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xandra_lyn's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
I really liked the slice of life aspect to the book. The big reveal of why his family was murdered seemed a tad anticlimactic, and the ending itself was bittersweet. But I loved meeting all the interesting creatures and people and ghostie type things. I read it for Halloween, and it was a really good choice
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Minor: Murder
goodolnicole's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Minor: Bullying, Child death, Blood, and Murder
buzzinfly's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Violence, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, and Murder
smaber23's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
This is a whimsical delight for those of us who appreciate the darkness and somber moments in life. Neil Gaiman is one of my favorites so I am certainly biased, however, this book gives a touching look at chosen family and doing the best you can given the circumstances. Nobody Owens is a protagonist you root for.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Stalking, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Child death and Violence
bookish2024's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This is my third time reading this story, but the first in audio. I loved Neil Gaiman’s narration and enjoyed the music between chapters. This was a different experience than simply reading the book and felt as if I was experiencing it for the first time all over again.
Content Warnings
Minor: Murder
seforaflorian's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gore, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
riverofhorton's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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
4.0
This book was unexpected. I went into it knowing nothing, apart from that it was written by Neil Gaiman, only assuming that a significant in some way. My only concrete expectation was that it would enjoy it, as I have almost all of Neil Gaiman's other books. That expectation was definitely met, and I will be re-reading this in the future. I am a little surprised that this is considered a children's book, it handles some very difficult topics, opening with a description of a man murdering two parents and a child. Thankfully, the murders themselves aren't described, just the moments after the final one. That said, it was an incredibly enjoyable book, following the childhood of a boy growing up in a graveyard with an adoptive family who are all either dead, or on the border between (I took that to mean a vampire). Ironically, I found the ghosts to be more fleshed out than the living characters of various other books by different authors, truly a testament to Gaiman's writing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Infertility, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
ksmith_23's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Abandonment
Moderate: Child death, Death of parent, and Murder
julieyael's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Another fantastic read from Neil Gaiman.
The characters are well written, the prose is impeccable, and the rythm is steady then it increases in the last chapter.
It’s a lovely story of coming of age, a little sweet and sour (I shed some tears but I may be a bit sensitive).
I am not giving 5 only because I wish there was a little bit more to the plot in the end. Some informations are not all revealed. Well, that leaves some imagination for the reader, bit it’s also a tiny bit frustrating.
Loved it, though. Gaiman is always on top of my favorites writters each year.
The characters are well written, the prose is impeccable, and the rythm is steady then it increases in the last chapter.
It’s a lovely story of coming of age, a little sweet and sour (I shed some tears but I may be a bit sensitive).
I am not giving 5 only because I wish there was a little bit more to the plot in the end. Some informations are not all revealed. Well, that leaves some imagination for the reader, bit it’s also a tiny bit frustrating.
Loved it, though. Gaiman is always on top of my favorites writters each year.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Bullying, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Suicide and Police brutality
bookishmillennial's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me here: https://linktr.ee/bookishmillennial
This is the story of Bod (short for "nobody" *sobs*), a young boy whose parents were murdered during his infancy, and he is then taken care of by the undead inhabitants of the titular graveyard, most notably his guardian, a vampire named Silas. If Bod ever leaves the graveyard though, he will be in danger, for the man who killed his parents, Jack, is still out there. This doesn't stop Bod from meeting new friends and having new experiences though.
The audiobook was narrated by the author, who did an excellent job. I listened to the audiobook in one day, as I ran errands and did my chores, as it was so easy to listen to and become entirely immersed in the story. Neil Gaiman is truly such a masterful, effortless writer, and I recognize this is aimed at middle-grade readers, but I think it's true of all his books. They're filled with familiar but curious world-building that feel accessible to any reader, even if you're not typically into fantasy or the supernatural. His writing is inviting and asks you to make a cuppa and stay a while.
I highly recommend this, and any of NG's works. What a lovely way to spend an afternoon, enveloped in his fictional worlds.
This is the story of Bod (short for "nobody" *sobs*), a young boy whose parents were murdered during his infancy, and he is then taken care of by the undead inhabitants of the titular graveyard, most notably his guardian, a vampire named Silas. If Bod ever leaves the graveyard though, he will be in danger, for the man who killed his parents, Jack, is still out there. This doesn't stop Bod from meeting new friends and having new experiences though.
The audiobook was narrated by the author, who did an excellent job. I listened to the audiobook in one day, as I ran errands and did my chores, as it was so easy to listen to and become entirely immersed in the story. Neil Gaiman is truly such a masterful, effortless writer, and I recognize this is aimed at middle-grade readers, but I think it's true of all his books. They're filled with familiar but curious world-building that feel accessible to any reader, even if you're not typically into fantasy or the supernatural. His writing is inviting and asks you to make a cuppa and stay a while.
I highly recommend this, and any of NG's works. What a lovely way to spend an afternoon, enveloped in his fictional worlds.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Death, Violence, Death of parent, and Murder