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

A brilliant fairy tale for adults

What made the experience of listening to The Ocean at the End of the Lane the most enjoyable?

The narration is excellent, and the story explores a common theme in Neil's work - the struggle of growing up and finding your place in the world.

What other book might you compare The Ocean at the End of the Lane to and why?

Not a book but I would compare the feeling to Pan's Labyrinth, another brilliant fairy tale for a more mature audience.

What about Neil Gaiman’s performance did you like?

He has a fantastic voice that draws you in to the story.

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

The title is just fine as is.

I loved it!

It's such a unique and whimsical take on fantasy. Neil Gaiman never fails on both story and voice performance.

pure delight

Splendid in it's imaginative, whimsical wisdom. A story crafted elegantly, both touching and bittersweet. Bravo!!

Delightful

This story was every bit as magical to listen to as it was the first time I read it, more so, for having the author as its reader. Neil Gaiman manages to perfectly capture the voice of a child and weave a thrilling and enchanting story with “The Ocean at the End of the Lane.” I will definitely be listening to this again, and soon.

wow!

ok well turns out, so far, every Neil Gaiman book i read or listen to ends up being my favorite and this book is no exception - what a fun ride, beautiful and fascinating :)

a journey back to fantasy

so beautifuly written took me back to feelings I did not remember I once have had. one of those books you're sad when they are over.

I really enjoyed this book !

This was one of those books I bought because it was the daily deal. But I truly found this work to be very enjoyable and tastefully done . I will be looking for more books by Neil Gaiman as an author and a narrator.

Great Book!

Would you consider the audio edition of The Ocean at the End of the Lane to be better than the print version?

Definitely! I loved the characterizations. It was a great book.

What other book might you compare The Ocean at the End of the Lane to and why?

Neil Gaiman is a unique writer so it would be difficult to compare it with anyone. However, his quirkiness is similar to Christopher Moore's quirkiness.

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

His delivery of the story gives you his perspective on the story. His delivery is great!

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I am hard pressed to pick a moment. Many surprises. I really liked this book.

Beautiful... simply beautiful!

This novel is nostalgic and beautifully written. Narrated by Gaiman himself, he breathes life into other worldly characters. I was captivated by the story and imagery.

Fantastic read

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

This was my first Neil Gaiman book but won't be my last. What vivid pictures he writes. I feel like I dreamed the book. Crazy plot that's perfect, and the prose made me feel the story as if I were a child again. Sheer magic.