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

Very well written

The phrasing really immerses you in the world and captures the imagination. The story really speaks to you and explains a difficult theme in an extraordinary way. Will recommend to others.

I'm not sure this should be in the Horror section.

Wasn't scary, but it was different. The story kept me interested and it was different. The narrator did a great job and probably one of the biggest reasons I continued to listen after I realized it wasn't scary.

Look No Further, You Just Found Your Next Book!

Neil Gaiman's imagination is amazing. I felt like I stepped into another world while listening to this book. I kept wanting to peek around the corner or into a closet to see what wonderment might be waiting there. The story is not really comparable to anything I can think of, maybe a little Alice in Wonderland kind of scary but fun fantasy sprinkled in here and there. But don't think this is a kid's book. Far from it. There is an affair, a suicide, a near murder, an evil nanny, a fabulous old farmhouse and very clever dialog to move it all along.
The narration added another layer of enjoyment, Mr. Gaiman switched from person to person flawlessly, each one voiced perfectly for the character he had created.
I almost didn't buy this book because it is under 6 hours. I usually don't like to spend a credit unless a book is at least 10 hours, but, I really liked the narrator (who is also the author) when I listened to the sample, so I gave it a try. I am so glad I did.

magical moving story

I was captivated, finished in tears. it all touched me so deeply and inspired me. I have such gratitude my 90 year old mother told me about it.

Another unexpected story of Gaiman’s genius

I’m never disappointed with Neil Gaiman especially when he is the narrator. He fantastically entwines reality and fantasy into something that grabs my attention and won’t let go. He definitely makes me a better writer.

New to bring read to...

Loved it!!! kept me interested thur the whole story.....Can't wait to check out more stories...

Neil Gaiman as himself

This book was a lovely saunter down Gaiman's experience of the world, where gods are fallibly human and humans not necessarily so far from godlike. Thanks again for a lovely story.

Classic Gaiman - great story!

Neil Gaiman is such a creative author, and when he reads these creations to me via Audible, there aren't many better audio book experiences. Fascinating... I hope we someday get to learn more about the women who tend and live by the Ocean at the end of the Lane!

Do yourself a favor - LISTEN TO THIS!

I love everything Neil Gaiman has written (at least the adult books plus The Graveyard Book - haven't tried the younger stuff yet, but I will) and it's infinitely wonderful to hear him read them himself. I think he's one of those authors that, once you know him you will buy and read (listen to - whatever) everything of his that you can - his imagination is so much broader than mine, soooo good...

An odd and whimsical fairytale for all ages.

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

I enjoyed listening to The Ocean at the End of the Lane for all of its surprises. I would not listen to it again as the story would not be as enjoyable without its surprises. In addition, I would prefer to read one of Gaiman's other fairy tale novels than to read this a second time.

What did you like best about this story?

Gaiman's creativity never fails to seep into my brain and fill my imagination.

Which character – as performed by Neil Gaiman – was your favorite?

My favorite characters in this book were the varmints or the cleaners. Creepy, complex, mysterious and a nice comic relief... with a bloody appetite.

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

I felt most intensely when listening to the piece of the story which involved the main character trying to escape the house (from the very suspicious nanny, Ursula) and get to the Hempstock's house and his only friend Lettie for protection and explanation.

Any additional comments?

The epilogue pulled the novel together for me. I would not have gotten as much from the story without this to explain what exactly happened in the end of the story.