The Graveyard Book

by Neil Gaiman

[Amber (The Literary Phoenix)]

I have been just dying to listen to The Graveyard Book again this year – I’ve been thinking about Bod and his friends for a couple months. So, I figured, why not October?

I just still love love love this book. I think it’s got to be my favorite Gaiman novel. Bod is so likable and watching him grow up is heartwarming. I love how all the little “anecdotes” ultimately work together at the end to tie up the story. And I love the side characters – Liza Hempstock is a favorite, and I like the Sleer. I very much want Liza’s full story.

The end is so heartbreaking though. I don’t know if I’ve quite digested it before, but Bod’s goodbyes just make me sad… how horrible to be able to go home, but it’s only a place and not home. For a simple little book this is so appealing to all ages, and I cannot recommend it enough – really, it’s quite high on my list of favorites.
_______________

Original Rating: 5 Stars (8/7/17)

I quite liked this book.

I go back and forth a lot on Neil Gaiman. I like his ideas, but not always his writing, and sometimes his characters are grand, but sometimes not. I adore [b:Stardust|16793|Stardust|Neil Gaiman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1459127484l/16793._SY75_.jpg|3166179], for example, but could never really get into [b:American Gods|30165203|American Gods (American Gods, #1)|Neil Gaiman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1462924585l/30165203._SY75_.jpg|1970226]. [b:The Ocean at the End of the Lane|15783514|The Ocean at the End of the Lane|Neil Gaiman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1497098563l/15783514._SY75_.jpg|21500681] lies somewhere in the middle. But I LOVED The Graveyard Book.

Bod is a perfectly likable character. He is sweet and endearing, while also being very prone to trouble and doing the very opposite of what he has been told. I liked Sylas. I liked Liza Hempstock. I love the fact that there are three different books with the Hempstock women in them, and I like how that ultimately plays into the story from [b:The Ocean at the End of the Lane|15783514|The Ocean at the End of the Lane|Neil Gaiman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1497098563l/15783514._SY75_.jpg|21500681]. I like that Bod is always genuinely apologetic.

I like the world that Gaiman builds. It is just one step over the line from ordinary to curious. He's very good at the aspect of "just beyond". Just beyond the gate, just beyond the wall, just down the lane... there is a world of magic.

All in all, this is an excellent book. The ending is sweet and sad, and I won't give it away - you'll just have to read for yourself.