Reading Neil Gaiman's The Ocean at the End of the Lane

A few weeks ago, I picked up The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman and read it one sitting. I have been a fan of Neil Gaiman and his wife Amanda Palmer for several years but I had never actually read one of his books.

I was curious about this one since it was getting so much buzz. I was not disappointed. Well, actually I was but only because it ended and I hadn't gotten enough.

There is something fantastically beautiful and otherwordly about this book. It reminded me of a few gems I have loved like Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time, which is the story of Meg and her little brother Charles Wallace, the pain of immortality in Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt, and lastly the magical struggle between love, life and death crafted by Ray Bradbury in From the Dust Returned.

Mostly, it reminds me of the latter in a very good way but I was left with a craving for more, especially more from the Hempstock women and with questions about what happened to Lettie.

I hope we get to revisit this wonderful family. What was your impression of what happened to Lettie?

Neil Gaiman Sign (Photo credit: lizohanesian)

Cover of From the Dust Returned: A Novel

Cover of A Wrinkle in Time

Related articles

• Skype with Neil Gaiman, a competition for book clubs
• Required Reading: Neil Gaiman's The Ocean at the End of the Lane (2013)
• Book Trailer: Fortunately, The Milk by Neil Gaiman
• Why I spent $300 to go to a Neil Gaiman book signing and didn't get anything signed