The fact that The Graveyard Book rang my ghostly bell does not weigh against this. It maybe SHOULD, but whatever, because I have liked salmon exactly once and hated it almost all of the times and this does not make me a person who likes salmon. I am talking way too much about this but I am sick of being told that I'm wrong. I AM WRONG ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS like where Kuwait is on a map and how many litres are in a mile but I know whether I like a thing or not.
SO! A man breaks into a house and slaughters a family except for the one wee baby, which seems negligent since it was the baby he was sent to slaughter in the first place. But whatever, the baby wanders off and is adopted by some ghosts, who name him Bod ('Nobody') and raise him up good. He meets a girl, they investigate crypts and have rambly good times about the graveyard. It's very Slice Of Life, Avec Ghosts.
But eventually the negligent murdery-man comes a-knockin once more and Bod's taciturn guardian Silas is off doing mysterious doings and Bod has to do some brave and bold things and Scarlett (aforementioned girl) must do likewise and then MORE murdery men come 'round and it's all very exciting.
And I like it because it's sly and irreverent and a bit goofy, and don't tell me that American Gods is sly and irreverent because I've read it. Stop trying to make me like things I don't like, interwebz. You're so pushy that way. (I clearly need counselling about this.)
As is the trend these days, there are pictures. Which I am decidedly feh about. I'm not trying to be difficult, I'm just not automatically going to die with delight because you doodled in your margins (God, that sounds dirty).
dear boy, there is a worm on your chin
I know I'm being super-surly about a book that I actually liked, and that is stupid of me. So RAH, Graveyard Book! I really enjoyed your face. Eight caterpillars to you.
This book R.I.P.s it up, on account of the ghosts and the delightful murdery times.
I also have tried to like Gaiman because there are so many people who LOVE him but it's hard for me to LOVE him but I LIKED this one also. But I like salmon....
ReplyDeleteI am a huge Gaiman fan, but I completely understand when people don't love him. The book that caught my attention was Neverwhere, but I also had watched the BBC miniseries that it was based on. That may have helped. The book that made me a die hard fan was Stardust - the movie first, then the audio that he narrates. In fact, he's really good on audio. He could have been incredibly successful just as a narrator. He's that good.
ReplyDeleteYou might like some of his children's books, like Blueberry Girl.
"(which I loved, but I blame Terry Pratchett for that)"
ReplyDeleteYES. GOOD. Okay. Because I do not like Gaiman. I have tried. My friend's favorite book is American Gods and I TRIED it and just found it lacking...something. My theory that I've told to Anyone Who Talks About One of the Authors is that you're either a Pratchett person or a Gaiman person, and while I loved Good Omens, it was decidedly because of Pratchett.
Gaiman is one of those people who has some very good ideas, but I hate the way he writes them. But I will read this.
I feel the same way. I have tried many Gaiman things, like American Gods and Neverwhere and Coraline and Good Omens (which I also liked, for which I also blamed Pratchett). I haven't read this one yet, but perhaps I will like it. Like Reading Rambo, I really dislike the way he writes too. Neverwhere was *such* a good idea, but I hated the way it was written.
ReplyDeleteIt is a sign of how much I LOVE your blog that you can not like Gaiman (who I worship) and I don't even mind because you say it in a way that I enjoy.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Cassandra, I did not know that Gaiman narrated anything and I can't imagine how awesome that must be. I saw him do a book reading once and I was all "please read me to sleep every night Mr. Gaiman."
LianneLavoie - he narrates the audio book of The Graveyard Book - its like listening to chocolate melt.
ReplyDeleteRaych - I badly want to jump up and down and squeeeeee about the fact that you liked this one, but I'm kind of afraid you'll hit me with something if I do!
I have also tried to like him. This is one of the few books by him I managed to finish. I thought it was good. Not great, but entertaining enough.
ReplyDeleteHis is just not a band wagon I'll be jumping on. I wonder how popular he'll still be in ten years. And I wish him all the best.
I also do not like the Gaiman, but did not hate The Graveyard Book. I don't understand the obsession with his writing, because I haven't liked a single one of his books (and yet I keep reading them - just waiting for one of them to live up to the hype!).
ReplyDeleteI'm a big Gaiman fan, but I don't think that everyone should love him. That's the beauty of books, they are unique to each reader. Some times an author's style perfectly suits you, other times you just can't make it work. I'm glad you liked The Graveyard Book though!
ReplyDeleteHe does a great job of narrating the audiobook for this, perfect voice for it.
ReplyDeleteI like Gaiman enough to read all of his books, but I don't know if I've ever loved his writing.
Sister, your dander is UP! I like it. (BTW, was I the one bitching about hateful teenagers? If it was me, I'm sorry, but I have a hard time with my kids snarling at me. Yours will probably be more balanced.) I don't have a real strong opinion on Gaiman. I liked The Graveyard Book (my kids loved it). I liked Coraline. I liked Anansi Boys, primarily for the narration. Gaiman is a few steps off the path, so not everyone is going to love him.
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ReplyDeleteA. I picked up Graveyard Book and liked it OK, but put it down after about chapter 4 and forgot to pick it up again. I've been able to live with that.
ReplyDeleteB. Having been convinced I was exactly the sort of mother who would give birth to psycho-child ala Kevin, my 14 year old and I get on like a house on fire except when I tell her to clear up her disgusting room or she tells me the same. It's downright heartwarming.
I can't be sure, but I *think* you just compared Neil Gaiman to a very orange/pink-fleshed fish. Impressive!
ReplyDeleteI like this attitude much more than my patented "oh my god they all like it and I don't WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME?!" I haven't read this but I kind of want to but not right now because I'm busy and just read a collection of his short stories (which I don't recommend, though I have read Neverwhere (good) and Stardust (I hate to be one of those people but I really loved that book so maybe you could just think about it?). I think the pictures would bother me.
ReplyDeleteI actually have little to no desire to read this book, yet I have it because the interwebz cannot stop talking about it. Oh wellllz.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting to see that the illustrations are different in the American version to the UK one! I like poictures in books but that's because they are so rare (I don't read much kids stuff). It's OK for you not to like Gaiman, differences make the world interesting!
ReplyDeleteI've been reading your blog for over two years and I realized right away that we probably don't agree on much bookwise, but I keep reading because I like your posts. As long as I keep trying the books you like you you keep trying mine (Gaiman, etc.) I think we'll be happy, even with the caterpillars not matching up.
ReplyDeleteI really do like Gaiman, but I was underwhelmed by this story, which is of course counter to everyone else. :)
ReplyDeleteI read Neverwhere and did not care for it. I read Stardust and thought it was all right. I have heard Gaiman speak and he was very entertaining, and that is when I liked him the most.
ReplyDeleteLoved your review in all its surliness. Still can't summon interest in the book itself though.
Yes, I agree--Neil Gaiman is kind of some sort of supremo witty entertainer, but as for the whole books and comics writing thing? Snore. I much preferred Bill Willingham's work with Gaiman's characters.
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