possiblyrue's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Death of parent and Death
Minor: Cannibalism and Gaslighting
axeles's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
read this ages ago but was reminded of how good it was through a reddit post. not for the faint of heart
Graphic: Death of parent, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Death, Gore, Toxic relationship, Violence, Abandonment, and Animal death
annoyedhumanoid's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Coraline the movie is my favorite movie ever, but this is my first time reading the book, so i had really high and specific expectations. first of all, no Wybie???!??!!?! i really appreciate his addition in the movie.
in the very first chapter it says "She hoped it wasn't a spider. Spiders made Coraline intensely uncomfortable." knowing the scene in the movie where, i highlighted this and noted it as some sly foreshadowing for the climax. there were then thirteen subsequent uses of the word "spider", so i was really expecting , but this never happens, which i think is a shame. it would have been even more effective in the book than it was in the movie.
on the other hand, the final chapter of the book (XIII—i see you Neil Gaiman) is even more brilliant and satisfying than the movie, with the. genius
the overall theme of the story was very well done, Coraline's need for attention from her busy parents really comes through especially in how she talks about them when they're not around, and then just small moments of affection between her and her parents when they return are so touching, i cried ()
also, i have to say, Neil Gaiman did not do his own characters justice in his audiobook reading. give it some life! make Coraline sound stubborn and actually like a child! make the Beldam snarly and mad-villainous! everyone is so dry, which works perfectly for the cat since it's in the cat's character, but the rest just becomes dull. except for the rats' songs. those were horrifying and unsettling and i love them.
in the very first chapter it says "She hoped it wasn't a spider. Spiders made Coraline intensely uncomfortable." knowing the scene in the movie where
Spoiler
the Beldam strips away the floorboards into a spiderweb to trap Coraline and prevent her escape from the Other WorldSpoiler
the Beldam to exhibit some explicitly spider-like qualitieson the other hand, the final chapter of the book (XIII—i see you Neil Gaiman) is even more brilliant and satisfying than the movie, with the
Spoiler
fake doll tea party to trick the Beldam hand into jumping into the wellthe overall theme of the story was very well done, Coraline's need for attention from her busy parents really comes through especially in how she talks about them when they're not around, and then just small moments of affection between her and her parents when they return are so touching, i cried (
Spoiler
daddy issuesalso, i have to say, Neil Gaiman did not do his own characters justice in his audiobook reading. give it some life! make Coraline sound stubborn and actually like a child! make the Beldam snarly and mad-villainous! everyone is so dry, which works perfectly for the cat since it's in the cat's character, but the rest just becomes dull. except for the rats' songs. those were horrifying and unsettling and i love them.
Graphic: Confinement, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Child death, Abandonment, Kidnapping, Animal death, Blood, Child abuse, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Gore, Animal cruelty, and Death of parent
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