BOOK REVIEW: The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman (2013)
This review was originally written in 2014 and posted on Goodreads
This book was a complete delight to read.
It's hard to explain exactly why this book made me well up in the end. Perhaps it was the innocent nature of youth, the memory of something mysterious that was lost, or the generally magical vibe the entire book exhumes. I couldn't say exactly.
While the prose isn't up to the snuff of better fantasy—Gaiman does often have a rather blocky way of writing—I believe it is strong and suitable when coming from the lost memories of childhood.
The story is sweet, dark, mysterious, exciting, and fun. Gaiman writes new age folklore like no other. It's also a fast read, great for a flight or an afternoon in the sun. This book gave me existential hope and was the first thing to make me feel like death wasn’t necessarily the end, after I parted ways with Christianity.
Highly recommended.
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