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The Graveyard Book Read-Along*

59 Comments


(Image, sans text, a creation by our 2012 R.I.P. artist, Gothicrow)

We are mere days away from the beginning of October, the final month of this year’s R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril event. And with the onset of October begins the second of our R.I.P. group reads, The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. Not only is this one of my favorite Gaiman books, it is one of my favorite books in general:

The short story structure of the chapters.

The overarching coming-of-age exploration.

The whimsy and sentiment that is perhaps unexpected in a story set in a graveyard amongst the dead.

I adore this book.

I look forward to exploring in greater detail why that is the case. There are a number of you who have expressed interest in joining this read-along, some of whom have not had the most positive experience with Gaiman’s work and/or this particular book. I welcome the interaction we will have from those who love (or will love) the book as well as those who do/will not. It promises to be an engaging discourse.

If you will follow along I will briefly outline the reading plan and talk about some other fun things I plan to add to our Graveyard Book Read-Along.

*you may also listen to the audio book (which I plan to do this time around) because a) it is ‘reading’ in my book and b) Neil Gaiman’s narration of this story is just wonderful.

Although this is a Young Adult book and can be consumed with great alacrity, I am setting up a modest reading plan that will allow for savoring the story, at the very least, in our discussion of it. I am proposing the following:

Begin reading anytime between immediately and October 1st.

Read Chapters 1-3:

How Nobody Came to the Graveyard
The New Friend
The Hounds of God

from October 1st through October 6th. Post your thoughts on these chapters on Sunday, October 7th.

Read Chapters 4-6:

The Witch’s Headstone
Danse Macabre
Interlude: The Convocation
Nobody Owens’ School Days

from October 8th through October 13th. Post your thoughts on these chapters on Sunday, October 14th.

Read Chapters 7-8:

Every Man Jack
Leavings and Partings

from October 14th through October 20th. Post your thoughts on these final chapters/the book on Sunday, October 14th.

I will not be posing specific questions but will have a Mr. Linky in my discussion post each week for you to post links to your discussions. And as always, those without blogs or who don’t want to do blog posts can always post your thoughts in the comments of each week’s post.

You are free each week to talk about what you liked/disliked about each chapter, what impressions you have, what the story reminds you of, whatever! Be as detailed or as succinct as you want to be. Spin off into wherever the stories that week take you. And be sure to come by here each week, leave your link, and go visit the other read-along participants to see what they had to say.
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Additionally, I would like to propose a couple of related activities that are not required but that I would love you to participate in. I want to give away some prints from Gothicrow and I thought a fun way to do that would be to do a drawing out of the names of those who participate in these blog events. You do not have to be participating in the Read-Along to take part in either or both of these activities.

1. A Grave Tale

As ‘graveyards’ are the theme of this book and we will be in the month of October, I am proposing that anyone who wants to participate puts up a post on Wednesday, Oct 10th that has a ‘graveyard’ theme. It may be you writing about books or films set in graveyards that strike your fancy, it may be posting images of graveyards that you find around the ‘net that excite you and/or artist profiles of people who work in a ‘graveyard’ motif. It could be writing about famous graveyards that you would like to visit or about real-life scary graveyard experiences you’ve had as an adult or child. The choices are wide open! I’ll post a Mr. Linky on my entry for you to link yours (or again use the comments if you don’t have a blog) and I’ll do a drawing for a lucky individual to get your choice of one of Gothicrow’s prints.

2. I don’t want to grow up

“Coming of Age” can be defined a few different ways and I know my definition is certainly more broad and would probably more accurately be called “tales about growing up”. At any rate, I’ve been wanting to post about why these stories, be they in book or film form, still hold such great meaning to me as I sit here nearing my mid-40’s and I thought it might be fun to open this one up to everyone too. If you want to participate, simply post about the “growing up/coming of age” theme in whatever way you want, on Wednesday, October 17th. It could be essay thoughts on this theme or a list of favorite books/films that fit the broad definition of ‘growing up/coming of age’ that you would like to write about, or a particular favorite book or film or again anything that you are inspired to write. Again I’ll be drawing for an individual to win a choice of a Gothicrow print.

You can participate in one or both of these. Or of course neither. 🙂 Either way, I’m looking forward to it.

As I close this, if you want to participate in The Graveyard Book Read-Along, please sign up here. You don’t have to do an entry post, I just want to have a list of participants so that I can be sure to visit your blogs. I look forward to sharing Nobody Owens’ journey with you.

59 thoughts on “The Graveyard Book Read-Along*”

    1. Great! Glad you are going to join us. Always nice to move another book off the TBR pile.

  2. still out on whether I will be joining the read-along, but I love the addition of these “related activities”! genius!

    1. I hope you’ll consider joining in on the extra curricular activities. 🙂

  3. I do not have a blog but would love to join this read-along. I have listened to The Graveyard Book before and this is a wonderful excuse to listen to it again. Will that be alright?

    1. Yes indeed. I am listening to it as well. Love hearing Gaiman read this story. I need to edit this post to let everyone know that audio is cool.

      1. Reading this book is fun; but listening to it read by Gaiman is even funner. Authors who read their own books does not always work; BUT Gaiman reading The Graveyard Book totally ROCKS!!!!

        1. Yes, Gaiman sets a high bar for other authors, that is for sure. He is such a natural storyteller.

  4. Hi Carl
    I read this very recently so probably won’t reread but will definitely be reading your thoughts and making comments.
    Your other two activities sound interesting and fun. I’ll have to put my thinking cap on for that.
    Thanks as always
    Lynn 😀

    1. Yes, I do hope you participate in the other ones, that would be fun. And do join in on the conversation!

  7. When you did the Neverwhere read-along I didn’t have the book so I couldn’t participate but then I found it not long ago. Now I don’t have The Graveyard Book but I would love to be a part of this read-along. Methinks a visit to the bookstore is due this weekend and maybe I’ll be lucky enough to find it.
    I love Gaiman’s short stories, I think they are amazing, as for his novels, it may take some time to convince me but I’m not giving up.
    I finished my review for The Mistery of Crickley Hall, my first book for the R.I.P event. It was great!

    1. They should have it, in the YA section of the store most likely. Given that it is a Newbery winner I think most stores would keep it in stock. Would be great if you could read it with us!

      If you like his short stories then you might enjoy this as it really does have a short story feel at times.

      Look forward to reading your review of Crickley Hall. I’m way behind on reading RIP reviews and need to catch up. 🙂

  8. That is so much fun! I need to start thinking about what I am going to write/post etc.
    I am going to also participate in the read along. I read this book a very long time ago and really enjoyed it, it will be great to chat about it with everyone.

    1. I’m glad you are joining us for this stuff, Elisa and look forward to your thoughts on the re-read.

  9. The only interaction I’ve had with Gaiman’s work is with The Facts in the Case of the Departure of Miss Finch, which I didn’t enjoy very much, but I still look forward to this read-along. I picked up the book today, even! I can’t wait to start it.

    1. I actually like that story a great deal, but then I’m also a big fan of the Frank Frazetta image that inspired the story in the first place. I’m glad you have the book and are ready to dive in. I started listening to the audio yesterday as I couldn’t wait any longer.

    1. I thought it was high time for a re-read, Morag. I’m happy you’ll be joining in to do the same.

  11. wooohooo! I’ve been waiting for this one. The book has been in my office for weeks now, and it’s been so hard not to open it! Okay, count me in and I like the graveyard idea. Since I walk through a graveyard every day with my dog (it isn’t as creepy as it sounds–well maybe it is) I should be able to come up with something.

    1. The wait is finally over! I’ll be interested in seeing how you feel about this one as we read it. I am of course hoping you enjoy it, but will be excited to talk about it either way.

    1. Yes, get those kids to give you your birthday present back! You’ll enjoy this one, I think.

    1. I hope that is an easy process for you, would love to have you join us.

      1. Good news–I pulled it off the shelf at my library this morning. 🙂 I got lucky that it was on the shelf at the one I usually go to Saturday morning anyway…

  16. My husband bought me the book for my birthday a few years ago, and this is as good a time as any to read it. I don’t feel like I can commit to any big reading challenges, but this might help get me back into the habit. Glad to see you are still in the ‘sphere 🙂

    1. Thanks Marina. Yep, still hanging around here. Glad you are going to dust off the birthday present and join us. It is a pretty quick read too and I hope you like it.

  17. I’ll be joining in to discuss but I’ve already finished reading the book today as I need to write up my post for the Estella Society this weekend (which will go up on October 15th). Oh, it was so fabulous to spend some time with Bod and Silas once again! I think I love this book more than I did after first read and first listen!

    1. I get new things out of it each time I read/listen to it. Different parts stand out to me, speak to me. Look forward to you joining in on the discussion and also look forward to reading your post on the ES website.

  19. I’ve been wanting to read this, and the read along sounds like the perfect opportunity to do so. I’ll probably be doing the audio book as well. I look forward to the journey.

    1. The audio book is so great Brie. Can’t wait for your thoughts.

    1. And these ones won’t have the pressure of a passing grade, lol!

    1. That is great, Jim. I’m so glad you are joining us in reading it. Hope all is well with you.

    1. I hope so too, Victoria. Lets hope for conscientious people who will turn the book back in quickly.

  23. I haven’t read this book yet so this is a perfect opportunity for me to do so. I’ll be listening to the audiobook. It’s loaded on my mp3 player and ready to go.

    1. I hope you enjoy it Leslie. Neil’s reading of the story is just so perfect. It is fun to get the author’s emphasis when listening to the story and he is such a good narrator.

      1. So far it’s wonderful. Neil is the perfect narrator! It was very difficult to stop after chapter 3 but I’m sticking with the schedule.

  24. I’m so excited to finally read this book. I remember Gaiman was in NYC for the release of this book doing a reading and I couldn’t get into the city on a weekday evening. So I’ve wanted to read this one for a long time!!!

    1. I’m so sorry to hear that you missed seeing Gaiman when this came out. I got to see him on his tour for the release of Anansi Boys and that memory is a big highlight.

  25. I picked up the audio from the library, going to start it tomorrow. I just finished a Dean Koontz book today, so perfect timing. I didn’t realize it was read by him till I stuck it in my player today, bonus!!!!

    1. It is a bonus, Ginny, as the narration is lovely. Glad you are joining in.

  27. I read this for the first time this past summer. I loved it so much! I planned on writing a review for my blog, but it was such a wonderful book that I wanted to give it a great treatment. Then I waited too long to give it justice, so I am thrilled to read again now!

    Maybe I’ll write something this time around, who knows?

  28. Okay, I just want to clarify so I don’t post on the wrong day. You post says… “from October 14th through October 20th. Post your thoughts on these final chapters/the book on Sunday, October 14th.”

    We’re posting our final thoughts on the 21st, right? Sorry, I just wanted to make sure! Thanks Carl!

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