The Ocean at the End of the Lane

I am using Neil Gaiman as a featured author this year, and have been reading a variety of his books, which I always find quirky and very enjoyable as he gives his own take on fairytales and myths in a fascinating way. But I feel he has really excelled himself this time. Right from the start the tension and fear began to mount, so I was very much on edge, fully identifying with the 7 year old hero as he faced terrifying events in a believable way, his terror, vulnerability and helplessness very harrowing. A sad book, in many ways, and with no standard happy ending, but resolution anyway, and still shot through with beauty and the delight in small, happy things. Wish I could eat in that farmhouse kitchen, the heart of safety and security.

I identified so closely with this boy, his fears and unhappiness that it didnt dawn for a long time that he has no name, as is the common way with the heroes in fairytales. Then there were the mesmerising characters, the wonderful Triple Goddess influenced Hempstocks, the utterly terrifying Ursula Monkton, with her pretty face, sweet smile and a corrupting touch on everything she met, as well as the boy's rather unlikeable family. The scene where his father tries to drown him in the bath will stay with me a very long time.

All in all a haunting, mesmerising beautifully written tale, It will certainly soon reach classic status. Highly recommended.