Scan barcode
A review by pagesplotsandpints
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
5.0
4.5 stars
Well, this was my first Neil Gaiman book and I LOVED it! Bod was quite adorable. I loved Silas. I loved how it was dark and light all at the same time. BEAUTIFUL narration by Neil Gaiman and I can't wait to read/listen to more of his!!
Thanks to Alyssa for the recommendation!
Full review originally posted on The Book Addict's Guide: When I asked for recommendations for audiobooks -- especially one more geared toward Halloween & Spooky themes -- naturally Alyssa was more than happy to suggest Neil Gaiman to me, specifically steering me towards THE GRAVEYARD BOOK. Admittedly, I was a bit nervous because it was my first Neil Gaiman book EVER, which is kind of a big deal. I clearly had nothing to worry about because 1) Alyssa is a Super Librarian and is excellent at recommending books to people. 2) She already knows my reading taste and what I would like, and 3) I'm sure Neil Gaiman fans would agree with the simple statement that... It's Neil Gaiman.
The thing I loved the most about THE GRAVEYARD BOOK was how delightful the macabre was. For Bod, the graveyard is his home. The dead are his friends and family and being dead is commonplace and everyday. His normal lessons include learning about creatures like ghouls and night gaunts as well as learning how to "fade". Bod has the freedom of the graveyard which means he can travel wherever he'd like within in the confines of the graveyard. It was all perfectly normal to Bod and felt nice and comfortable to cozy up to a graveyard! I really loved seeing everything through Bod's point of view and how really honestly delightful ghosts and spirits can be! (Since, you know... I'm a big old scaredy cat.)
I absolutely loved the different sides of the graveyard we get to see as well -- It's not just ghosts and spirits who surround Bod, but Silas who is quite the mystery and sort of falls into a category all on his own, ghouls, night gaunts, witches -- and the danger of the living as well. Bod is in the graveyard for his own protection against one specific living person... The Man Jack. He's also quite the interesting character and there is something so intriguingly dangerous and horrific about him that I was instantly drawn in to how he propelled Bod's story and how their paths would ultimately have to cross again at some point in the future!
One thing I appreciated the most, I think, was how much of the book focused on Bod's relationships. He finds a home with his new parents, Mr. & Mrs. Owens and with his guardian Silas. He learns how to make friends in two different ways with Scarlet and with Liza. He learns how to interact with people -- even though most of them are not even living -- and I really feel like his relationships pull him through the tough spots and he learns to rely on the people who care about him.
I know this was technically probably a children's or MG novel, but it was so lovely and really all ages can easily enjoy it! I'd love to hear from people who have already read THE GRAVEYARD BOOK! It felt delightfully magical and just really, really special to me. It was about a boy who grew up in a graveyard so you expect it to be creepy, but it actually really warmed my heart. (And it was appropriately dark at times too!)
Well, this was my first Neil Gaiman book and I LOVED it! Bod was quite adorable. I loved Silas. I loved how it was dark and light all at the same time. BEAUTIFUL narration by Neil Gaiman and I can't wait to read/listen to more of his!!
Thanks to Alyssa for the recommendation!
Full review originally posted on The Book Addict's Guide: When I asked for recommendations for audiobooks -- especially one more geared toward Halloween & Spooky themes -- naturally Alyssa was more than happy to suggest Neil Gaiman to me, specifically steering me towards THE GRAVEYARD BOOK. Admittedly, I was a bit nervous because it was my first Neil Gaiman book EVER, which is kind of a big deal. I clearly had nothing to worry about because 1) Alyssa is a Super Librarian and is excellent at recommending books to people. 2) She already knows my reading taste and what I would like, and 3) I'm sure Neil Gaiman fans would agree with the simple statement that... It's Neil Gaiman.
The thing I loved the most about THE GRAVEYARD BOOK was how delightful the macabre was. For Bod, the graveyard is his home. The dead are his friends and family and being dead is commonplace and everyday. His normal lessons include learning about creatures like ghouls and night gaunts as well as learning how to "fade". Bod has the freedom of the graveyard which means he can travel wherever he'd like within in the confines of the graveyard. It was all perfectly normal to Bod and felt nice and comfortable to cozy up to a graveyard! I really loved seeing everything through Bod's point of view and how really honestly delightful ghosts and spirits can be! (Since, you know... I'm a big old scaredy cat.)
I absolutely loved the different sides of the graveyard we get to see as well -- It's not just ghosts and spirits who surround Bod, but Silas who is quite the mystery and sort of falls into a category all on his own, ghouls, night gaunts, witches -- and the danger of the living as well. Bod is in the graveyard for his own protection against one specific living person... The Man Jack. He's also quite the interesting character and there is something so intriguingly dangerous and horrific about him that I was instantly drawn in to how he propelled Bod's story and how their paths would ultimately have to cross again at some point in the future!
One thing I appreciated the most, I think, was how much of the book focused on Bod's relationships. He finds a home with his new parents, Mr. & Mrs. Owens and with his guardian Silas. He learns how to make friends in two different ways with Scarlet and with Liza. He learns how to interact with people -- even though most of them are not even living -- and I really feel like his relationships pull him through the tough spots and he learns to rely on the people who care about him.
I know this was technically probably a children's or MG novel, but it was so lovely and really all ages can easily enjoy it! I'd love to hear from people who have already read THE GRAVEYARD BOOK! It felt delightfully magical and just really, really special to me. It was about a boy who grew up in a graveyard so you expect it to be creepy, but it actually really warmed my heart. (And it was appropriately dark at times too!)