The Ocean at the End of the Lane
Neil Gaiman
Illustrated by Elise Hurst
Headline
Hachette Australia
ISBN: 9781472260239
RRP $45.00
Description:
From New York Times bestselling writer Neil Gaiman, comes a novel of memory, magic and survival, about the power of stories and the darkness inside each of us.
A special Christmas edition of the bestseller.
WINNER OF THE SPECSAVERS NATIONAL BOOK AWARDS 2013 BOOK OF THE YEAR
It began for our narrator forty years ago when the family lodger stole their car and committed suicide in it, stirring up ancient powers best left undisturbed. Dark creatures from beyond the world are on the loose, and it will take everything our narrator has just to stay alive. There is primal horror here, and menace unleashed – within his family and from the forces that have gathered to destroy it.
His only defense is three women, on a farm at the end of the lane. The youngest of them claims that her duck pond is an ocean. The oldest can remember the Big Bang.
THE OCEAN AT THE END OF THE LANE is a fable that reshapes modern fantasy: moving, terrifying and elegiac – as pure as a dream, as delicate as a butterfly’s wing, as dangerous as a knife in the dark.
My View:
Such effortless, amazing storytelling!
I was delighted with every aspect of this book, from the exquisite effortless crafting of this perfect narrative to the wonderful production qualities; the hardback covers, the thick deluxe paper, to the slightly eerie, gothic like evocative drawings…this book has it all. This is magical realism at is finest.
This is the perfect gift for the book lover/book collector in your life (or… yourself) J
Reading, Writing and Riesling 
Very interesting-sounding blend of fantasy/speculative fiction and a suspenseful plot, Carol. And sometimes, magical realism can be a very effective way way to tell a story. It sounds as though there are some memorable characters, too, which makes it all even better.
I highly recommend this one Margot – it’s so moving
Sounds very tempting. I was lucky enough to win a signed sample of this one and seeing you and Theresa Smith read and review it so highly in the last few weeks has made me think I should get to this a little sooner 🙂
I loved everything about this – I’ll certainly be seeking this author out in the future
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