The Ocean at the End of the Lane

A Novel

By: Neil Gaiman

Narrated by: Neil Gaiman

A brilliantly imaginative and poignant fairy tale from the modern master of wonder and terror, The Ocean at the End of the Lane is Neil Gaiman’s first new novel for adults since his #1 New York Times bestseller Anansi Boys.

This bewitching and harrowing tale of mystery and survival, and memory and magic, makes the impossible all too real...

this was brave, and well done

Its hard to know what to say about this story, it cuts so close to the bone and touches the heart. When I was in highschool my favorite teacher told me " Art is learning how to see." I keep thinking of that now.

I can't help but wonder what people who have never been afraid of someone who is suppose to care for them, who was never hurt by such a person, will make of this. I can't talk about this more.... listen to the story and maybe you will understand. Its a good story. It is art. Its learning how to see.

On the performance, Neil is the only author who I think does his own books justice.

Me Like It :)

Any additional comments?

I was hesitant to purchase “The Ocean at the End of the Lane” (Ocean) as this was my first Neil Gaiman novel and my interest in the fantasy genre extends as far as George Martin. I was old-fashioned wrong! Ocean was terrific. Ocean was a simple and unpretentious story about a childhood experience. Similar to Martel’s “Life of Pi”, there’s much more happening here if the reader/listener bothers to delve underneath the surface.

Gaiman has an expert sense of the fears and anxieties that fuel the behaviors of a 7-year-old child. He also captures the magical thinking that children use to understand and negotiate their environments. Gaiman’s child has yet to be overtaken by the realities of science and logic. As a result, the reader is taken into imaginative situations only available through the mind of a child. The insights that come out of Ocean are refreshing and creative.

Ocean is very entertaining and never boring. The audiobook is also very manageable at roughly 5 hours in length and only a handful of characters to track. Ocean is well worth your investment in time and money.

A childhood tale for adults

I had no expectations about this book. I really not heard of it and did not know the Author, but I am very happy to have met him.

This book was well written and so enjoyable. It made me open my imagination, I loved how free that made me feel. The Letty character was wonderful as were the rest of Hemstead ladies. Every child who is having difficulty fitting in should have the Heamstedas in their lives.

I could listen to Neil Gaiman read the dictonary

I mostly listen to books only once. But this is one of the rare books that I listen to again and again. Neil Gaiman is one of the best narrators and listening to him read his own novels is magic. He's a brilliant author and this novel is one of his best.

A story that is everything

Gaiman gives you a fairytale, nightmare, lovestory all intertwined into a tale that is both new and legend in your mental story archive.