So this happened.

Last Friday on our way back home from work we took a quick detour to the local bookstore and took home with us the new Neil Gaiman novel: Ocean at the end of the lane. I had also ordered it on Amazon, but it would had arrived a week later, and therefor cancelled it. It’s a Neil Gaiman novel for god’s sake, you don’t wait around with that.

The first Gaiman novel I read was The American Gods. I was hooked on the magic, the quirkiness and sad realism it portrays. It’s still one of my favorite novels ever and I full-heartedly recommend everyone to read it. I can also vouch for Neverwhere, Anansi Boys and The Graveyard Book. They should keep you busy and enchanted for a while. And of course, all The Sandman comics (they make a great Christmas present.)

I’m still digesting it, which I just finished today. Reading was a very beautiful experience, its lucid yet dreamlike and it doesn’t have any of the melodrama that most genrebooks pride themselves in. I also enjoyed the pacing of it. It’s a very different Gaiman story; it still has all of his classic elements of magic, clever writing and dark realism, but it also has something new, something that wasn’t there before. This time it feels mature as if Neil Gaiman grew up. The feeling is hard to describe but I’d say it doesn’t have the same adventure and coming-of-age feeling as his previous novels did.

I’m not yet sure what to make out of it yet, but I have a feeling that even when I appreciate Neil Gaiman’s mature take on life, I’m not quite ready to grow up with him yet, I still like my share of boyish adventure.

Kaija also picked up Casual Vacancy on sale. We’re both big fans of Harry Potter (well duh, obviously) so she was curious. I was too, but the first impressions have left me cold. Maybe I’ll warm up to it eventually, when I’m more grown up. :)

I’m curious to know what you guys have thought of these novels.

Love,
Silver