The Ocean at the End of the Lane: A Novel

The style is definitely Neil Gaiman's, but I was expecting something more original. Coraline feels a bit too close to this book, as mood and language. The Hempstocks felt like a shallow extracted character set from American Gods (or at least the way I remember the book). I guess I was yearning for something more substantial and complex, another American Gods. That's why I felt quite let down. Better pick American Gods by the same author, or some great China Mieville books like City&City or Perdido Street Station. Or, if you like Gaiman's style, go for some Murakami (Kafka on the Shore, Windup Bird Chronicles; or After Dark for a short read).

After all the great reviews, I was surprised at how little I liked this book. Some find it beautiful, but I was pretty bored and had a hard time getting through it. I will give it this: it has a certain "feel" to it that affected me, but I really did not enjoy reading it.

Intriguing novel. Definitely recommend to any fans of Gaiman's writing. Cons: A little short, and Gaiman's depiction of childhood imagination may stray too far from reality for some readers. Pros: The writing is enthralling, and it paints the interpretation of a child's trauma in a painfully insightful way.