Because last month was Neil Gaiman for author of the month, I thought I would review Coraline today.
Coraline by Neil Gaiman
Published by Harper Trophy in 2002
This is the fourth book I have read by Neil Gaiman. I have also read Good Omens (which he wrote with Terry Pratchett), Stardust, and Neverwhere. I keep on reading him because I keep on enjoying his books. I think Stardust is probably my favourite, and I cannot wait to see the movie (it looks really good), but this was an enjoyable read as well.The day after they moved in,
Coraline went exploring....In Coraline's family's new flat are twenty-one windows and fourteen doors. Thirteen of the doors open and close.
The fourteenth is locked, and on the other side is only a brick wall, until the day Coraline unlocks the door to find a passage to another flat in another house just like her own.
Only it's different.
At first, things seem marvelous in the other flat. The food is better. The toy box is filled with wind-up angels that flutter around the bedroom, books whose pictures writhe and crawl and shimmer, little dinosaur skulls that chatter their teeth. But there's another mother, and another father, and they want Coraline to stay with them and be their little girl. They want to change her and never let her go.
Other children are trapped there as well, lost souls behind the mirrors. Coraline is their only hope of rescue. She will have to fight with all her wits and all the tools she can find if she is to save the lost children, her ordinary life, and herself.
Critically acclaimed and award-winning author Neil Gaiman will delight readers with his first novel for all ages.
For those of you planning on joining in with Stainless Steel Droppings R.I.P. Challenge this year, this is a perfect book! Very dark and creepy, that's for sure. It could almost be called a faery tale, but a very dark one. This book is perfect for children because when you are growing up there are always moments when you feel like your parents are not doing everything that they can for you, and that you sometimes wish that you had different ones. So, when Coraline explores her house and finds a secret door to a new family, for a time it seems like a dream come true. No matter how much they looked like her parents, though, and how much they treated her like their whole world, they were not the parents that had raised her and they were not the parents that she wanted to live with forever.
While this book is perfect for all ages, it is also a very good adventure story for the young reader, and it reminds the older readers of just how bad it was to be living with the folks from time to time. It is only a short book, 194 pages, but it fits those pages. It does not feel rushed, it flows very well, and there are lots of interesting characters to meet in both words. There is also a cat, which, I think is a great addition to the cast of characters. Coraline is a smart girl, and Gaiman shows what it is like to be young very well.
Overall, another great Gaiman for readers everywhere to enjoy. One of these days I might pick up the audio version because I have heard good things about it. I think that everyone should read Gaiman, though, very worth the time!
11 comments:
Great review, and I love your blog! It's gorgeous. I don't know if you knew this, but Coraline is also being made into a movie. Can't wait for that one too! My favorite Gaiman is American God's. It's one of the best books I've ever read. Check it out, I think you'd like it.
I looooved Coraline when I read it awhile back. Great review!
The only other Gaiman I've read is American Gods. I need to bump more of his stuff up on my list!
Wow, I didn't know that Caroline was being made into a movie. Thanks for that! I started American Gods earlier this year, but I misplaced it. I intend to get back to it very soon, though. :)
Thanks for the review, my mum bought me this book when it came out and haven't yet read it. I am about to start Neverwhere and really enjoyed The Sandman graphic novels as well as parts of Smoke and Mirrors.
I have read the first Sandman graphic novel. I forgot to include that in my list above. I want to read the rest, but I have so many other books to read first...
Gaiman is one of my fav authors. There are still a few by him I have to get to, but so far, everything I've read I've enjoyed.
Wonderful review! I thoroughly enjoyed Coraline, too. The only Gaiman I've read, and I suppose I really ought to try out more, huh?
This is a really good review. And the new format looks beautiful :-) I have also only ever read Gaiman's American Gods, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I also have Stardust on my bookshelf, but like so many books on my shelf, I haven't read it yet. Maybe I should add Coraline to the pile, though! It sounds like it would be a beautiful movie, too.
fence: I have enjoyed everything I have read by him too!
debi: Thanks for the compliment. You really should read more Gaiman!
Aarti: You NEED to read Stardust, it was a great read. Coraline wouldn't hurt either!
I've read nothing but good reviews for Coraline. I've added it to my TBR list. I plan to start Stardust by monday. It will be my first Gaiman book. I look forward to it. Thanks for the great review!
i am only 10 years old and i thoyght this was the best book ihave ever read!!!! it is so insoiring and creative!! that is my favorite book...now
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