The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Genre: Fantasy YA
In Six Words: Neil Gaiman’s imagination blows me away!
Links
Neil Gaiman – Website | Twitter
Amazon – Paperback | Kindle
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Synopsis
After the grisly murder of his entire family, a toddler wanders into a graveyard where the ghosts and other supernatural residents agree to raise him as one of their own.
Nobody Owens, known to his friends as Bod, is a normal boy. He would be completely normal if he didn’t live in a sprawling graveyard, being raised and educated by ghosts, with a solitary guardian who belongs to neither the world of the living nor of the dead. There are dangers and adventures in the graveyard for a boy. But if Bod leaves the graveyard, then he will come under attack from the man Jack—who has already killed Bod’s family . . .
My Thoughts
I have to preface this review by saying that I adore Neil Gaiman’s writing. I’ve been a fan of his since a high school friend shoved a copy of Death: The High Cost of Living into my hands and I haven’t found cause to regret it yet. So, if I get a little fangirly and start flailing or using really high pitched noises, you know why.
*deep breath*
OMG! This book was fabulous and fantastic and imaginative and a little bloody and practically perfect in every way! Seriously. The idea of a boy who escapes a horrible death only to find a life among the dead makes my brain go into spasms of delight. Bod has a limited understanding of the world since those he associates with are removed from it, but he’s quick and clever and he wants to learn. The graveyard ghosts do what they can to protect him and to educate him and he grows up to be brave and curious.
Bod’s story is beautiful and strange. He learns his letters off the tombstones. His guardian is a dark man who straddles the world of the living and the dead. He is beloved of the ghosts and he is bound to the graveyard because to leave it might lead his family’s killer back to him. But he’s a boy and in order to blend in with the outside world – as he will have to do some day – he needs to go out into it.
For those who are willing to step into the odd world of an orphan boy raised by ghosts, this book will captivate you. It’s dark and lovely and well worth the read.
Smash Attack August 29, 2012 at 8:07 am
This book just rocked my socks off. I read it via audio and it was wicked enjoyable. It was a hauntingly beautiful story. LOVE Gaiman. Just love him.
Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal August 29, 2012 at 8:12 am
Yes. Hauntingly beautiful describes is perfectly. Neil Gaiman’s head is a scary, wonderful place, isn’t it?
Quinn @ Quinn's Book Nook August 29, 2012 at 8:53 am
I really need to read this book! I have only read one Neil Gaiman book, Stardust, but I wasn’t in love with it. But The Graveyard Book is more of a MG novel, so I might like it. Plus it won the Newbery Award. That’s pretty amazing.
Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal August 29, 2012 at 11:23 am
It’s very fun. Full of weirdness and ghosts and dastardly plots!
Amanda @ On a Book Bender August 29, 2012 at 9:04 am
I feel deficient since I’ve never read a Neil Gaiman book. I have a couple, though!
Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal August 29, 2012 at 11:24 am
You are deficient. Not because you’ve never read a NG book, though. Just in general.
=D
Read one! Read one! So we can discusssssssss things.
Jenny August 29, 2012 at 9:41 am
This does sound like a strange little story, but I happen to love the strange and unusual. I haven’t read anything remotely similar to this book, and that alone makes me want to pick it up and read it:) Like Amanda, I feel like I suck at life for not having read Neil Gaiman before, so clearly I need to change that!
Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal August 29, 2012 at 11:25 am
Yes! Neil Gaiman will make your head spin. Well, maybe not that. Hos books make me happy. How does that sound?
Kristilyn (Reading in Winter) August 29, 2012 at 12:24 pm
Great review, Kelly! This is an AWESOME book! I’ve read it twice and it just keeps getting better. :)
Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal August 29, 2012 at 5:11 pm
I was ENTHRALLED with it from the beginning. SO MUCH LOVE!
Felicia August 29, 2012 at 1:23 pm
Neil Gaiman can do no wrong! That man is a GENIUS!
Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal August 29, 2012 at 5:12 pm
Yes! His imagination is frightening and wonderful!
Midnyte Reader August 29, 2012 at 5:34 pm
I’ve *got* to get around to reading this one.
Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal August 29, 2012 at 6:14 pm
It’s very, very good.
Jenn @ Booksessed August 29, 2012 at 5:38 pm
I love Neil Gaiman. He can do no wrong in my opinion.
The Graveyard Book is one of my absolute favorites! I love Silas and Eliza. They are the best characters.
Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal August 29, 2012 at 6:15 pm
Yes, the two of them were fab! I <3 this book! For serious.
Kristin @myparahangover August 30, 2012 at 11:08 am
Neil Himself??? Added to Goodreads!!!! Great review, Kelly!
Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal August 31, 2012 at 8:47 am
Neil Himself! He’s a powerhouse!
Amy @ bookgoonie August 30, 2012 at 2:08 pm
This book has been on my shelf for 2 years. I’m finally going to get off the pot & read this for an Oct post. I’m a Gaiman virgin & I don’t want to be.
Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal August 31, 2012 at 8:48 am
A Gaiman virgin?!? Egad! Pop that cherry already so you can roll around in his imagination!