Reviewed by inlibrisveritas on
This is my second Neil Gaiman novel, and my first audiobook by him…and yes he actually reads it himself!
The Ocean at the End of the Lane takes on a very contemporary approach and slowly adds in that fairy tale feel and I mean classic fairy tale, not the fluff that Disney serves. It very much feels like a children’s story meant for adults, and I think that is my main draw to Gaiman’s work. I love the whimsy that he manages to mix with darker plot elements. I loved that it focused on the main character as a kid, and held onto those childlike emotions even when the content becomes more graphic. Seeing as I’ve only read two Gaiman books I find myself unsure of what to expect when I pick one up. I know I’ll get a book with his signature bedtime story style, but the content is always something I wonder about and Ocean at the End of the Lane was so wildly different than I what I had expected.
The story is incredibly short, but I never wanted it to end especially since I had Gaiman himself narrating the audiobook. His voice is like a more soothing Alan Rickman, and honestly I could listen to his voice all day…which I did and then pouted when the audiobook ended. His a fantastic reader. If you’ve already read the book, then I still urge you to find or borrow the audio edition because he brings his own characters to life in a way only an author can.
Reading updates
- Started reading
- 3 February, 2015: Finished reading
- 3 February, 2015: Reviewed