The Book Report Episode #32
Episode #31
The Ocean at the End of the Lane By Neil Gaiman
The Book
This book was first published in the UK in 2013 by Headline Publishing Group. My copy was published in 2021. The book has 273 pages and includes some acknowledgements and an interview with Neil Gaiman. Including some advertising for some other books, Mr Gaiman has written.
I didn’t know about this when I started researching this book. The novel has been adapted for the stage. Here’s the trailer:
What Did I Think
A man returns to his childhood stomping grounds, to attend a funeral. During his visit, he is pulled to a farm he vaguely remembers. He doesn’t know why, but he can’t help himself. After arriving at the Hempstock farmhouse he meets with an old lady. After talking to her he has an urge to visit the pond.
As he walks to the pond he starts to recollect his time as a child and his adventures with cosmic entities. Demons from other dimensions, and one, being an “eleven” year old girl called Hettie Hempstock.
The story is set around a family, to make a little extra money: move the son to his sister’s room so they can rent his room out. It also had a small sink in the room. One day a guest turns up and this triggers a series of events that begin his adventures. Where Hettie, with her family, has to get involved when things turn nasty.
The Magic
The whole of the book is full of magic, wonder and darkness. The story is easy to read and understand. The words flow smoothly. It felt like it ended too quickly for me. And even though it ended well. I wanted to read more adventures. Maybe with other people. With the long lives lived by Hettie and her family, there would have been more adventures. I did not want it to stop. I wanted to learn more about the family.
The villain of this story is clever and cunning and doesn’t care about the consequences as long as they get their way. But fixing one problem leads to another and then another until a sacrifice has to be made. And that is only because someone doesn’t do as they are told.
But in the end, to keep the family safe he and whomever visits, has to forget everything that happens. Only to remember when he comes back to the farm. Which is understandable but also sad.
This is one of those books I would be proud to have on my bookshelf maybe try and find an original first print. In my mind, It is that good.
AudioBook
Would I Recommend
Now I have to admit I am a little biased when it comes to Mr Gaiman. I can’t help but like his books. He has a style that turns everything he writes into tiny jewels, you have to look after, in whatever medium it is produced in. Even the stuff I am not completely sure about, I can’t help myself.
So, yes I would wholeheartedly recommend this book. This is a little rare gem.
Would you like to purchase your very own copy?
You could try these online stores: Amazon UK/USA. Waterstones. AbeBooks UK/ USA, Barnes and Noble and eBay UK/ USA.
Alternatively, you could try your local bookshop or even your local library.
