The Graveyard Book [Hardcover]

 

 

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Imagine Rudyard Kipling's "Jungle Book"... but replace the animals with ghosts, ghouls, werewolves and other such supernatural creatures.

Such is the concept of "The Graveyard Book," which cleverly turns Kipling's classic story into an exquisitely-written, darkly witty fantasy. While it starts as the assorted supernatural adventures of a young boy raised by ghosts, the story slowly evolves into a beautifully ghastly confrontation between Nobody Owens and the people who want to do him harm.

"There was a hand in the darkness, and it held a knife." A man named Jack kills an innocent family at night -- except for a baby boy, who toddles out to the graveyard.

With the approval of the Lady on the Grey, the Owens ghosts adopt the boy, whom they name Nobody (or "Bod" for short), and the mysterious not-dead-or-alive Silas is appointed his guardian. Bod slowly grows up, but his upbringing is hardly ordinary -- he is taught by a Hound of God, wanders into the horrific realm of Ghulheim, watches a danse macabre, and befriends a witch's spirit from the Potter's Field.

But the man named Jack is still out there, and for some reason he (and the organization he works for) still wants to kill Bod. And though Silas and the ghosts are trying to keep him safe, Bod is becoming curious about the world of living humans -- and about the man who murdered his family. And when they come for him, he'll be ready.

The world of Neil Gaiman is never a safe place -- it's always painted in shadows and shades of grey, and something horrible may be lurking around the corner. And the world of "The Graveyard Book" is no exception to this -- it's filled with strange supernatural creatures, hellish red cities with decayed moons overhead, and midnight parades where ghosts dance with the living.

The world of the graveyard is an intriguing one -- moonlight, crumbly headstones, a little stone church, and a creepy barrow where the Sleer lurk. From a lesser author this would be kind of boring, but Gaiman's beautiful prose brings it to life ("There was a silent implosion, a flutter of velvet darkness, and Silas was gone").

And Gaiman explores Bod's childhood with dark humour ("Can you imagine how fine a drink the black ichor that collects in leaden coffins can be?") and adventure. But the tone changes as Bod grows older, especially with the creepily professional Jack and his cohorts slowly closing in on him. It's a coming-of-age tale, and a bittersweet, sometimes terrifying one.

Bod himself is a lovable kid, who slowly explores first the world of the graveyard and then the world of the living. He's both ruthless and kind, sweet and strong. The mysterious Silas -- whose true nature is only revealed late in the book -- serves as a kindly but stern mentor, who pretty clearly loves young Bod like a father.

And there's a pretty wide supporting cast -- Bod's childhood friend Scarlett is rather bratty, but the ghosts make up for that. The snappy, witty witch Eliza, the kindly Owenses, Mother Slaughter, the fussy Mr. Pennyworth, and the schoolteacherish substitute guardian Miss Lupescu all round out the cast. And with only a few lines, Gaiman makes them seem practically real.

"The Graveyard Book" is a beautifully written, bittersweet coming-of-age tale with some moments of pure creepiness. A magnificent fantasy story, which is not to be missed.

*** SPOILERS ALERT!! ***

I really, really liked this book. And no, it's not because I'm madly in love with Neil Gaiman (seriously ' he looks like a rock star!), but because he can write a damn good book. The Graveyard Book falls into the category of Juvenile/Children books, according to Neil. I've only read two other books of his from this category ' Stardust and Coraline ' and I was intrigued the whole way through both of them. Enough so that I tried to read them in any instance I had, in any spare moment of time. Even the movies were wonderful. But maybe I'm just biased.

Back to The Graveyard Book.

On the first page, we learn the fate of the main character's family. It was a scary beginning, which made me wonder what age exactly a 'juvenile' is, but I trudged through (at 28 years old, I figured I could take it). The family is killed right off the bat by the man Jack (from the order of the Jacks of All Trades) and the main character, a toddler of just over a year at the time, manages to escape. He finds his way to the local graveyard and is adopted as part of a family of ghosts in a graveyard and from then on his name is Nobody ' Bod, for short.

Bod grows up like any normal kid, learning his ABC's by doing gravestone rubbings, taking classes from the local graveyard ghosts, and learning lessons from his guardian, Silas (who isn't dead and isn't alive, but is 'in between'), and his alternate Mrs. Lupescu. He's given 'Freedom of the Graveyard,' sees 'as the dead do' and learns how to fade (i.e. disappear), dreamwalk, and how to instill fear in people.

Wait? That's not normal? Well, it's normal for Bod.

If you've ever read the Lemony Snicket books, The Graveyard Book is very reminiscent of them ' without the goofy language. Instead of a whole series of short novels, Bod has many adventures in this book ' he goes to school, he meets the 'Sleer', he meets Scarlett, he meets Liza the Witch ' and they all manage to tie together quite nicely for a slightly-expected ending.

My only disappointment was that Scarlett and her mom move back to Scotland, where they were originally from. The romantic in me wanted her to stay and for her and Bod to have more adventures ' maybe in future books. I don't think that Neil is planning on releasing more books in the series, which is okay because everything is resolved in the end (though he does leave a few ends hanging just slightly, which could work for a sequel). I was also sad that Bod eventually doesn't see his graveyard family anymore, having grown up and all.

The illustrations throughout, by Dave McKean, are great, though sometimes I was left staring at them wondering how they are depicting the story at certain points. The illustrations aren't distracting at all, and are quite lovely, but sometimes I wanted more of them ' they really only appear at the beginning of each chapter for a few pages, and again at the end of the book.

I would recommend this to readers, young and old, who want something different, something that makes them smile in wonder and amazement, and something with enough mystery and fantasy for all.

I can add no more to EA Solinas' wonderful review of The Graveyard Book. I sought it out after hearing it praised by bookshop owners on CBC Radio. I was not disappointed. This book's adroit handling of sensitive subject matter (the mysterious murder of a sleeping family)and well fleshed characterization make it one of the best reads I have had in months. Particularly notable in that it is juvenile fiction. Engrossing and highly recommended.

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4.0 out of 5 stars Too Ghoul for School
After a run of stinky book and comic-book projects, Gaiman returned to form with this riff on Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book that won several major awards, including children's... Read more

Published 4 months ago by Jonathan Stover

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it!
If I could give this book ten stars, I would. This is the first Gaiman book and most likely, it won't be my last. Read more

Published 16 months ago by A Customer

5.0 out of 5 stars The Graveyard Book
Like a talented spider, Neil Gaiman spins his dark web. After reading any of his children's books I'm left wondering if I should equate him to Stephen King for kids or Lemony... Read more

Published 21 months ago by Diana

4.0 out of 5 stars a quality fairy tale written for adolescents and adults
While not quite on the same level as 'Willow' or 'The Golden Compass', the author does take us on a worthwhile and imaginative journey from infancy, through death and, finally,... Read more

Published 21 months ago by Ronald W. Maron

5.0 out of 5 stars Suspense and Mystery
There is a hand in the darkness, and that hand carries a knife. The knife has dispatched nearly an entire family, and the man holding it is on his way to kill the baby... Read more

Published on Dec 29 2009 by K. Edwards

5.0 out of 5 stars Gaiman writes another impossible-to-put-down read
From Loren Keim, author of How to Sell Your Home in Any Market:

Neil Gaiman is a remarkably talented writer who takes you on journey's far beyond the average... Read more

Published on Aug 26 2009 by Loren Keim

4.0 out of 5 stars Good story of Nobody
I liked this book as much as I have enjoyed Neil G.'s other childrens writting athough I probably would not have bought it if I had realized I had already read the best couple... Read more

Published on Aug 18 2009 by A. Baker

5.0 out of 5 stars A Modern Classic

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman is an honest book. It is that rare book that tells the truth about living in a way that continues to draw you deeper and deeper into the... Read more

Published on April 20 2009 by Peter Cantelon

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for all ages; a fresh supernatural story
This book is a winner from the first chapter onwards. It's great for kids not only from 9-12 but from 12-100 as well! Read more

Published on April 7 2009 by killerwhaletank

5.0 out of 5 stars The Dream Team, at it again!
Once again, the powerhouse of Gaiman and McKean has turned out a children's book that manages to be so much more. Read more

Published on Mar 24 2009 by Mariella Villalobos

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