The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Graveyard Book
Book Review: A story about living told amongst the dead.
Summary: 5 Stars
Growing up, I spent 10 days of my every summer at a religious revival we call "Camp Meeting". One of my ancestors helped found the place, a large square of wooden shacks that we call "tents" create a massive commons with an open-air arbor in the center. I spent time in my crib there, and we still go back every year.
There were three places for hanging out at Camp Meeting: The Spring, where buckets no longer drew water for cooking and washing, but kids now engaged in water fights with plastic red cups, and older ones would sneak off for a kiss or clutch. The Stand, a large building in the corner full of candy and confection, where we ate french fries and played cards. And the old cemetery off of one corner, a place for pranks and daring.
The cemetery is gated off now, likely due to the sort of romping that went ignored when I was a child. Back then it was wide open, and we dashed through the headstones, without a care in the world. During the day, the place filled my young head with a false sense of importance. A large chunk of the headstones bore my last name in one of two spellings, a nod to my confused, illiterate, oddly-branching family tree. Still, these were my people, and having so much family in the place made me invincible here. It made this a place that I could roam at night, without the chills and tingles that plagued some of the others.
And the cemetery at night was different-a place for dares. A place to lure younger kids and frighten them. Later, a place to bring a sweetheart so that she could see how brave we were, and to possibly confuse that sensation of fear for something else... In this way the cemetery changed as quickly as we did, even as it stayed the same. Now it is just a cemetery. A sad and quiet place to visit with my wife, share stories from my past, and watch her marvel at the spattering of surnames that are like my own.
When I picked up Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book and started reading, my own ghosts came and read along with me. Gaiman's graveyard is a place of peace, adventure, and learning. A nature preserve by day, and a haunted hill at night. Dozens of generations of the deceased, going back to Celtic and Roman days, populate the book. And his story of a young boy growing up in this ancient cemetery, raised by ghosts and keen in the ways of the dead, reminded me very much of my old graveyard at Pleasant Grove Campground.
The book also reminded me of Ender's Game, one of my favorite reads of all time. By the end of the book I was completely attached to the young protagonist, Nobody "Bod" Owens, in a way that I have not been since meeting Ender Wiggins. Like Ender, Bod is introduced to us at a very young age and we watch him mature quickly under harsh and unusual circumstances. I felt protective of Bod in the beginning for his fragility and then awed by the end of the book for his wisdom and strength. It is an inspiring journey for young and old readers alike.
"The Graveyard Book" begins with the brutal murder of Bod's family when he is still in a crib and diapers. Toddling obliviously away from danger, the child ends up in a nearby cemetery where the resident ghosts argue about what to do with him. The Owens, an elderly couple long-deceased, decide to adopt the boy and raise him as their own. Taught in the ways of ghosts, and given powers entrusted to residents of the graveyard, Bod endures growing pains that will be familiar to readers of all ages. But Bod's learning comes from fantastical adventures with the dead, the living, and some things in-between.
For all the death, ghouls, ghosts, and headstones in The Graveyard Book, this is chiefly a tale of living. It is about right and wrong, morality and injustice, and about making the most of the time we have. The sensation at the conclusion of this book it to get out and go do something. To travel and experience. To love without fear of losing. To cherish every breath and not labor on what comes after. This is a lesson that Bod learns early as his surfeit of self-preservation is seen by his mentor as a potential waste:
Bod shrugged. "So?" he said. "It's only death. I mean, all of my best friends are dead."
"Yes." Silas hesitated. "They are. And they are, for the most part, done with the world. You are not. You're alive, Bod. That means you have infinite potential. You can do anything, make anything, dream anything. If you change the world, the world will change. Potential.. Once you're dead, it's gone. Over. You've made what you've made, dreamed your dream, written your name. You may be buried here, you may even walk. But that potential is finished."
Each chapter of the book skips ahead to a different age and centers around a new tale or adventure. Bod interacts with a variety of cemetery denizens from thousands of years of British history. There is a new lore and language which pervades the book, small powers and rules and different types of dead that will appeal to anyone with an active imagination. But Gaiman keeps it simple, not overloading the reader with strange names and magical arts that distract from an elegant story.
"The Graveyard Book" will appeal to anyone over the age of twelve (possibly younger if your child is reading ahead of the curve). The larger print and gorgeous illustrations give the book a wonderful flow. Adults will also appreciate Gaiman's unwillingness to compromise with his prose. His impressive vocabulary, and perfect restraint, will have young and old reaching for a dictionary several times.
All of this intellectual and moral growth makes The Graveyard Book an ideal read for young adults. Especially for the many who become fixated on death and dying and keep their worries to themselves. I certainly was one of these kids, and this book would have been welcomed by my hands 20 years ago. It is an exploration of the joy, magic, and uniqueness of living. For The Graveyard Book is as much a story of Bod's deceased friends marveling at his living potential as it is him being fascinated by their graveyard magic.
The American Library Association awarded The Graveyard Book the John Newberry Medal for best children's book. Get a copy for your child, then sneak it away for yourself when they are done (if you can get them to let it go).
Book Review: A very enjoyable tale!
Summary: 5 Stars
I've been a fan of Neil Gaiman's for years, from his Sandman days. I picked this up recently and read it straight through. It's a wonderfully dark, imaginative and thoroughly enjoyable tale, well worth the read. I actually read the digital ebook version and I liked it so much that I'll probably buy the actual book itself just to have.Book Review: A wonderful, nuanced work
Summary: 5 Stars
The Graveyard Book is my first Neil Gaiman book, and I'm definitely planning on reading more. I'd heard a lot of praise of this book, but it still didn't prepare me for the elegance of his style.
Though I liked the drawings, the real charm of this book is the writing. Gaiman has woven a really beautiful coming-of-age tale in which Nobody Owens, the main character, learns some harsh lessons about the nature of life and love. As most people are probably aware by now, there is some violence in the book and it may not be for the younger audience. However, I am not one of those parents who thinks that children need to be protected from everything scary in life. In fact, I'm willing to wager that the average Wii game has more graphic violence than what is portrayed in this book. Some of it is quite scary, that is true, but children need to learn how to control fear and how to recognize when fear is real and important and when it's something they just need to overlook.
One of the things I liked best about the book is that Gaiman never really comes out and tells the reader exactly what the other characters are, leaving you to piece together the clues he drops and figure this out for yourself. This is particularly true of Silas, and I was probably around a third of the way into the book before I realized what his character was. I really admire this as it demands that the reader pay attention to what he or she is reading. It's also a perfect example of an author showing rather than telling. Lastly, it lends to the idea of the book that what people are on the outside isn't really as important on the inside. Is it really that vital that the reader know what Silas is, or is it more significant that the reader sees just how Silas helps Bod learn and grow, and how seriously Silas takes his role as guardian and protector of Bod.
As for Bod, I found him to be an excellent character. He is a very typical boy, with a boy's characteristic curiosity. He occasionally acts out of sheer pettiness and must suffer the consequences. Through Bod, Gaiman also teaches children some important lessons. Sometimes, even though we do what is right, it does not earn us the admiration of those about whose opinions we care the most. This is a painful lesson, but a very valuable lesson--especially in a society such as ours, that emphasizes instant gratification. Bod is a very moral character, but the things he does don't always end well for him and sometimes cause him more trouble than anticipated. Isn't this true of life in general? Sometimes our actions do set many unintended consequences into motion.
Another strong aspect of the book is the unconventional relationships within it. While they are certainly fantastical, this book has a lot to say about the true meaning of the word "family", and how families can form amongst the unlikeliest groups of people. As The Graveyard Book shows, families take responsibility for one another, and care for one another without asking for something in return. Just as his guardian does, Bod learns that he ultimately must make sacrifices for his family, that he must place their needs above those of his own at times. It is a responsibility that he does not shirk, and I think that's an excellent message for anyone.
I highly recommend this book. It is a subtle, sometimes funny, and sometimes sad read. It is a book that will make children think, just as all great literature makes a reader think.
Book Review: Absolutely Unexpected
Summary: 5 Stars
Since I find myself at a loss for the proper words, I will keep this short.
I am a graveyard researcher and YA lit enthusiast, and this book was my first encounter with Gaiman's work--and I could not have been more surprised and pleased.
The book is an absolutely astonishing blend of dark and light, managing to take what has been for a thousand years of Celtic culture a terrifying concept, and turning it into something warm, familiar and home-like. The characters are beautifully colloquial, and the story itself is astonishing. I read it through in about three hours because I simply could NOT put it down.
VERY well done, Mr. Gaiman--a true triumph in today's world of literary trash.
Book Review: Affordable quality
Summary: 5 Stars
Excellent condition, great price, fast delivery. This was my first time purchasing a used book and I am sold. Thank you.