how he used the old language in his dreams to make stuff better for other people, but that was it. The rest of the book was okay, I did not think that neither sex scene nor basically waterboarding where needed and they pulled down my overall opinion of the book. I was not way way too dissapointed, but I was not overjoyed either, it was just okay and I wished for it to be better.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Suicide, Child abuse, Body horror, and Vomit
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Confinement