The Graveyard Book

By: Neil Gaiman

Narrated by: Neil Gaiman

Length: 7 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's summary

Here's a fantastic ghost adventure story, laced with menace and humour.

When a baby escapes a murderer intent on killing the entire family, who would have thought it would find safety and security in the local graveyard?

Brought up by the resident ghosts, ghouls and spectres, Bod has an eccentric childhood learning about life from the dead. But for Bod there is also the danger of the murderer still looking for him - after all, he is the last remaining member of the family.

A stunningly original novel deftly constructed over eight chapters, featuring every second year of Bod's life, from babyhood to adolescence. Will Bod survive to be a man?

©2008 Neil Gaiman (P)2008 Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

Critic reviews

"Thrilling, elegant and joyously macabre. You will love it to death." (Holly Black, author of The Spiderwick Chronicles)

Lovely book, entertaining and holds your interest

This was a great little book. It was read well, the story was entertaining and interesting and unusual. I really enjoyed it even though it is a children's book.

Great story!

I chose this book because one of my kids was reading it for school and I knew nothing about it or the author. Loved every minute and it was creepily scary in places. Beautifully read by the author. I will certainly look out for more Neil Gaiman books!!

Beautiful and mysterious!

The story takes the reader on a wondrous little journey and is written well enough to keep you glued. However, it's very Neil gaimanesque in nature and that might put some readers off.

Enjoyable listen!

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

I recommended especially to those that as an adult enjoy a good teenage novel.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I liked every character even the bad guys. The story unfolds through the characters so there is one for everyone to like or dislike

Have you listened to any of Neil Gaiman’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No but I will now

Well told - great story

If you could sum up The Graveyard Book in three words, what would they be?

Fun Gaiman mythology

What did you like best about this story?

I have heard the author read some of this live and this reading was wonderful. Gaiman's characters have insight and a humanity that is easy to identify with - regardless of the strange situations in which they find themselves...

What three words best describe Neil Gaiman’s voice?

Gentle Inviting Warm

A thoroughly enjoyable listen.

A riveting, fantastic story.

But what makes this audiobook so special is Neil Gaiman's utterly spellbinding narration. He brings life to each character in turn and draws you in further with each breath.

My only problem with the narration is that it makes most other narrators sound rather mundane and ordinary. A true story teller, telling a story how it should be told.

Highly recommended.

Honestly an unexpected surprise!

I didn't know if I would like this book. To my surprise I found it extremely entertaining. The author, who is also the narrator, is awesome. Well written, well narrated and well put together. I recommend this book to anyone who is in the mood for a exciting adventure.

A lovely fantasy about childhood

This was like being read a dark and meaningful fairytale by a favourite uncle, and it transported my 46 year old self back to childhood.

Perennially-recommended for younger readers

Would you consider the audio edition of The Graveyard Book to be better than the print version?

Cannot comment. This is the first and only book by Neil Gaiman that I have read via audio, and absolutely loved it. Just like I loved the previous Gaiman reads - which I read on print.

What other book might you compare The Graveyard Book to and why?

The book it is inspired by, Jungle Book, by Rudyard Kipling. Kind of a coming-of-age novel, with dollops of fantasy.

Also, the fantasy / magic novels which follow the template somewhat: the Harry Potter series etc.

Also other coming-of-age stories:
To Kill a Mockingbird.
Pather Panchali, a Bengali novel by Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay (from which a very famous movie was made later by Satyajit Ray)

What about Neil Gaiman’s performance did you like?

Nothing that i disliked.

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

Miss Lupescu's rescue of Bod from the ghouls.
Bod's leaving the graveyard, right at the end.

Wonderful Storytelling

I picked this up during one of Audible's "at the moment" sales - the ones that show up randomly when you sign in and at first, once I'd purchased it and realized it was a children's book I almost didn't listen to it.

But I'm so glad I did. So well written with wonderful characters and great descriptive settings. An entirely original idea, and every time I stopped listening, I couldn't wait to get back to the story to hear what happened next. Bod, the main character was entertaining, believable, with a great voice, as was his guardian Silas. There was no overblown sentimentality here, no underdevelopment either, just good storytelling.

Gaiman himself as the narrator was wonderful to listen to. His pacing, his tone were both wonderful and I found myself getting lost in the story and his voice.

Even if children's books aren't your preference, I highly recommend this one, it will leave you with warm fuzzies.