Evocative Imagery and Powerful Allusions . . . But There Were Some Major Dealbreakers ⇉ Review of The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
I read and loved The Graveyard Book and Coraline . When I mentioned that I wanted to read more Gaiman books, friends highly recommended The Ocean at the End of the Lane . I still love Gaiman's masterful writing, and Ocean is a well-written novel. However, due to several reasons, Ocean is not for me. WHAT I LIKED Evocative Imagery Neil Gaiman is a master with words. His writing is as beautiful and compelling; it lingers in the mind and brings the world to life without extending into long, rambling sentences. Powerful Allusions As with the imagery, Gaiman's choice use of allusions brings the world to life quickly and powerfully without needing much to be said. Creative World Building I love magical realism for its ability to convey a realistic portrayal of the world while slipping in magical elements in such a natural way that it feels believable, like its always been a part of the world. Neil Gaiman does just this in Ocean . The world is creative and, more importa...
