A review by rachelditty
The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

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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