The Ocean at the End of the Lane

A Novel

By: Neil Gaiman

Narrated by: Neil Gaiman

Length: 6 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

Audie Award Finalist, Narration by the Author or Authors, 2014

Audie Award Finalist, Fiction, 2014

Sussex, England: A middle-aged man returns to his childhood home to attend a funeral. He is drawn to the farm at the end of the road, where, when he was seven, he encountered a most remarkable girl, Lettie Hempstock. He hasn't thought of Lettie in decades, and yet sitting by the pond (a pond that she'd claimed was an ocean), the unremembered past comes flooding back. Forty years earlier, a man committed suicide in a stolen car at this farm at the end of the road. Like a fuse on a firework, his death lit a touchpaper and resonated in unimaginable ways. The darkness was unleashed, something scary and thoroughly incomprehensible to a little boy. And Lettie - magical, comforting, wise beyond her years - promised to protect him, no matter what.

A groundbreaking work from a master, The Ocean at the End of the Lane is told with a rare understanding of all that makes us human, and shows the power of stories to reveal and shelter us from the darkness inside and out. A stirring, terrifying, and elegiac fable as delicate as a butterfly's wing and as menacing as a knife in the dark.

©2013 Neil Gaiman (P)2013 HarperCollinsPublishers

listened to it in one go

This is not my usual genre, but every once in a while I remind myself, "oh yeah, Neil Gaiman writes intriguing supernatural tales." Good writing, good story, great performance. I intended to just listen for an hour & ended up listening to the entire book, at 1.3-1.5 speed, & enjoyed every second of it.

A beautifully written story about a boy and his memories

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this book. It was colorfully written and clenched my heart a bit.

The Deep End

I feel bad giving this a 4* for story. It's just that it's on a Gaiman Scale. It's not my favorite of his books. On an absolute scale, it is definitely a 5*. His grocery lists probably are worth at least 3* on an absolute scale.

The story is the adventure tale we probably all wish that had happened to us when we were kids. Something exciting that initiates us into the world of adults, instead of the boring and slightly horrible way it happens to most of us.

As for narration, I pretty much want Neil Gaiman to come to my house every night and read me a story.

It's a dangerous thing to be a door

This book was an immediate audiobook download for me the very day it came out, because I love Neil Gaiman's storytelling voice. I did not have any preconceived notions, but was still a bit surprised by the turns taken in this book. He describes it as a book for adults, but it isn't because of the brief moments of gore or horror (not even close to approaching the gore and horror in some of his other works!), but because children and YA readers might not appreciate the sentiment and framework of the larger story - a man returning to his childhood home for a funeral, and going down memory lane (quiet literally.)

The author doesn't make the book longer than it needs to be, and it is definitely nostalgic and a bit sad. I follow the author too closely in social media, perhaps, because I kept thinking of his own life and grief in the past few years (even just the loss of pets) and how that may have impacted the book. There is that theme of the separation between children and parents, and how parents can be used by evil forces without warning, that is also found in Coraline.

It did make me think - What do you remember about your childhood, and how do you know which part was "true?" Do you suspect that you might not remember the most important parts?

To me, I enjoyed reading it very much, but it isn't my favorite of his works.

Good book

A little slow in the beginning. Great pace towards the end and great ending. Loved the overall concept surrounding the Hempstock family.

A Charming Fable

A charming, magical tale of courage and friendship told through the eyes of a lonely young boy.

Very Charming and Nostalgic

I really loved this book. It really takes you away to the Hempstocks farm where anything is possible! Beautifully written and narrated by Mr. Gaiman himself, I really enjoyed hearing the book as read by the author!

My only drawback was that the end really sneaks up on you! I thought I was just getting to the good part when all the sudden, the Epilogue began. I feel like there was too much left unsaid or unexplained. However I suppose that the mark of a good book is one that you don't want to end.

Nevertheless, I highly recommend the Ocean at the End of the Lane to anyone who still believes in Magic or who likes to be taken away to far off lands without ever taking a step! Hopefully the great Neil Gaiman will write a sequel someday...

Loved it

I loved the dark, fantastical themes in this book. Beautifully written, probably my favorite from Gaiman so far.

Defining Quality

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This story is so simple, yet so deep. Books like this are the reason I read, or listen to audio books. To be drawn into the world, feel a character, be a part of a story and all without that sense you are reading but sharing in the story. I would recommend this audio book for anyone. The author gives the characters the subtlety of their voices and emotions in it's purest form. His ability to give them their voice is so natural.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Ocean at the End of the Lane?

As our protagonist discusses the world being centered on himself, the value of his life to himself and the decision he makes about that awareness. It's deep, it's real and so well told.

Which scene was your favorite?

The naming of Ocean.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I did, I could not stop.

Any additional comments?

This is book is one of the best examples of the really good storytelling, excellent literacy and profound creation.

Love this book

I have enjoyed this book immensely. I love the characters, the setting, and the imagination. I think having the author narrate was a huge part of my enjoyment. I was in this story with the 7 year old main character and now that it's over I'm so sad. What a wonderful universe.