The Graveyard Book
by Neil Gaiman
illustrated by David Mckean
Published: 2008
Genre: Coming of Age, Ghosts, Paranormal
Hardback: 320 pages
Rating: 5
Inspiration: love Gaiman's work and to fulfill my challenges for R.I.P. iv, Helluva Halloween and Newbery Awards
Description from amazon:
Nobody Owens, known to his friends as Bod, is a normal boy.
He would be completely normal if he didn't live in a sprawling graveyard, being raised and educated by ghosts, with a solitary guardian who belongs to neither the world of the living nor of the dead.
There are dangers and adventures in the graveyard for a boy-an ancient Indigo Man beneath the hill, a gateway to a desert leading to an abandoned city of ghouls, the strange and terrible menace of the Sleer.
But if Bod leaves the graveyard, then he will come under attack from the man Jack—who has already killed Bod's family. . . .
Beloved master storyteller Neil Gaiman returns with a luminous new novel for the audience that embraced his New York Times bestselling modern classic Coraline. Magical, terrifying, and filled with breathtaking adventures, the graveyard book is sure to enthrall readers of all ages.
My thoughts:In-a-word: Jack
Very Gaiman. Very entertaining. Very.
Life lessons spun into a graveyard setting. What a concept! and it works!
And, the velvet count was high! Some authors have favorite words they like to incorporate in their works. I noticed that Gaiman uses velvet at least once in all the books I've read to date. I love it! Of course, being that my name is Velvet I'm a bit biased.
Blogosphere bit:
When Neil was on tour last year he recorded the readings of each chapter of the book. I had the pleasure of listening to him live during the San Francisco reading of chapter six, Nobody Owens School Days.
If you don't have the book or would be delighted to hear Neil read Go listen to the whole book. It's free. GO.
Side note:
I couldn't help it. I was reminded of this poem I learned in Jr. High every time I came across Nobody's name.
I'm nobody! Who are you?
by Emily Dickenson
I'm nobody! Who are you?
Are you nobody, too?
Then there's a pair of us -don't tell!
They'd banish us, you know.
How dreary to be somebody!
How public, like a frog
To tell your name the livelong day
To an admiring bog!
