I hadnt read Neil Gaiman until I picked up American Gods, which was an awesome book. I found out afterward that he also wrote Coraline and Stardust (I liked the movies, havent read the books.) Impressive resume when it comes to creative concepts. So I picked up his new book, The Ocean at the End of the Lane. Not really impressed. The writing is fairly solid, but it really seems like a uninspired mash-up of Coraline and Stardust. For instance, it has... an otherworldly cat, Other Mother type antagonist figure, a mystical world that is accessed simply by crossing a field, many references to sewing and cutting, a kid with a less than optimal home-life that encounters all of the above. It also has a shit ending, but that is subjective. I dont like it when a person who I admire for their ability to surprise falls so short (ahem, James Cameron.) I also dont like when a book thats less than 200 pages is $20 because of the bio on the dust jacket. P.S. Im thinking that Gaiman has a weird obsession with coins and coin-shaped objects (buttons.) Through the magic of half-assed, armchair psychoanalysis Ive determined that he must have a massive gambling problem. Now lets just wait and see if Im right...
Posted on: Thu, 28 Nov 2013 19:15:46 +0000
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