(*Gasp* Is that an image of a ghostly hand, wearing the One Ring, on the cover?!?!)
The Graveyard Book ~Neil Gaiman
–published 2008
–320 pages, HarperCollins
–5/5 stars 
If I had the opportunity to script it myself I could not have come up with a more perfect way to spend the first day of what is arguably my favorite month of the year: reading Neil Gaiman’s long anticipated new young adult novel, The Graveyard Book in its entirety. I started shortly after midnight, October 1st, and it was my companion throughout this work and fun-filled day. For all intents and purposes the book did not leave my side all day. It waited patiently for me on the bedside table as I slept. It traveled with me to work to sit in my office for a brief shared lunch. It traveled with me to my off-site meeting and then back to a serendipitous reading spot. It went with me to the comic shop on request to say ‘hello’ to my friend Jeff and it traveled back home with me for one enchanted evening. And now it sits again by my bedside awaiting a new journey…but more on that to come.
I have only been disappointed with Neil Gaiman once and that was a collaborative effort, Interworld, which I shared my displeasure in and chose to exercise my right as an uber-fan and pretend that it does not exist. As infrequent as his novels arrive, I tend to worry about whether each succeeding one will be worth the wait. As indicated by my 5-star rating and rare tri-moon award I have chosen not to keep you in suspense–The Graveyard Book is vintage Neil Gaiman.
The book is about a boy, about the living and the dead, and about a graveyard. No other detailed plot description need be given. You should enter this book as unspoiled as you possibly can.
Very early into the pages of the novel I let out an audible sigh of contentment, here, in my very hands, was a true Neil Gaiman story. It was a simple turn of phrase, but I heard it in Neil’s voice and it took me back more than ten years to a moment early in Neverwhere in which I knew my literary life had changed and I had discovered an author who knew just how to write a story for me. We have all had those moments, at least I certainly hope we have. For me it was with Neil Gaiman and Neverwhere and a door opened within me that has never been closed. I changed as a reader and I changed in the way I viewed the world and what I wanted out of the world. That is why I get excited for each and every new Neil Gaiman novel. That is also why I enter into each book with fear and trepidation. I am a faithful worshiper, but I believe I do so with a critical and honest eye. And I am positively glowing with satisfaction over my experience with this book. I feel full, I feel content, and I feel like I have made new life-long friends.
The Graveyard Book, in my opinion, is a perfect book end with Gaiman’s earlier young adult novel, Coraline. I see each as coming-of-age tales, one for girls and now one for boys. And while both books appeal strongly to both sexes, I felt something special about my relationship with Bod, the main character, that I believe comes from my own boyhood memories. In The Graveyard Book, like in Coraline, Neil Gaiman touches on many of the plot threads and themes that draw me emotionally into a story: themes of the importance of a strong familial bond, an interesting variety of truly likeable characters, young love and loss, and the bittersweet taste of growing up. What makes each of these books special is that they are ensconced in an old-fashioned gothic air that gives them an almost timeless quality despite their contemporary references. The Graveyard Book opens in a dark manner and unleashes a dangerous presence that lurks around the edges of even the most happy moments in this story. I will be very interested in seeing if The Graveyard Book echoes ‘the Coraline effect’, which is that adults find it much more terrifying than children do. Don’t misunderstand me, this is a perfectly acceptable book for the age range it is categorized for, 9-12, and like all young adult books that manage to rise above their intended audience it is very engaging for adults. Neil Gaiman simply knows how to write scary stories for children in a way that awakens a latent fear in adults. It is delicious!
It is the characters that Neil Gaiman creates in his books that cause those books to become life-long friends. You cannot help walking away from a Neil Gaiman novel wanting to meet these folks in real life, and The Graveyard Book is no exception. Characters range from eccentric to terrifying and everywhere in between and I loved them all. This is especially true with Bod Owens. The reader is allowed to grow up with Bod and that growing up is glorious and scary and painful and rewarding, just like growing up in real life is. One of the reasons I am a fan of films like Labyrinth and Mirrormask is that they are so effective at conveying the true melancholy of leaving childhood behind for adulthood. That same melancholy is a part of The Graveyard Book and is an emotion that gave me a much deeper bond with the story. As I closed that final page I wasn’t just tearful because the book was over (yes, I cried. I am a sap!) but was tearful because Bod starts to grow right from the very beginning of the tale and although my physical connection with his story lasted but a handful of hours I felt that growth and I shed bittersweet tears because of it.
Not every author can successfully navigate the waters of young adult fiction and produce something that works on many levels for readers at all different stages of growth and maturity. Neil Gaiman can and Neil Gaiman does. When Gaiman is at his best, on top of his game as he is in The Graveyard Book, one gets the sense that there is something lingering there, just under the surface, that he is not quite telling you. That feeling is the delicious ecstasy that makes Neil Gaiman my favorite living author. Whether real or simply well-crafted you get the sense that references and characters are based on real, perhaps even forgotten, history and mythology. Writing in that way is truly a gift and I must express my most sincere thanks to Neil Gaiman for another story that will join the elite list of books I re-read regularly.
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I mentioned a ‘serendipitous reading spot’ in the introduction to this review. It was a truly autumnal October day here today with temperatures in the mid 60’s and a breeze that made everything feel delightfully cool. I was driving home from work this afternoon looking for a place to park for an hour or so to read before heading over to the comic shop for my weekly visit. I was reviewing and rejecting various locales in my head when I turned a corner on my familiar route home and had a ‘ta-da’, choirs-singing, thought: the graveyard! We have a wonderful old cemetery in town with its share of ancient, gothic stones and I pulled in and parked under the tree pictured above, opened up all the windows in my truck, and read The Graveyard Book in the graveyard for a little over an hour. This may seem like a ridiculously pretentious act but I assure you it was not planned and it felt innocent and right so I had to do it. I will admit it was a bit pretentious to take snapshots of the book around some of the graves, but I came back and did that activity later in the evening so as not to mar my reading experience. 🙂
_________________________
Many months ago I took a calculated risk and pre-ordered a collectible copy of The Graveyard Book from Subterranean Press. Now that I have read, and loved, the novel I am glad that I did so. I also used the $20 Amazon gift certificate I won the other day for Haiku? Review! to order the audio version of this book today. I did so anticipating a trip to Nebraska in a couple of weeks to help my parents move, knowing that my wife Mary adores having Neil read to her as much as I do and I cannot wait to hear the story and to experience it with her for the first time. So….
October 1st through October 7th is Buy a Friend a Book Week, a wonderful activity started a few years ago in the blogosphere. Many bloggers participate by holding a random giveaway of a particular book during the week. I have decided to do the same, especially as it gives me an opportunity to give another R.I.P. related prize away.
Do you want a chance to win my brand new copy of The Graveyard Book? (And believe me, it is brand new. I long ago developed the admittedly psychotic ability to read any book and leave it looking untouched). Simply use the word “grave” in your comment below and I’ll throw your name in the hopper for the random drawing. If you use “grave” in some bad pun manner I’ll enter your name twice!!!
This is going to be a quick turn-around drawing. I want to get this book in your hands as quick as possible so that you too can enjoy it!!! The drawing will close at the witching hour this Friday night. I will announce the winner via group email and in the comments of this post on Saturday morning when I wake up and will ship the book out that day (provided the winner responds with their address quickly). This is not only a wonderful story but the book has a beautiful cover and is full of Dave McKean illustrations that perfectly complement the tale being told. Do not delay, enter now for your chance to win!!!
(For other Buy a Friend a Book Giveaways please visit Nymeth here as she is keeping a list of other contests.)
For other people’s thoughts on The Graveyard Book (I’ll add yours if you leave me a link):
1. Kailana
2. Chris
3. Darla
4. Heather
5. Nymeth
6. Stacey
One Last Thing:
Neil Gaiman is currently on a book tour. At each stop he is reading a chapter, the reading is being videotaped, and when he is done there will be an entire live video version of Neil reading The Graveyard Book. The videos are going up immediately and can be found on the Mouse Circus site here.
My copy’s coming in the mail, so I don’t need to enter the contest, but I just wanted to say I have that same psychotic ability to read a book and leave it pristine! My mom won’t read my books anymore unless I got them used, because I can’t help the pained facial expressions.
Eva: My wife feels the same way as your mother!!! Ha! 🙂
I read the grave news about having to work to get an entry by writing a grave response. It is a grave situation and inspiration has left me. Taking aboard the gravity of the situation I am going to give it my best try.
So I gravely write – what a damn good prize – one that you would take to your grave 🙂
After the grave commment left by the grave commenter before me, what more can I add to be grave enough? 😛
Kay, Sally: That’s the spirit!!! 🙂
How freakin’ cool is this: I went outside just now, it is nearly 1 a.m., it is 51 degrees, no wind, starry night and I heard an owl hooting. I am not sure that I have ever heard a live owl before! It was incredible. I just stood out there and closed my eyes and listened to it call. Heavenly!
The situation is grave: I want this book!
Wow! you’re fast! I picked it up yesterday, can’t wait to read it, but I’ve got to finish Frankenstein first. Heh.
No need to enter me…of course I have a copy already! I’m only 150 pages in right now, but like you, I knew that I was in love with the first few pages. It’s wonderful so far and I don’t want it to end! I’m kicking myself in the ass right now for not getting the SubPress edition, but I’ll deal :p I’m just glad to have my copy…I got this huge grin on my face when I saw it in the bookstore and actually got goosebumps.
Fantastic, it’s good to hear it is as good as we have all been anticipating.
Thanks for the fantastic non-spoilery review Carl as it was a bit of a shock, when I realised the grave news that it isn’t released here in the UK until Oct 31st!
To say I can’t wait for this one is a ridiculous understatement.
Unfortunately there was a cock-up with my order and it looks like I won’t be getting the copy I ordered from the US. I think I’m going to wait for the UK release and have The Graveyard Book as a delicious birthday treat (my birthday is in the first week of November).
So glad it turned out to be a fantastic book. And I’m very excited to get my SP copy, as I also took the calculated risk and preordered one a while back.
A brave knave should not misbehave if the slave from the cave forgave the wave that sent him to his grave.
Guess who is bored at work already this morning!
Tis a grave misfortune that I have read so little gaiman!!
Grave! Just wanted to be sure that my entry was counted ;).
I am also gravely sorry that I have to wait until the end of the month to get my hand on a copy – especially as all the reviews so far have been so positive!
I greatly admire you for being able to part with books – I plan on taking all of mine to the grave! 😉
no surprises here! The shock would have been if you didn’t like this book! (and that’s an impossibility!)
Graveity-grave grave grave. Too much? Okay, it would be a grave mistake to overlook this comment.
I would be gravely disappointed if I don’t receive this book.
My reader’s soul will be in grave peril if I don’t get my hands on a copy of this book right soon! I’ve been looking forward to it for months now, but wasn’t quite sure I wanted to take the plunge and get a hardcover. After reading all the wonderful reviews floating around the blogosphere, I think that was a grave error indeed.
It is a grave day when I have to enter a contest. Actually, I love contests, but the word grave is not the easiest word to use in casual conversation. It sort of has a negative connotation.
If I win this book, it will go to my husband for the anniversary of when we met… 21 years ago this Halloween! Do I get extra points?
Oh please enter me, you and nymeth have given me a taste for a new reading topic and I like it a lot!
I will add you on my BAFAB on my blog
Have a nice day
Madeleine: Come back, you’re missing something gravely important for a contest entry!
Cecilia: Only if Fate has a sentimental side, because its just names in a bowl and drawing one out for me.
Memory: Definitely worth taking the plunge for a hardcover if you don’t manage to win this one. Especially with all the Borders coupons that come up. Also online it is much cheaper than buying in the store.
Sarah: It would be a grave disappointment, for sure.
Chris@: Did you say something? 😉
Deslily: It would have been a shock, most certainly, but all authors can write a stinker. I’m just glad this wasn’t the case with this book.
Jenn: It is a rarity, believe me, but makes perfect sense since I’ll soon own another hardcover copy of this plus will have it on audio. The fact that I could give it away was honestly part of the reason behind buying it now rather than scouring harder for the audio in town.
Peta: Maybe that wait will be shorter if the Hand of Fate is kind! 🙂
Mariel: Yes indeed, you must be bored, ha! Very fun, and yes, buy more Gaiman.
Quixotic: Of course I expect a set of fun pictures of your copy of the SP edition once you get it. I hope we don’t have to wait too long.
Bart: That is shocking considering Neil is English! You think theirs would come out at the same time.
Chris: I was pretty giddy when I saw it in the store on Tuesday as well. I was so worried that somehow my local store wouldn’t get their shipment in on time or something stupid. I was getting worried too because the first 3 or 4 copies of the book I picked up had been damaged in shipping, so I was glad to finally find a pristine copy. I’m glad you are enjoying it. I too didn’t want it to end but once I went down that road and knew I had time to finish it last night there was no stopping. I’m looking forward to two more upcoming journeys with Bod, once with the audio over the read-a-thon weekend as I travel and I plan on watching the videos here very soon as well.
Stacey: I had told myself all along that any reading would be put aside once this book came out. Thankfully I am only a few pages into The Historian so I didn’t really feel torn about the decision.
3m: a grave situation it is!
This sounds so good. I would love a chance to win.
With all the “grave” puns above, how can I compete?!! I’m anxiously awaiting with one foot in the grave …
It is of “grave importance” :} that I win this book, otherwise I will defintely buy it.
Ok, there
again a good day to you Carl
Grave ;0)
a grave tale ;0)
You should really see my grave looking yard ;0)
I went to the bookstore yesterday only to find out the grave situation where they were not in possession of the book! Thanks!!!
You don’t need to enter me in the contest, I have a copy already. I am so glad it is good. And I didn’t notice the “hand” on the cover. You pointing it out gave mea little chill!
Please don’t enter me, my copy is on it’s way. I just wanted to say I’ve pulled into graveyards to park and read and it is so very peaceful!
Next weekend, I’m doing a photography shoot in a cemetery of a couple who got married a year ago and want to dress up in their wedding finery and have some spooky shots taken :-)_
I have never read any of Gaiman’s books and I think this grave situation needs to be rectified immediately, by winning the book of course 🙂
It would be a grave mistake on my part if I did not try to win this book….Surely it would send me to an early grave. I mean as it is I already have one foot on a banana peel the other in the grave.
Thanks Carl!
I went to my local library this week to request two books, Joe Hill’s Twentieth Century Ghosts and The Graveyard Book, (seeing as how it’s October now!) but, alas, my librarians are gravely lacking in their ability to order interesting new books to read and i am now on an inter-library loan list for those two coveted tomes. Such a grave situation for me! that i humbly request to be included in your drawing. ^_^
This book looks good, I have never read any of his books. What a grave situation!
Only yesterday I’d decided to spend my $5 worth of Borders Bucks on buying this book. However, since you’re giving away this one away for free it would be a grave mistake if I didn’t enter this contest. Your review has inspired me and now that I finally have “Caroline” in my hands, this would be the perfect followup. Gosh, this month is turning out to be delicious indeed.
With grave intent,
J.S. Peyton
It’s a very grave situation. I want this book badly. But so many people have entered. Perhaps a few will find they are nearer the grave than they thought. Bwa hahahahahaha!
Oh, sounds like a winner – something I would GRAVE-itate towards. Please pick me all mighty random number generator!
I have never read Gaiman either, although I have always planned to. This would be great to read on the GRAVEyard shift =)
Does “Grave-y” count? Because the way i see it, this giveaway is as good as biscuits and ‘grave’y. I know I’m stretching it a bit, but well, grave has been used every way else. LOL!!!!
Wow, I hope I can win! One entry would be nice, but two would just be grave-y
🙂
htw
How much do I love that you took a photo of the book in a graveyard? How much? That is fantastic. Thanks for making me smile.
I am so not a punny person, so I gravely say I will not qualify for this. But I LOVE the photo. 😉
I have a grave foreboding that I will not win the draw. Sniff.
Seeing pictures of the book in a graveyard totally cracked me up. It would have been a grave mistake on your part to miss that opportunity! I’d really love the oppurtunity to win this book for free, you can bet it would be read ASAP!
BTW! I too, have that strange ability to keep paperbacks pristine after reading. I’ve got several that have been read and re-read well up into the double and triple digits that just barely have some minor wear. It annoys my mother to no end, because when she borrows a book, she does her absolute best to return it in the condition it was loaned. lol
This is a serious contest. I don’t think some people appreciate the GRAVE-ity of the task.
It just shows you far my foot is in the grave when I can’t even follow the rules in my first post! 🙂 I am getting a bit slow-minded in my old age.
It would be a grave situation if I missed this book. 🙂 Thanks for the review and the contest, Carl! I’ve finished American Gods, now I just need to sit down and write up my review. But life is just galloping along at a grave pace and I haven’t taken the time to do it. I have to make the time to do it.
I was GRAVEly disappointed when the Subterranean Press edition of Coraline I ordered from Amazon UK never turned up in my mailbox, and even GRAVElier when instead of a replacement they gave me a refund, because the book was now out of stock. Only Neil Gaiman’s latest could lift me from my GRAVE of sorrow…
Yay! I can’t wait to read it. I know…he was inn NYC the other day (Sept. 30) for the book promotion and I couldn’t go because of school. Darn it all 🙁
I haven’t read any Gaiman book, which is weird because he seems like a writer who I’d love. Graveyards typically freak me out. Just thinking about them and all those graves makes me shudder, but this book looks like a good read.
~ Popin
Sounds like a good book! It would be a GRAVE mistake for me to pass up this contest 🙂 I love that you read part of it in a graveyard; awesome pictures!
I just got my copy today, fresh and new from the library processing dept! But I have to say I LOVE the cover on your special copy. Very, very nice. I’ll be back to read your review after I’ve finished the book!
Please enter me in the drawing. I am gravely and funereally interested! ahem.
It is my grave opinion that NEVERWHERE is the Gaiman I judge other Gaiman books by. It was my first and I was in grave love.
And I like Ruby’s best. Too punny for words.
I feel gravely distressed at the punning above (jk).
I am gravely distressed at the punning above (hehe jk)
I am soooooo excited that I get to see Neil in San Francisco this weekend (and get a signed copy of the book!). I’ll post about the reading probably Sunday evening or Monday. I too adored Neverwhere and most especially American Gods. I was one of the adults scared by Coraline, no mean feat since I seem to be frustratingly immune to most ‘scary’ adult books anymore.
I love contests and winning would be just like extra “grave-y” on the mashed potatoes of my day.
damn! guess I should’ve read the prior comments and I would’ve seen that Ruby already used up the “grave-y”! Grave mistake on my part!
Methinks it too grave a task to comment on all of the deathly puns and uses of grave in this post, I’m buried under the weight of my responsibility. I must admit that Jessica’s ‘grave-ity’ really cracked me up and I’m glad to see everyone having fun with this.
I gravely need, okay want this book, I have three young kids and I gravely need an escape, but I’m gravely broke at the moment and am unable to buy it as of right now because the debt collectors are gravely looking for me!
😮
I have a grave desire to be entered into this drawing for this cool sounding Gaiman book. But next time I do this remind me to NOT read everyone else’s comment before attemping my own!
Don’t enter me in the giveaway as there’s a copy on its way to me at last (I had problems similar to Quixotic’s…I wonder if they messed up the orders because they underestimated how well the book would sell?) But anyway, I just wanted to say that when I thought I couldn’t possibly be more excited about this book, you write a review like this!
Nymeth: I am anxiously awaiting your review. I’ve been popping over to your site lately just assuming you had it already and were well into completing it. I’m sorry that isn’t yet the case.
Suey: Yes indeed, best to put on a grave face and not be influenced by others’ comments.
I’ve only read Coraline by Neil Gaiman and I swear I have visions of creepy button eyes engraved in my mind – scary 🙂
This book sounds wonderful. I love the pics!
“He spake well who said that graves are the footprints of angels.”
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
(…and he probably said it on a page unscathed.)
Bellezza: Well said!
Iliana: No button eyes here, but beware of the Sleer…
After much sober and grave reflection, I believe this book should definitely come home to me.
Arrgh! I can’t figure out how to make a grave accent in the comments section. A grave situation indeed.
I really want to read this one, so I’d love to be entered in your contest. I have a very grave event coming up in my life… my birthday is coming up next week and I’m not afraid to exploit it if it helps me win a contest as grave as this one 🙂
Kim: Good for you, pulling out the birthday card! Kudos! And happy early birthday!
Teresa: a grave accent?? Hmmm…maybe with a lot of ‘r’s? That might just sound all piratey!
Framed: I’m glad to hear a serious voice in all this nonsense. 😉
Hi Carl, great review! I’ve been waiting for this book for the longest time and finally placed an order the moment it’s available in Malaysia. I share your thoughts on InterWorld. I read that one in July this year.
Alice: I left a comment for you on your Interworld review post.
I believe I have done Neil Gaman a grave injustice by not having read any of his books until now and I plan to rectify the situation immediately.
I heard it through the grave vine that you were giving away a Gaiman book!
Wonderful review Carl!
Just last weekend my husband and I wandered around Yanaka Cemetery and the surrounding area, a section of Tokyo that still has some of the older style houses and little mom and pop shops. It’s wonderfully atmospheric and whenever we go there it’s like a little step back in time. And whenever I see a Japanese graveyard I’m always fascinated by how different the graves look compared to Western ones, and some of the traditions involved.
Tanabata: Oh, I bet. I am sure they are wildly different and quite fascinating. While I think I prefer the more Western/European old ancient graves, I am always intrigued by death rituals, the way folks honor their dead, other culture’s ideas of ghost stories, etc.
Kristi: Ugh, can you hear me groaning! 🙂
Mary Beth: You have, yes you have!
Oh, I hope I win. It will be grave news to hear that I didn’t.
Um…let me see…what a perfect way to spend the first day of your grave-orite month of the year with your grave-orite author! Hi-yah, take that! *gives karate chop, loses balance, falls over*
It must be a fantasy-lovers thing…my college roommate got me into it and would let me borrow her books as long as I used the special thumb-bending-back-the-covers technique. The books looked like new, and then once I had it down I continued…
Oh man. I want this book SO BAD!! Gravely, I sit and can’t think of a thing to say!!
My copy came today!!! Guess what I’m doing this weekend??!!? There are so many good things happening this Fall!!!
I hope I didn’t miss the witching hour. 🙁 After reading your review, I’m in grave need of this book!
I might be too late,but in case I’m not, “I need this book,” she gravely said 😀 there, wasn’t that nicely put??? and great review, lovely photos of GRAVEs, and most especially I love how you describe how Neil changed your reading life forever. That really moved me, I understand that passion for particular authors. Hmm, I might have to do a post for this, I shall reflect upon it gravely tonight…..LOL!!!
It is past the witching hour and as promised the results of the random drawing for this book in honor of Buy a Friend a Book Week. So I wrote everyone’s names on a slip of recycled card catalog cards from my wife’s library:
And then I placed them in a place I though was perfectly fitting for R.I.P. III:
After that I mixed them ridiculously thoroughly and at 12:00 a.m.:
I drew the winner, drumroll please:
Congratulations Jessica, send me that address so that I can send you your wonderful new book!!!
And for those who feel like committing hari kari because you didn’t win, you have until October 7th on Chris’s blog to win a copy of this book as well, see his review here.
Congrats to Jessica.
I love the spider! Is it a bowl or is it meant to be a planter? Or something else entirely? Very cool regardless.
Tanabata: I’m sure it could be used for anything, but I believe it is meant to be a candy bowl, which is what is was being used for until drafted for random drawing duty! Not its last this month, by any means.
I LOVE the spider bowl!
Congrats on winning the book, Jessica 🙂
i must say i am very glad to hear that “the graveyard book” is good! as it is for you its sometimes also an anxious wait for me to see if his next book is quite as good as the last one i read.
this sounds absolutely gorgeous and just what i was hoping for. and i really appreciate that you didn’t give anything away and spoke of your experience reading it, which is always so cool to read!
i am especially glad for you, considering that gaiman is THAT writer for you and am so pleased that you have a book that can join the pantheon alongside “neverwhere”.
JP: Hey!!!! Looks whose back from the dead! 🙂 So good to see your name in print! I hope you have a similar experience when you read the book as well. My audio version of it came yesterday and I’ll be excited to experience it with my wife who has not read the book when we travel back to Nebraska in a couple of weeks to help my parents move.
glad to be resurfacing! 😀
i’m sure i will. i think its pretty clear when gaiman is on top form. i can now rest easy and look forward to this one with relaxed anticipation.
you know, i still haven’t listened to a single audio version of one of his books. i went to a book-signing and really enjoyed the way he read his stuff, so thats a treat that i’m really looking forward to!
JP: You definitely need to try some audio versions, they are wonderful. I also recommend this short interview on Wired:
http://blog.wired.com/underwire/2008/10/neil-gaiman-giv.html
I don’t believe that it has any spoilers per se but if it were me I would still read the book before watching.
Well, as promised, here is my mini review for the R.I.P. Challenge, this could either be book five or i could do as Deslily did and count it as R.I.P. Challenge the 3rd ^_^.
I absolutely adored this book. So did my mom & right now my brother has it. It’s definitely making the rounds of the Gist family. I found the format of the chapters to be perfect for reading a chapter a night. It’s like a book full of short stories, that all link together to make up the story of Bod’s young life. I would also really like to have the book read by Neil when that becomes available.
and, inspired by your comment that this was a young boy’s coming of age book & Coraline was a young girls. I got Coraline at the library and read it. It was an eerie, disturbing & queer little story, definitely worth the read, but i preferred The Graveyard Book.
as my mom commented, so…I want to know “What Happens Next!” Let’s hope there is a sequel in the works!
I finished reading The Graveyard book last night and loved it. It was a wonderful coming of age story. Neil struck gold again with this tale and I loved the McKean illustrations. They really added to the atmosphere. I will add my desire along with many others in the comments section above in wanting to see where Bod goes from here. Wonderful review Carl!
My copy should arrive today if Amazon’s two day delivery is on time. I mentioned on Nymeth’s review that I ordered it a long time ago and it was taking forever to come, and guess what had happened? It was sitting my my “save for later” list! Argh.
I think I have said this before, but I love your photos so much. I think your stuff goes into my rotating background folder more often than anything else other than possibly book covers. 🙂
Here’s my review of the book: http://susanflynn.blogspot.com/2008/10/sunday-salon-its-all-about-neil-gaiman.html
and I’ve added you to my post already. Now I can read all your post about the book, and FABULOUS job, Carl, even more I liked your review once I’d read The Graveyard Book. I like how you say you get the feeling there is something under the surface that Neil isn’t saying. Very interesting and I will have to give that some thought. I think I know what you mean. It’s like he’s letting us find out for ourselves,like all the great storytellers do. And I like how you tie Coraline with girls, which I also did, though I stopped at making Graveyard Book a boys book, possibly because I don’t want it to be! I didn’t feel it was particularly, maybe because so many women are part of it. I think because of that – the range of characters – everyone can relate. Well, I read boys adventures when I was a kid – Hardy Boys, etc, so I’m hardly one to be picky about whose book it is! I just like a good story, and that, thankfully, Neil is so very good at writing. I love how you cried at the ending, so did I! Damn it! maybe there’s a part of all of us that wants to leave home and yet, stay and not change. I hated that he lost his ghost skills!! i said to Chris (Stuff) that I started imagining that years later Bod would find as he neared death that he would get his fade and other ghost skills back 🙂
I wholeheartedly agree with your review. I finally read this book last fall and absolutely loved loved loved it.
If you ever get a chance to listen to the audio version I highly recommend it. Hearing Neil read the story makes it even more wonderful.