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

Great summer read.

Get lost in an adult fairy tale. A surprise at every twist and turn, you'll never know what's ahead. And Gaiman's narration is magical and perfect for the story. I didn't want it to end.

A real pleasure

Where does The Ocean at the End of the Lane rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

The perfection in this audio book is that it's the author himself narrating the thing. And accordingly the whole thing is lively, beliavable and appropriate.

Great listen!

As usual, Gaiman has a gripping and intelligent performance and story!
It's at once real and ethereal, a story that travels in both worlds.

Gaiman Does It Again

Fantastic story! Fresh, modern depictions of old, old mythic characters. Many thanks to Mr. Gaiman! #YoungImagination #IfFairiesLived #Tagsgiving #Sweepstakes

Starts out slow, but turned out great

I first thought I made a mistake in purchasing this book. The first couple chapters are slow and you wonder where it's going. Then I truly appreciated not giving up on it and it turned out to be a great book.

Love!

Neil is a wonderful story teller I absolutely love his books and his voice is perfect for telling his stories, this one in particular touched me on many different levels.

Loved it!

Would you listen to The Ocean at the End of the Lane again? Why?

Yes, it was filled with such wonderful descriptions that I may have missed a bit the first time.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Letty. She has such wisdom and calmness and she was a good friend to the end.

Which scene was your favorite?

The scene in the fairy ring.

If you could rename The Ocean at the End of the Lane, what would you call it?

Trust your Instincts.

Any additional comments?

Loved it, loved it, loved it. Wished it was a bit longer, but, it was great. Would have almost called this a short story versus a novel and I probably would not have bought it if it had not been for the reputation of the author; I have read most of his other novels and liked them as well.

Loved Gaiman's narration!

This was my first Neil Gaiman audiobook and I was not disappointed. I so enjoyed his narration that I didn't want the book to end. It's just one do those story/narration combinations that does the job so well that it puts you in a different world while you're listening.

I would definitely recommend and I really look forward to listening to more of Neil Gaiman.

I enjoyed this book, on my second Neil Gaimam book

Would you listen to The Ocean at the End of the Lane again? Why?

I enjoyed it but it is a story that unfolds and once you know all the twists and turns it is not the same the second time. I enjoyed this book and have a feeling Neil Gaiman will turn out to be a favorite author for me. I immediately started a second one of his.

What does Neil Gaiman bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I really like the way he reads the story. Normally, it is a big mistake to have the author read the book but not with Neil.

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

Too long for that

Any additional comments?

I enjoyed this book and Neil's performance. My favorite audible book ever is still "the book thief". Everyone should listen to that one!

Exquisite!

I really didn't know what to think as I started it but was taken off guard by the flow and beauty of thought. He should read everything lol!! Not enough superlatives to say wahoo loud enough! Thank you Mr Gaiman☺️