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The Graveyard Book [Paperback]

Neil Gaiman
4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
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Book Description

Sep 20 2010

It takes a graveyard to raise a child.

Nobody Owens, known as Bod, is a normal boy. He would be completely normal if he didn't live in a graveyard, being raised by ghosts, with a guardian who belongs to neither the world of the living nor the dead. There are adventures in the graveyard for a boy—an ancient Indigo Man, a gateway to the abandoned city of ghouls, the strange and terrible Sleer. But if Bod leaves the graveyard, he will be in danger from the man Jack—who has already killed Bod's family.


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Review

“THE GRAVEYARD BOOK, by turns exciting and witty, sinister and tender, shows Gaiman at the top of his form. In this novel of wonder, Neil Gaiman follows in the footsteps of long-ago storytellers, weaving a tale of unforgettable enchantment.” (New York Times Book Review)

“Like a bite of dark Halloween chocolate, this novel proves rich, bittersweet and very satisfying.” (Washington Post)

“Wistful, witty, wise—and creepy. This needs to be read by anyone who is or has ever been a child.” (Kirkus Reviews (starred review))

“This is an utterly captivating tale that is cleverly told through an entertaining cast of ghostly characters. There is plenty of darkness, but the novel’s ultimate message is strong and life affirming….this is a rich story with broad appeal. ” (Booklist (starred review))

“Lucid, evocative prose and dark fairy-tale motifs imbue the story with a dreamlike quality. …this ghost-story-cum-coming-of-age-novel as readable as it is accomplished.” (Horn Book (starred review))

“This is, quite frankly, the best book Neil Gaiman has ever written. How he has managed to combine fascinating, friendly, frightening and fearsome in one fantasy I shall never know, but he has pulled it off magnificently - perfect for Halloween and any other time of the year.” (Diana Wynne Jones, author of The Chronicles of Chrestomanci)

“I wish my younger self could have had the opportunity to read and re-read this wonderful book, and my older self wishes that I had written it.” (Garth Nix, author of The Abhorsen Trilogy)

“It takes a graveyard to raise a child. My favorite thing about this book was watching Bod grow up in his fine crumbly graveyard with his dead and living friends. The Graveyard Book is another surprising and terrific book from Neil Gaiman.” (Audrey Niffenegger, author of The Time Traveler's Wife)

“After finishing The Graveyard Book, I had only one thought — I hope there’s more. I want to see more of the adventures of Nobody Owens, and there is no higher praise for a book.” (Laurell K. Hamilton, author of the Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter novels)

“The Graveyard Book is endlessly inventive, masterfully told and, like Bod himself, too clever to fit into only one place. This is a book for everyone. You will love it to death.” (Holly Black, co–creator of The Spiderwick Chronicles)

“The Graveyard Book manages the remarkable feat of playing delightful jazz riffs on Kipling’s classic Jungle Books. One might call this book a small jewel, but in fact it’s much bigger within than it looks from the outside.” (Peter S. Beagle, author of The Last Unicorn)

The Graveyard Book is everything everyone loves about Neil Gaiman, only multiplied many times over, a novel that showcases his effortless feel for narrative, his flawless instincts for suspense, and above all, his dark, almost silky sense of humor. (Joe Hill, author of Heart–Shaped Box)

From the Back Cover

In this ingenious and captivating reimagining of Rudyard Kipling’s classic adventure The Jungle Book, Neil Gaiman tells the unforgettable story of Nobody Owens, a living, breathing boy whose home is a graveyard, raised by a guardian who belongs neither to the mortal world nor the realm of the dead. Among the mausoleums and headstones of his home, Bod experiences things most mortals can barely imagine. But real, flesh-and-blood danger waits just outside the cemetery walls: the man who murdered the infant Bod’s family will not rest until he finds Nobody Owens and finishes the job he began many years ago.

A #1 New York Times bestseller and winner of many international awards, including the Hugo Award for best novel and the Locus Award, The Graveyard Book is a glorious meditation on love, loss, survival, and sacrifice...and what it means to truly be alive.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Customer Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5 stars
Most helpful customer reviews
36 of 36 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars It takes a graveyard Oct 9 2008
By E. A Solinas HALL OF FAME TOP 10 REVIEWER
Format:Hardcover
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.
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Gaiman is a great story-teller! Nov 15 2012
By Darlene TOP 50 REVIEWER
Format:Audio CD
This book has won a ton of literary awards, including: Hugo Award for Best Novel (2009), Newbery Medal (2009), Locus Award for Best Young Adult Novel (2009), World Fantasy Award Nominee for Best Novel (2009), Mythopoeic Fantasy Award Nominee for Children's Literature (2009), Cybils Award for Middle Grade Fantasy & Science Fiction (2008), Audie Award for Audiobook of the Year (2009), An ALA Notable Children's Book for Middle Readers (2009), ALA Teens' Top Ten (2009), Michigan Library Association Thumbs Up! Award Nominee (2009), Indies Choice Book Award for Best Indie Young Adult Buzz Book (Fiction): (2009), Carnegie Medal in Literature (2010), and British Fantasy Award Nominee for Best Novel (2009).

The Graveyard Book is a fun read, with a dash of creepiness thrown in! It's a bit of a dark tale and it sounds horrid, but there is no graphic violence. The book is rated suitable for ages 12 and up.

At the outset of the book, we learn that a man named Jack has killed a family trio: Mom, dad, and their daughter. However, the baby manages to escape from his crib and slide down the stairs on his bottom and toddle out the front door. The baby makes his way up the hill to the cemetery, and a ghostly couple named Mr. and Mistress Owens finds him asleep on the ground. They hear the man named Jack banging on the cemetery gates, trying to get in. The child's parents, now ghosts themselves, beg Mr. and Mistress Owens to protect their baby. The couple never had children of their own, and Mistress Owens is thrilled to raise the child that she never had herself. The child is raised by Mr. and Mistress Owen in the graveyard, but his guardian is Silas who is a member of the Honour Guard that protects both the living and the dead. No one knows the child's name, and he is given the name of Nobody ("Bod" for short) Owens. Because he is a part of the graveyard, he is able to develop certain skills unknown to other humans, such as fading and being able to pass through solid objects. In the graveyard, he is protected from Jack and Bod is warned that it is dangerous for him beyond the cemetery gates. As Bod grows older, he wants to explore the world outside the cemetery but doing so puts Jack back on Bod's trail!

Memorable quote:

"It's like the people who believe they'll be happy if they go and live somewhere else, but who learn it doesn't work that way. Wherever you go, you take yourself with you." - Silas

Gaiman is a new-to-me author, and this was a great Halloween read! I particularly liked Miss Lupescu, Bod's teacher in the graveyard who could shape-shift into lupine form! It wasn't until near the end of the story that we finally learn why Jack is after Bod. I think that Gaiman is a great story-teller, and I will definitely read more of his work.

This version of the audiobook is narrated by Gaiman himself. I quite liked his reading, and I thought he did a fine job.

MY RATING: 4 stars!! It was really good! You should put it on your "To Be Read" list.
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By TONY O
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Neil Gaiman
what a great story teller
i could not put this book down
really
why it has not been made into a movie
is beyond me.
somebody please working on this
Spielberg..........wake up man
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Most recent customer reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars Gaiman's Graveyard has good bones
This book feels a little like a series of short stories about one boy growing up. The stories are all excellent on their own and together they form a quilt of wonder that wrapped... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Mr. Robin Young
5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it!
Another great read from a master at fantasy story telling. What can you say that hasn't already been said? This story was very quick read. I think I read it in two sittings. Read more
Published 4 months ago by MisswdMw
5.0 out of 5 stars Very Interesting and Will read again
I would definitively recommend for younger readers and for their parents. I love children's literature it allows for a certain escape from some of the harsher realities of the... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Reader
3.0 out of 5 stars A Fine Novel, but not Gaiman's Finest.
From any other author, I would probably be more lenient with The Graveyard book and hail it as excellent work but as all of Gaiman's work is excellent, I must grade this on a... Read more
Published 6 months ago by hyperbeeb
5.0 out of 5 stars Grave Circumstances
Neil Gaiman has proven that time and again he can write the most incredible and unique fantasy stories. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Dave_42
5.0 out of 5 stars Frighteningly good!
Gaiman is an author who appeals to young and old -- sort of a British Stephen King. A terrific imagination powers this book, along with a great sensitivity to how real people would... Read more
Published 10 months ago by GregT
5.0 out of 5 stars Neil wows me again!
Neil Gaiman is an incredible writer, and his homage to Kipling's "The Jungle Book" is a gem of so-called children's literature (by that I mean that you can enjoy at any age). Read more
Published 12 months ago by G. Larouche
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 19 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 on Oct 2 2010 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 on May 13 2010 by Diana
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