RSS Feed (xml)
The Graveyard Book by Neil GaimanReason for Reading: R.I.P. III
Rating: 4.5/5
Yeah, you know you're jealous that I have an autographed copy of The Graveyard Book. You're even jealouser I got mine at a book-signing event with Neil Gaiman.
Don't hate me, though.
Please?
Okay, now that we've gotten that out of the way.
The Graveyard Book, if you've been hiding under a rock the past few weeks, is about a boy named Bod who grows up in a graveyard. Raised under the watchful eye of a childless pair of ghosts who died in the eighteenth century, and a guardian named Silas, Bod grows up knowing about fading, dreamwalking, and the mysterious creature in the hill, but the outside world remains unknown.
Gaiman said he was inspired by two things: The Jungle Book, and the sight of his young son riding his tricycle among the headstones of a nearby graveyard. The result is a story that it is simple, beautiful, and of course, a little creepy.
Living everyday among ghosts gives Bod a somewhat unique perspective on life. He learns his letters from rubbings of headstones. Where other students are learning languages like Spanish or French, Bod is learning how to ask for help in Night-Gaunt. He spends his days exploring the graveyard and making friends with all manner of dead folk.
I had to force myself to read this book slowly so that I could savor and enjoy it, because it was just that good. I loved the creative world that Gaiman imagined taking place each day in a graveyard, I loved Silas, I loved the structure of the stories, I loved the ending. And I am really not doing this story justice, so please check out these other reviews:
Becky's Book Reviews, You Can Never Have Too Many Books, Sophisticated Dorkiness, Melody's Reading Corner, Stuff as Dreams Are Made of, Blue Stocking Society, Stainless Steel Droppings, Nymeth
9 comments:
I tried my hardest to savor this one too, but I read it in two sittings, lol. Such a great book! Glad you enjoyed it too. And yeah, I am jealous of your autographed copy!
I am jealous that you have the book in the first place and I am super jealous that you have it autographed :)
OK, that does it. This is going to be the next book read. It's waiting for me at the TBR pile...
AND, I'm mighty jealous that you got a signed copy!!! LOL
Ya--too cool that you were able to get your copy signed IN PERSON!! Definitely makes the experience more fun. I'm glad you liked this one. I've read 3 Gaiman books this year so I think I'm going to take a break, but I'll definitely have to keep this one in mind.
Oh no...where did the "receive email follow up comments" button go??? Literary Feline did this for a while and I could never figure out how to receive the follow up comments!!
That's not fair! Getting a signed copy is one thing - from a popular author is another - and getting it signed by a popular author in person is just plain greedy! *lol*
I'm keeping my eyes peeled for a copy of this one.
As jealous as I am, I could never hate you, Kim :P I'm really glad you enjoyed the book so much, Kim. Seeing all these enthusiastic reviews is making me want to read it again already. Though to be honest I wanted to as soon as I finish reading it.
I'm glad you enjoyed it too, Kim! And yeah, I'm jealous that you got an autographed copy. ;)
I just got a copy of this and I'm really looking forward to reading it!
BTW, good luck with Nanowrimo!
I am trying my best not to hate you :P Glad you enjoyed it. I loved it and really enjoyed using my ew ereader for the first timw too.
Post a Comment