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Coraline by Neil GaimanReason for Reading: YA Reading Challenge, Mythopoeic Award Challenge
Rating: 4/5
I really really hate commuting, so I've started checking out audiobooks from the library to make the trip more bearable. Coraline was the first one I picked, and what a great read! After I'd get to work, I would also want to stay in the car for another minute longer so I could listen a little bit longer.
The audiobook is narrated by Neil Gaiman, which suits it just perfectly. Many other reviewers have commented on the creepiness on this book (and warn you, gentle reader, not to read this book at night). I will further that by adding, don't listen to this audiobook late at night. The weird song that the evil little rat creatures sing was stuck in my head the entire week I was listening to this book and I found myself humming it even when I wasn't consciously thinking about the book. Listening late at night would no doubt have given me some decent nightmares.
So the book. It's about a girl named Coraline who has just moved into a flat with her preoccupied parents. One day when she is especially bored, her father sends on a mission to explore the flat in order to get her out of her hair. She counts 14 doors, and one that only opens to a brick wall.
Later Coraline takes the key to the forteenth door and tries opening it again, but this time she discovers, much to her surprise, that it opens to a flat almost identical to her own. She has an "Other Mother" and an "Other Father", who look like her parents but have black buttons for eyes. At first, Coraline rather likes the Other Flat, as the food is better and her Other Parents don't ignore her as much, but when her Other Mother kidnaps her parents, it's up to Coraline to rescue them.
The story is a simple one, but fans of Neil Gaiman will not be disapointed. It contains the twisted sense of humor you'd expect, and don't let the diminuitive size distract you. It still packs a punch.
Other reviews:
Andi (Tripping Towards Lucidity)
Becky
Alice Teh
Joy (Thoughts of Joy)
Susan (Bloggin' 'Bout Books)
Stephanie (Confessions of a Bookaholic)
Dewey (The Hidden Side of a Leaf)
Melody (Melody's Reading Corner)
(Did I miss you? Leave me a comment)
12 comments:
I've enjoyed this very much, Kim. That's a great review! And thanks for linking me, really appreciate it! :D
So glad you enjoyed it Kim :) It's a great one. I can't wait for the 3-d movie next year! I've been wanting to check this one out on Audiobook...I'm really going to have to now that I know that the mice sing their song ;)
This is one of my favourite reads last year, Kim! I'm glad you enjoyed it too! Here's my link. ;)
I still haven't tried audiobooks but I really must. I have this on my pile for next month and I am really looking forward to reading it.
glad you enjoyed it. have you seen the book? i especially loved the creepy illustrations, definitely worth a peek!
Oh, I'm glad I added this to my RIP list! Based on your review, I'm sure this one will be a winner. Plus, I heard that it's going to be a movie soon!
alice teh-no problem!
chris-I really hope they do a good job with the movie! And yes, I totally recommend the audiobook!
melody-thanks!
rhinoa-audiobooks are perfect for a commute. It works out great if your local library has some!
stephanie-you'll definitely like this one!
I should read the audiobook! I mean, uh listen to it :)
Here's my link to Coraline last year. It was part of my RIP II books even if it was a reread at that time.
So glad you enjoyed it, Kim! This was actually the first Gaiman I ever read...before I'd ever heard anything about him. A few years ago, my daughter picked it up in a thrift store, but then was afraid it might be too scary for her, so she made me read it first. I absolutely adored it! (And of course, so did she.)
Yay! I'm glad you liked it so much. I'm intrigued by the thought of the rat songs, so I might just have to track this one down on audio for my commute back and forth to library class on Wednesday nights.
Wow, read by Gaiman himself! I'd like to hear that. I wonder if there's a list somewhere of books read by their own authors.
I tried an audiobook but it just didn't work for me. Um, although it was Eragon--which is 14 discs. I think I made it through 6, but at the end of the 6th when it started replaying itself and I didn't even notice, I realized that I probably wasn't getting anywhere with it. I'll maybe have to try this one!! Our book club is reading Eat Pray Love next month and I've already read that so I thought I would try that on audio as well since I'm already familiar.
How long is your commute?
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