Books : Search

Average Rating:

.The Graveyard Book

by: Neil Gaiman

October 20, 2008
Brilliant - sinister, lyrical and poignant all at the same time. Like 'The Jungle Book', it's a great evocation of growing up as an outsider, and the world is vivid and perfectly imagined; and, like 'The Jungle Book', the narrative voice is faultless. But it has more narrative tension than 'The Jungle Book', and a grimmer edge - the gothic elements (ghosts, werewolves, vampires) are picturesque without being cliched, and occasionally funny, but at the heart of the book there's a real engagement with fear, time, and loss. There were a couple of moments towards the end where I thought the structure was weaker, but that's just a quibble - on the whole I thought this was wonderful: an intelligent, elegant, and - in spite of the pervading sense of ... Read More:
>>See More Reviews & Details on The Graveyard Book

Average Rating:

.Neverwhere: The Author's Preferred Text

by: Neil Gaiman

September 19, 2005
This was one of those books which I really wanted to be better than it is. I'm a huge fan of Neil Gaiman's Sandman series, which I think was an incredible achievement. Unfortunately Neverwhere really suffers by comparison.

The concept of an alternate London hidden behind the 'real' one is fascinating, and as an adventure it rolls along at a cracking pace. However some of it is pretty simplistic, which came as a real surprise compared to the intricacies of the Sandman saga.

For example, having a character who has the ability to open any door (and other things) is interesting, but calling that character 'Door' is a bit simplistic.

On the whole it's an enjoyable read, just not Gaiman's finest work.
>>See More Reviews & Details on Neverwhere: The Author's Preferred Text

Used Price: £2.99

Average Rating:

.American Gods

by: Neil Gaiman

September 19, 2005
324 pages into the "story" (that's a bit more than half of this author's preferred edition in need of some serious editing) and nothing worth relating has happened. Shadow has been released from jail, went to a funeral, met a guy called Wednesday who is no less than the god Odin, met a few other gods, gave a lift to a hitch-hiker and was introduced half of the population of the town of the freezing town of lakeside.... Stiff boring... Unidimensional characters, no suspense or tension, never ending meandering, when you think that this book got a Nebula and a few other prizes... you wonder how low these award have fallen or how bad the competitors were when the prozes were given. Don't expect a Dan Simmons or a Frank Herbert here. Not even worth the ... Read More:
>>See More Reviews & Details on American Gods

Used Price: £4.25

Average Rating:

.The Wolves in the Walls

by: Neil Gaiman

October 04, 2004
This is one of those very rare books which manages to satisfy every reader. It's a picture book, which is great to read to smaller children (ones who like being frightened I might add). It has a sophisticated text, and the pictures are really detailed, which makes it great for older readers, and it's hilarious, well written and nicely tense, which makes it perfect for parents.

The artwork is more reminiscent of a graphic novel than the usual standard of illustration in kids' books. It adds a real air of menace to the story, which revolves around a family who find that wild wolves and their evil, partying ways are gradually breaking into the house from the cavities in the walls and taking over, forcing the family to retreat and come up with ... Read More:
>>See More Reviews & Details on The Wolves in the Walls

Used Price: £1.99

Average Rating:

.The Graveyard Book

by: Neil Gaiman

October 20, 2008
This is one of those very rare books which manages to satisfy every reader. It's a picture book, which is great to read to smaller children (ones who like being frightened I might add). It has a sophisticated text, and the pictures are really detailed, which makes it great for older readers, and it's hilarious, well written and nicely tense, which makes it perfect for parents.

The artwork is more reminiscent of a graphic novel than the usual standard of illustration in kids' books. It adds a real air of menace to the story, which revolves around a family who find that wild wolves and their evil, partying ways are gradually breaking into the house from the cavities in the walls and taking over, forcing the family to retreat and come up with ... Read More:
>>See More Reviews & Details on The Graveyard Book

Used Price:

Average Rating:

.Stardust

by: Neil Gaiman

September 19, 2005
Fantasy quests can often outstay their welcome, but Gaiman paces this just about right; more than a novella but the right side of epic. Reminiscent of several of his Sandman stories, this is lovingly told if a little predictable in its structure. Inventive and always entertaining, never overly whimsical. The resolution's all a bit too tidy, but I recommend it for those who enjoy the author's lighter work in other media.
>>See More Reviews & Details on Stardust

Used Price: £2.18

Average Rating:

.Coraline

by: Neil Gaiman

October 06, 2003
My class and I read Coraline at school over the period of a few weeks, and after hearing all the hype about Gaiman's works I must admit, I was disappointed with Coraline.

The book starts out alright, a young girl in a huge scary house, with a door that appears to be uninteresting, but as the book progresses the whole thing becomes fast-paced and pointless.

We, as the readers, are forced to endure pointless conversations and long and boring descriptions of every little thing that Coraline goes through. There were many times where I got incredibly bored reading it, something which I wasn't expecting at all.

There are parts that are bone-chillingly creepy though, but more creepy in a slightly disturbing way than in a scary way. The Other ... Read More:
>>See More Reviews & Details on Coraline

Used Price: £1.10

Average Rating:

.Good Omens

by: Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett

May 23, 1991
It starts off really well with very funny lines and then drags on a bit.
>>See More Reviews & Details on Good Omens

Used Price: £0.34

Average Rating:

.The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish

by: Neil Gaiman, Dave McKean

October 04, 2004
This is another kids book by the winning team of Neil Gaiman and David McKean who did the excellent; The Wolves in the Walls. This is less dark than The Wolves, and has more of a gentle humour which follows a traditional fairy tale pattern, that of the kind of knock on effect. The boy swaps his father for two goldfish, but when forced by his mother to go and get him back, he has to chase about town as other children swap on the dad before the boy gets there.

I love the fact that the mother is cross but only mildly, rather as if the boy had tracked mud on the carpet, and the fact that the father is completely unaware that he is being swapped, being too engrossed in the paper. It's lovely. The boy's bickering relationship with his sister is also beautifully drawn.
>>See More Reviews & Details on The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish

Used Price: £2.85

Average Rating:

.The Graveyard Book

by: Neil Gaiman

October 31, 2008
This is another kids book by the winning team of Neil Gaiman and David McKean who did the excellent; The Wolves in the Walls. This is less dark than The Wolves, and has more of a gentle humour which follows a traditional fairy tale pattern, that of the kind of knock on effect. The boy swaps his father for two goldfish, but when forced by his mother to go and get him back, he has to chase about town as other children swap on the dad before the boy gets there.

I love the fact that the mother is cross but only mildly, rather as if the boy had tracked mud on the carpet, and the fact that the father is completely unaware that he is being swapped, being too engrossed in the paper. It's lovely. The boy's bickering relationship with his sister is also beautifully drawn.
>>See More Reviews & Details on The Graveyard Book

Used Price: £9.00