I've always had a great interest in fantastical and strange things since I was young. Movies like Harry Potter, Lord of The Rings, and Pirates of the I've always had a great interest in fantastical and strange things since I was young. Movies like Harry Potter, Lord of The Rings, and Pirates of the Caribbean are my all-time fav. Although growing up made me realize these tales might only exist in films or novels, in today's monotonous and routine-driven reality, imagining myself as Professor Dumbledore to relax my tense nerves is undoubtedly a great choice.
Neil Gaiman is, in my opinion, absolutely a representative author of new-generation fantasy literature. He has made remarkable contributions not only in fairy tales, fantasy, sci-fi, and children's novels but also through his extraordinary imagination. One of his masterpieces, The Graveyard Book, is a marvel, and this fairy tale novel, The Ocean at the End of the Lane, further showcases his boundless creativity.
Gaiman’s fairy tales always carry a dark, adult perspective. This novel is no exception. I think its cover beautifully captures the novel’s theme - we often believe childhood is bright and innocent, yet deep within the forgotten memories, there are childhood shadows we want to forget.
Spoiler Alert!
The novel is written in the first person. The "I" is a sensitive and introverted 7-year-old boy who loves reading in his favorite corners. He lives in a 3-story house with a large, poorly maintained garden. Despite his parents� financial problems, he lives a peaceful and serene life surrounded by love.
Until 1 day, this peaceful life is disrupted by an miner. The miner's car runs over his kitten, and a few days later, the miner himself dies in his father's car. In a series of unexpected events, the boy meet the Hempstock family and Lettie, who is very kind to him. Then he started to witness unforgettable scenes and experience nightmares he never want to recall...
The novel features many imaginative fantastical elements. For example, a shimmering silver worm turns out to be an interdimensional portal, and ragged fearsome creatures remind me of Dementors from Harry Potter. All his neighbors turn out to be witches with supernatural abilities�
These are all elements I love. When telling stories to kids, we often wish we had magic too so we could fight our "mother witch" together. But this book is clearly not a children's fairy tale; it's actually a magical realism intended for adults.
The 7-year-old boy might not understand why he feels fear at the first sight of the new nanny. As an adult reader, I immediately realized that the nanny represents a homewrecker. The boy’s negative emotions toward the nanny stem from the fear of family disruption. His open defiance to the nanny is violently subdued by his father, so he can only place his hopes in the seemingly omnipotent Lettie - a little girl with mysterious powers. After an earth-shattering confrontation that even affects the stars and seas, the dangerous nanny finally disappears. To a child, home is his entire universe, and family destruction feels like universal annihilation. Even after this storm passes, the psychological damage remains long-lasting.
When the grown-up "I" return to his hometown, he revisits the pond where he had adventures with Lettie to reflect on his childhood. Strangely, these supposedly resolved memories still stir his emotions, leaving an indelible mark of pain.
These pains are the dark sides of childhood that he doesn’t want to recall. Over 40 years have passed, his memories have been wandering in a state of chaos and ambiguity. He clearly remembers that it was Lettie who saved him and was seriously injured, and then she was put into the pond (ocean) by her mother and drifted away. But Lettie's mother said that Lettie did not die, and that everything in the universe changes according to predetermined rules. There is no unchanging world.
The ocean world built by Gaiman is really fastinating. Combining elements like guarding, punishment, constant change, and life in a book is even tougher. The key is how to tell a good story, and clearly, The Ocean at the End of the Lane has done it.
Childhood is not as innocent and beautiful as one might think. It magnifies society, hiding unknown dangers and traps that require courage to face. Every adult carry parts of their child selves - those weaknesses and uncertainties still reside deep within, not disappearing with physical maturity.
In the end, Gaiman doesn't provide a perfect conclusion. Whenever facing setbacks, without even realizing it, "I" return to "Lettie’s ocean" to confide in her. This "Lettie's ocean" is his “ocean of forgetting," where fears, anxieties, and sorrows are submerged. These emotions, seen by children as not belonging to adults, have always existed deep in everyone's soul. They are our most genuine and pure emotions.
There are no so-called adults, only children striving to grow.
5 / 5 stars
Edited on 11th Feb, 2025. Re-loving this novel for the 3rd time.
Richard Mayhew is your average Englishman. He has a steady job in London and a beautiful fiancée who, though a bit of a b*tch, he loves deeply. A man Richard Mayhew is your average Englishman. He has a steady job in London and a beautiful fiancée who, though a bit of a b*tch, he loves deeply. A man of few opinions, he tends to go with the flow and avoids conflict. It's his kind heart that leads him down an extraordinary path, completely altering his life.
One day, he rescues a ragged, injured girl named Door from the streets. She appears out of nowhere and seems almost invisible to others. Richard takes her home to recover, but his fiancée is furious and breaks off their engagement. When Richard finally thinks things have returned to normal, he discovers that he has become invisible - people either can't see him or forget about him instantly. Even his apartment has been rented out to someone else. Realizing that Door is the key to his predicament, he sets off to find her and reclaim his life. His journey takes him into the mysterious London Below.
There, he encounters all sorts of strange and wonderful things: rat - catchers, beautiful huntresses and terrifying beasts, relentless assassins, and a secret subway system and late - night markets.
Richard finds Door in a late - night market. She reveals that her entire family was murdered by the ruthless killers Vandermost and Grub, who are also hunting her. Seeking revenge and to uncover the mastermind behind it all, she has enlisted the help of the cunning Marquis de Carabas and hired a hunter as her bodyguard. Richard joins them on their dangerous quest.
After facing numerous trials and tribulations, they obtain the key to heaven for the imprisoned angel Islington. It turns out that Islington is the mastermind behind all the trouble, manipulating Door's ability to open any door to escape his imprisonment. In the end, Door opens the farthest door she can, sending the angel and his accomplices to a desolate place. Richard is finally restored to his normal life, but he can't help but yearn for the extraordinary London Below. He realizes that he truly belongs in that hidden world.
Compared to American Gods, I must say this story is much more engaging. Gaiman’s rich imagination paints a vivid and mysterious picture of London Below, taking me on an adventure that blends the real world with dreams, modern cities with ancient myths. The plot is fast - paced and keeps me hooked until the very end.
I find the concept of London Below absolutely fascinating. It's a London that exists outside of the contemporary London. It's a London of sewers, night, and forgotten history. It's a London where time and space often overlap.
I suspect that the initial concept for this story came from Gaiman’s love of London, his curiosity about place names, and his imagination, particularly the names of London Underground stations. His highly sensitive mind must have pondered over these names endlessly.
In the first chapter, a map of the Underground appears on an umbrella, and Gaiman, through Richard's thoughts, wonders whether there really is a circus at Oxford Circus: a real circus with clowns and beautiful women, and dangerous beasts. In subsequent chapters, various place names play important roles. Earl's Court truly has an Earl who rules over a Court. HMS Belfast is a stop on the "floating market." Islington is the name of an angel who actually lives in Angel Islington station, and the key gateways to that station, the British Museum and Down Street stations, are both closed. These are all crucial plot points. The book also mentions many other London streets and areas, creating a parallel world similar to Harry Potter, where the fantastical and the mundane coexist. For me, his depiction of London is absolutely brilliant.
London Below is inhabited by all sorts of creatures: fallen angels, down-and-out aristocrats, gutter dwellers, rat - speakers, beasts, assassins, and rats. Some, like the rats, are native, and therefore have a higher status. Others, like many humans, have accidentally or unfortunately fallen from the cracks of the upper world into the underworld. Once you enter London Below, or even touch something connected to it (like Richard), you no longer belong to the upper world. People there will find it difficult to see you, even if you shout at them, they will only pay temporary attention and then forget about you. I believe this is a metaphor for the homeless in society. They are almost invisible to others, avoided at all costs, and once they fall into that situation, it's difficult to climb back up. The book expresses this idea quite clearly through the street woman in the first chapter, Richard's fiancée's attitude, and the unfortunate circumstances of the rat - speaking girl.
This is another London that exists in the dark, complex, and winding underground tunnels of London. London Below has its own sky, its own Thames, its own Big Ben. In other words, it is a mirror image of the Upper London. Major renovations in Upper London will affect London Below, but the latter has no electricity or other technological elements, retaining the characteristics of the old era. The only imports, and the main source of survival for most of the natives, are the garbage left behind by Upper London. According to Gaiman, cities like Bangkok, New York, and others also have their own underworlds. Imagine the forgotten Malay warriors in Lower Kuala Lumpur, the colorfully dressed Hui people wearing cloth shoes under the Forbidden City wall in Lower Beijing, or the Jinwu Guards sleeping in abandoned Great Wall vans on Zhuque Avenue in Lower Chang'an, it must be incredibly interesting.
However, Neil Gaiman is Neil Gaiman, and he doesn't stop at sympathising with the homeless. This is just the beginning. Once you enter London Below, your imagination is truly set free, even more so than the doors that Door can open.
I really enjoyed this novel. It's a classic quest story, and I love the atmosphere of London Below.
Stars, high in the sky, always shimmer with their radiant brilliance. Yet once they fall, piercing through the atmosphere and burning fiercely, they eStars, high in the sky, always shimmer with their radiant brilliance. Yet once they fall, piercing through the atmosphere and burning fiercely, they eventually turn into dust. No one can catch a shooting star or hold onto a piece of stardust; all we can do is keep gazing up in wonder.
Tristan Thorn had no idea why he found himself near the magical Stonewall Village. Driven by his heart's desire, he made promises easily, unaware of the cost he would have to pay. He seemed to be striving for love, but in the end, he lost his true self.
The young man believed that retrieving the fallen star would earn him a maiden's kiss and love, not realizing he was just a pitiful pawn in a cruel game. The witch, too, was on the trail of the star, seeking its essence to regain her youth. And the poor star? It could only keep running away.
Stonewall Village marks the boundary where magic ends. If the star crosses that wall, it would turn into lifeless meteorite. What choice will the young man make?
Will he continue to pursue his heart's desire, even if it means the star's ultimate demise?
Will he change his mind along the journey, seeing through the maiden's true nature?
While Neil Gaiman in the slender volume of Stardust, is describing youthful romance, it also mirrors another aspect of our lives. We often start with a clear goal in mind, but in the pursuit, we might succeed or we might give up. Sometimes, changing the goal isn't admitting defeat, but rather realizing the initial goal was off track, and correcting it accordingly.
Stars don't sleep at night because they work hard to shine. So, when I stay up late and work diligently, perhaps I'm learning from the stars, striving to shine myself one day.
A graveyard is a place where the dead are buried. Just hearing the name sends a chill down my spine, let alone going near one. However, there is a litA graveyard is a place where the dead are buried. Just hearing the name sends a chill down my spine, let alone going near one. However, there is a little boy who has lived in such a place for fifteen years. He is Nobody, the protagonist of The Graveyard Book.
Potential Spoilers Ahead!
Fated with an extraordinary destiny even before birth, the boy’s parents and sister were assassinated by a mysterious organization, while he miraculously survived. Perhaps it was destiny that led the toddler to the graveyard on the hill, where he met the ghostly Owens couple, who would become his adoptive parents, along with other ghosts living in the graveyard.
So, the boy grew up under the care and guidance of the ghosts and his mentor, experiencing all kinds of things that one must go through while growing up. He learned various spells and knowledge, always longing to see the outside world someday. However, in the outside world, the assassin organization that wanted him dead was still searching for him.
Eventually, the assassin organization was destroyed, and the boy faced a crucial turning point in his life...
The Graveyard Book, although wrapped in the guise of a fantasy novel, conveys a message that makes every reader ponder: Growing up is a process that involves experiencing various things.
Even though Nobody lost his family at a young age, his growth process was no different from that of an ordinary child. He received the love and care of the entire graveyard's ghosts. Although surrounded by ghosts, they were kind spirits who treated him as family. He had parents, teachers, playmates, and a love for learning. He learned to be kind-hearted and compassionate, understanding the importance of helping others. So, his growth was surrounded by happiness and protection. But, like any growing child, he also went through rebellious phases, struggled with loneliness, and often longed to see the outside world. After causing trouble outside, he would feel homesick and miss the graveyard where he grew up.
The challenges faced during growth must be confronted. Similarly, Nobody had to deal with the ever-active mysterious organization that wanted him dead, while his mentor tracked them down to protect him. What had to come eventually came, and with the help of the ghosts, Nobody managed to destroy the organization.
Of course, the novel has its poignant moments, like when childhood playmates meet again years later and still remember each other, only to part ways again for some reason. Perhaps they will reunite and become friends again on future journeys.
One of the most touching parts of this novel is the dance of the living and the dead.
”The living and the dead do not intersect. We do not belong to their world, and they do not belong to ours. If we dance the macabre—the dance of death—with them, we will never speak of it again, especially not to the living."
A fence separates the outside world from the graveyard and the living from the dead. The dead leave behind unfinished wishes and concerns, while the living are left with deep longing. The macabre dance is the only chance for the living and the dead to connect and hold hands. Life and death are inevitable for everyone, and no one can escape it. Beyond burying the longing in one's heart, there is little more that can be done.
Cherish life and every step on the path of growth. Failures, setbacks, and pain are just obstacles that must be overcome. Crossing these hurdles with a heart full of hope for a bright future will eventually lead to a smooth journey.
I look forward to Nobody’s future adventures. What dangers will he face? What miracles will he witness? What friends will he make? His future is full of promise!
And, of course, the mysterious stories of Nobody’s mentor Silas and the "Honor Guard" are equally intriguing! Where did they come from? How were they born? What untold stories do they have? I believe Gaiman will continue to share their stories with us someday.
Who are the new American Gods? Why did Odin come to America? What other figures are in the old gods' camp? Why are they so impoverished in America? WhWho are the new American Gods? Why did Odin come to America? What other figures are in the old gods' camp? Why are they so impoverished in America? Why are the two sides fighting?
The old gods, led by Odin, include Norse, Irish, Slavic, Arabic, Egyptian, African, and Indian deities, but there are no Greek or Roman gods, possibly to avoid Christianity. Additionally, while distant Indian gods like Shiva make an appearance, Chinese deities are given only brief mentions, with characters like the Monkey King, Pigsy, and Sandy from Journey to the West, who can hardly be considered gods. These gods rely on faith for survival and have come to the Americas with their followers. However, with the decline of their faiths, these Gods live in poverty and are even forgotten. Without belief, gods can die. Hmmm.
The book describes these fallen gods as immigrants. If you are familiar with these once-mighty gods, you will be touched by the details of their impoverished lives in the post-immigration era, such as a sex goddess working as a prostitute in San Francisco, relying on words to persuade clients to worship her. However, this setting contradicts the later plot twist, where some gods thrive on war and chaos among gods rather than human belief. With this logical flaw, it's difficult to understand why the old and modern gods would clash and fight, especially since there's no clear conflict of interest. Furthermore, the modern gods are poorly developed. Aside from the Internet god's hatred of the old gods and his desire to sweep them into the dustbin of history, it's unclear what motivates other modern gods to destroy the old ones, especially since the old gods' faiths have already declined and they are living ordinary lives, posing no threat to the modern gods on the stage.
In short, the war of the gods is rather nonsensical. I think Neil Gaiman claims to have had too big an ambition to tackle such a theme, and he clearly didn't succeed.
American Gods is essentially a road novel, traversing Chicago, Eagle Point, San Francisco, and other locations. While writing this book, Gaiman was also traveling, and he incorporated his experiences into the story. About half of the place names are real and half are fictional. Those familiar with American geography will find the book relatable. However, this is less friendly to those unfamiliar with the United States, like me.
In addition to the main plotlines of the war of the gods and the road trip, the book is interspersed with many smaller stories, most of which are about the history and lives of American immigrants: the Americas were once a place of exile for British criminals, a fairy from Ireland blesses a promiscuous woman, and there's the story of a sex goddess sacrificing her clients mentioned earlier. These stories are relatively interesting but also significantly disrupt the pacing of the main plot.
Gaiman mentions in the afterword that he loves tricks, and there are indeed many card tricks and detailed descriptions of scams throughout the book. The major plot twist is also related to a trick. Many seem to enjoy this black humor, but I'm indifferent to it.
Overall, I was very disappointed with this novel, which has won numerous fantasy awards. While the portrayal of American immigrant life is good, the characterization of the gods is not very impressive. It seems that the endorsements of fantasy awards are not always reliable.
Neil Gaiman’s imagination is like a roaring sea, brimming with endless possibilities. He can craft any story he wants - whether it’s clever, funny, wiNeil Gaiman’s imagination is like a roaring sea, brimming with endless possibilities. He can craft any story he wants - whether it’s clever, funny, wildly inventive, thrilling, or heartwarming. His world of fantastical tales is so vast that he can just reach in and pull out an awe-inspiring story.
Coraline is 1 such enchanting and rich fairy tale. While it’s technically a children’s book, I think it’s perfect for adults too, especially young moms.
Reading this book left me in awe of Gaiman's boundless creativity once again. The story follows Coraline, who discovers a mysterious door in her house that leads to a perfect home and a seemingly perfect mom.
But this “perfect� mom isn’t all she seems. As she munches on beetles, she says, ”Everyone has two mothers.� She’s a façade of the perfect mom, offering Coraline anything she wants as long as she stays. However, Coraline sees through this trap. Her bravery, confidence, and pure love for her real mom help her resist the allure of “perfection� and defeat the evil magic. She knows her real mom isn’t perfect, but to her, she’s the best mom in the world.
1 of the most memorable parts for me is Coraline’s real mom often saying, ”Coraline, don’t worry, it won’t hurt.� But she knows if an adult says it won’t hurt, it’s definitely going to hurt. Even though her real mom sometimes deceives her, she knows her mom genuinely cares. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been able to conquer the magic.
This aspect of the story made me feel a bit sad for moms. Many mothers, intentionally or not, overlook their kids and provide only half-hearted care. Despite this, in their children’s eyes, these imperfect moms are still the best.
The main plot revolves around a child saving her parents, which is a big reason I love this story. I’ve always had a soft spot for this kind of theme. Maybe it’s because, in such a magical world, only children possess pure and courageous hearts.
A brave little girl rescuing her parents and herself - it’s a mix of reality and fantasy. The detailed descriptions are vivid and lifelike. I can always picture a little girl walking through a magical world just to save her beloved parents. Even though her parents are ordinary and sometimes overlook her, the real ones aren’t fake, and children can always tell what’s genuine.
If adults had to make this choice, I doubt they could do it with the same purity as a child. Adults� hearts are cluttered with too many distractions, preventing them from making choices like kids do.
If you had the chance to live any life you wanted, what would you choose?
Loading...
