The Graveyard Book

I wanted to like this and I did. But I'm too old and I don't read enough young adult fiction to enjoy the merely good, and despite winning the Newbery, that's all The Graveyard Book is. There were flashes of real brilliance—ghouls describing the pleasures of ghoulery comes to mind—but overall it was diligence and competence from someone who can do much more. (Some of Gaiman's stories are among the best I've read.) The episodic structure was by turns enjoyable and frustrating. Bod's entry into school felt particularly underdeveloped—it felt like plot development, and turned out to be a dead-end and fake-out. Most disappointing was the failure to make me care deeply enough about the main character. We never get into his head, and show more his personality and character as the story progresses seems useful (and mostly static), rather than realistic or earned. Most young readers would, I think, instantly identify with Bod as the main character and the kid in the story and fill in the emotional details to their satisfaction. Adults, I think, require something more than that, or it feels "flat." Sure, it's unfair to judge a kids' book by adult standards. But isn't that what distinguishes the truly excellent kids books—reaching the kid in the adult, and the adult in the kid? show less

A true flight-of-fancy, The Graveyard Book is a perfect example of just where a vivid imagination can lead; where a fascinating construct of a world can leap into existence from an author musing and pondering amidst locales at once commonplace, yet seeped in mystery, and which also hold an underlying menace – places such as a graveyard.

Encompassing a simple but sinister beginning, a precocious child, woken by the sounds of his family’s murderer, habitually escapes his cot, and therefore his own demise, by toddling off out the open front-door of his home and into the nearby graveyard. Here he is – now orphaned - embraced by the resident ghosts, the Owens, and given a home and protection from this man who has inexplicably killed show more all his family and who, it stands to reason, must still be hunting him. Thus starts a series of adventures for Nobody Owens – Bod for short (some things never change, even in a graveyard) - with his new life, growing up in this otherworld under the watch of a formidable guardian, Silas.

This veritable ‘coming-of-age’ tale basically comprises episodic chapters which recount Bod’s progression, participation and education through the years in his adopted world – and whose occupants and social rules differ wildly to those found standard beyond the gates. And here lies the delight and the joy – to me – espoused in the narrative. Whereas some readers may consider the account disjointed I enjoyed each instalment, enchanted by the inspired creativity meticulously built into Bod’s place and amongst the characters populating this sphere: the Freedom of the Graveyard, the lessons on Fading and Sliding and Dreamwalking and the inclusion of each owner’s epitaph, within their name and to depict their individuality - all afforded me immense satisfaction and entertainment.

For those expecting a taut plot–line then I suspect you may be disappointed; for those readers willing to ensconce themselves in an inventively-crafted, original concept regarding numerous real-estates haunting our urban environs, this book will be an absolute pleasure to read - a real treat. Superbly illustrated, this chronicles a fresh and unique vision, if at times quite dark; a whimsical exposition of Gothic fantasy. On the cover of my copy of The Graveyard Book there is a quote from author Diana Wynne Jones: ”The best book Neil Gaiman has ever written"; and I concur. What’s more, I shall never peruse a graveyard in quite the same manner again…

(Jun 17, 2009) show less

Let me start by saying: everyone in my town must be crazy, because I got this from the library and there isn't even a waiting list. What?!? So strange. But anyhow, did anyone else see Gaiman talk about this book on the Colbert Report? Gaiman is incredibly quick witted, and the interview was quite funny... he held his own against Colbert, and it's definitely worth checking out! It certainly improved my level of respect for the man: he can speak well AND write well!

But, back to the book. So much has been said about this book that I feel there's little I can add, other than to go ahead and recommend it. There were a few occasions when the events of specific chapters seemed a bit random (but they were still very entertaining!) and I wonder show more if that's the influence of the Jungle Book coming through, perhaps those were chapters that were modeled after Kipling's work? After reading this, I think I will track down a copy of the Jungle Books and read them, as I suspect they'll be very worthwhile and nothing like the Disney film (as great as it is!).

I wouldn't say that the Graveyard Book is necessarily great reading for children on their own, but you know what? Children need more healthy fear in their lives, because sheltering them suppresses imagination... if I had a kid, I'd probably read this book with them and talk about it together.

In the end, it was a fun read with great writing, from an author who refuses to cater to the "norm" of today's children's fiction. I read it all yesterday afternoon, without a break - so when you pick this one up, be sure to give yourself a nice chunk of time to sit and enjoy it! show less

A re-read for me, the first time through for Charlie. Between readings of Gaiman, I tend to forget how he rarely comes right out and tells you anything at all, but instead hints at things and has things peak round corners at you, shows you a quarter of a smile, or half a talon. I love him for that. And I loved reading this one to Charlie and watching out of the corner of my eye as he soaked all that in, along with the fantastic story, the idea that there are so many ways to tell a thing, that some of the best of them are ways that involve not actually telling the thing at all.

This Newbery Medal award winner is marvelous. It is first and foremost a creative work of genius.

Baby Nobody Owens was saved from the fate of the rest of his family who were brutally murdered. A wandering soul, unaware of what was transpiring in the house, he crawled out of his crib, down the steps, out of the house and crawled into the safety of a cemetery.

There the ghosts noticed a dark lanky menacing figure with a knife who sought the baby. When the spirit of the newly departed mother begged the ghosts to keep him safe, they complied. It took a village of spirits to raise the baby toward a life of safety and eventual freedom.

There were many themes in this book, including a Christ-like analogy of a baby destined to confront evil after show more escaping death at the hands of persecutors who sought to slay him because he was other worldly.

The humor amid the seriousness is a delight to behold, especially when Nobody traipses through the cemetery reading tombstones, discovering and communicating with historical figures, including the nameless “33rd President of the United States.”

As Nobody comes of age, he realizes that those in the cemetery remain the same and yet he changes. As he matures and ventures into the outside world, he realizes that to live, he must experience the pain of being “real.”

Highly recommended. show less

This was my first book by Neil Gaiman, and I loved it. Loved, loved, loved it. In Nobody (Bod) Owens, Gaiman has created an endearing portrait of childhood with all its attendant inquisitiveness, humor, curiousity, fear, and sweetness. Bod exists in a charming world – a graveyard – populated with wonderfully imagined characters, and I love how Gaiman brought it all to life (no pun intended!). While there is darkness and suspense in this story, it is more than balanced out by the humor and love with which Bod is surrounded. I laughed out loud, and teared up, at various times, and did not want the story to end. And it was such a bittersweet ending, a perfect conclusion to a wonderful book. I am looking forward to sharing this with my show more little cousins (currently aged 5 and 2) when they are old enough. show less

This children's novel that adults will love too starts with the murder of an entire family. Except one toddler boy, whose adventurous spirit makes him escape his bed, his nursery, the house and even the street. He manages to toddle into a graveyard, usually one of the more frightening places to be. But this one choice saved his life, because all those ghosts from the graves, along with others that aren't quite human, protect him, nurture him, and keep him from the murderer. They don't just do this for the night, but they adopt him, give him the freedom of the graveyard (along with some ghost-like powers), and take care of him for the rest of his upbringing. The school lessons from various ghost teachers hardly go beyond the 19th show more century, as most buried there lived centuries ago. But it is nevertheless benign, and mildly useful for the boy, known as Nobody Owens. Besides, in the graveyard, where all these beings protect him, things are safe from the murderers who never stop looking for the boy.

What marks out this novel as one of Gaiman's best for me is the wonderful juxtaposition between a boy full of adventure and curiosity, and his fenced-in world, full of death and constraint. It is strangely life-affirming, almost pleading with us all to make the most of the short lives we have, when we can make a difference to the world. Because after our deaths, even if there were such a thing as ghosts, our mark on the world ends, as does our freedom to experience what we choose.

Of course, being Gaiman, it is also wildly imaginative, with us always kept on our toes about what supernatural being is good or evil (many roles are flipped against the convention). It is also dark, violent, occasionally disturbing, but always gripping and a great privilege to read. show less