The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

 

 

Truth is, there aren't any grown-ups. Not one, in the whole wide world.

Why I read this book

Books were safer than other people anyway.

As I mentioned on the Good Omens review, I wanted to read a book by Neil Gaiman. I heard a lot of talk about this book and the moment it became available on OverDrive I snatched a copy.

What the book is about

The book tells us the fantastical story of a young boy that is confronted with very old magic; through it a lot of his childhood believes (in the world, in their parents in himself). Through his friendship with a "weird" girl and her family, he will encounter situations that will mark him for life...even if he can't remember them.

First impressions

I have to say, I was not expecting to be terrified to continue reading this book. I don't know who Gaiman does it, but the magic in this book is frightening. I'm used to getting this feeling with Stephen King, that need to look over your shoulder while you are reading, but I was not expecting this in a book marketed as fantasy, albeit I realize that was naive of me. This is not a bad thing mind you, the feeling I just described is accompanied with the eagerness to know what is going to happen next.

Final thoughts

I liked this book, very much. Even though I was not expecting a suspense fantasy story I loved the build up that the author uses to make you want to turn pages and at the same time fear doing so. The mythology constructed by Gaiman for this book takes (I feel) a lot of items from Nordic or Celtic fairy tales and it is easy to follow and give the characters a place in my head, without placing them fully according to a definite history.

The creepiness of the story comes not only from descriptions (the foot, oh dear heaven, the foot) but also from the fact that at a certain point you start feeling like you are the protagonist and then the angst of being seven years old again.

I loved that the main character is a bookish kid, but off course this is me feeling identified with him, which off course never hurts.

I didn't love it simply because there were a bit of strings hanging at the end (will not discuss them to avoid spoilers).

I lived in books more than I lived anywhere else

Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman

Offer people a new creed with a costume and their hearts and minds will follow

Why I read this book

I wanted to start reading Neil Gaiman, since I keep hearing wonders about him and his work. So I reserved this one at the library and after I got it I realized that it was a book that he co-author with Terry Pratchett. Even more, asking around in Goodreads, the common feel is that it has a bit more of a Pratchett feeling that Gaiman. Either way, the premise seemed very fun to me, so I gave it a go.

What the book is about

An angel and a demon forging a friendship for thousands of years; the antichrist arriving to Earth and being prepared to bring the Apocalypse; the 4 horsemen riding to meet him and ll of this being predicted by a very accurate witch back in the 17th century. All of this and more can be found in this delightful book, full of satire, dark humor and biblical references. Is the end of the world as we know it...or so it says in the Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter

First impressions

The first pages of the book take place while Adam and Eve have been kicked out of Paradise. We see this through the eyes of Aziraphale, an angel, and Crawly (soon to be Crowley) the snake. They first interaction was hilarious and since from the beginning I started giggling I knew it was going to be a good ride.

Final thoughts

Well, as I finish this book, I still don't know who had the biggest impact in the outcome of the book, Pratchett or Gaiman, but what I do know was that it was a great book. The fact that the future of Earth lies in the hands of a Satanic nun who is a bit absent minded was just the beginning of a series of events that made me laugh so hard my boyfriend was a bit worried. Both Aziraphale and Crowley are very endearing as characters, in their own way. They have felt in love with what Earth has to offer and it shows in their behaviour, no surprisingly since they have been here since...forever.

Can we talk about the horsemen? I love the way they were portrayed; from the first physical descriptions it was perfectly clear who was War, Famine, Pollution and off course DEATH. Their effect on the other bikers cracked me up, and then these ones changing their names to make part of the horsemen? I was happy I wasn't in public reading that because I was laughing my head off.

It was also very interesting how the point about how upbringing can beat genes was made. I will not got into too much details because I do not want to spoil anything for anyone, but you get to like the Antichrist.

It has been said that civilization is twenty-four hours and two meals away from barbarism