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Coraline by Neil Gaiman
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Coraline (original 2002; edition 2012)

by Neil Gaiman, Dave McKean (Illustrator)

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingConversations / Mentions
20,006688224 (4)1 / 833
Looking for excitement, Coraline ventures through a mysterious door into a world that is similar, yet disturbingly different from her own, where she must challenge a gruesome entity in order to save herself, her parents, and the souls of three others.
Member:lilithburns
Title:Coraline
Authors:Neil Gaiman
Other authors:Dave McKean (Illustrator)
Info:HarperCollins (2012), Edition: 10 Rep Anv, Paperback, 208 pages
Collections:Read but unowned
Rating:
Tags:None

Work Information

Coraline by Neil Gaiman (2002)

  1. 230
    The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (FFortuna, moonstormer)
  2. 130
    Fragile Things: Short Fictions and Wonders by Neil Gaiman (timspalding)
    timspalding: If Coraline doesn't quite live up to the hype, don't give up on Gaiman. Fragile Things is simply stunning.
  3. 141
    James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl (littlegeek)
  4. 101
    Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury (infiniteletters)
  5. 102
    Alice's Adventures in Wonderland / Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll (moonsoar)
  6. 70
    The 13 Clocks by James Thurber (Bookshop_Lady)
    Bookshop_Lady: "Coraline" is creepy and might be too creepy for some kids. "The Thirteen Clocks" has a few creepy moments but overall is a light-hearted fairy tale. They're very different books and tell very different stories. But for all that, I believe older children/young teens who enjoy one of these books will probably enjoy both.… (more)
  7. 61
    The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente (foggidawn)
  8. 50
    Abarat by Clive Barker (Death_By_Papercut)
  9. 40
    Clockwork by Philip Pullman (norabelle414)
    norabelle414: Both books are for children, but still manage to be dark and horrifying for all ages.
  10. 62
    Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll (edeninwonderland)
  11. 40
    The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett (Nikkles)
  12. 40
    The Thief of Always by Clive Barker (Scottneumann)
  13. 30
    Faerie Tale by Raymond E. Feist (reading_fox)
    reading_fox: Slightly older YA, and a full novel. But the same theme, children move into a new place and discover a creepy 'fairy world' thats hard to escape.
  14. 30
    The Wikkeling by Steven Arntson (foggidawn)
  15. 52
    The House with a Clock in Its Walls by John Bellairs (starfishpaws)
  16. 30
    Doll Bones by Holly Black (BookshelfMonstrosity)
    BookshelfMonstrosity: Readers will savor the tension of both horror stories involving characters seeking ways to put souls to rest. Each story explores the distinctions between fantasy and reality in a deliciously creepy way.
  17. 20
    The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls by Claire Legrand (_Zoe_)
  18. 20
    Inkheart by Cornelia Funke (BookshelfMonstrosity)
    BookshelfMonstrosity: Smart, determined girls journey to darkly magical worlds in order to rescue a parent in these original and dazzling fairy tales constructed with beautiful imagery and intricate storylines.
  19. 31
    Courtney Crumrin and the Night Things by Ted Naifeh (FFortuna)
  20. 10
    The Dragons of Ordinary Farm by Tad Williams (Scottneumann)

(see all 41 recommendations)

Elevenses (143)
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Group TopicMessagesLast Message 
 Fine Press Forum: Lyra's Press Announces "Coraline"307 unread / 307kdweber, November 2023

» See also 833 mentions

English (663)  Spanish (5)  German (5)  French (3)  Italian (2)  Swedish (2)  Portuguese (Portugal) (2)  Hungarian (1)  Arabic (1)  Danish (1)  Polish (1)  Dutch (1)  Catalan (1)  Portuguese (1)  All languages (689)
Showing 1-5 of 663 (next | show all)
Well, I’ll tell you one thing: Neil Gaiman knows how to tell an interesting story! ( )
  erindarlyn | Jan 25, 2024 |
This taps into the inquisitiveness that comes upon us whenever we find a locked or blocked up doorway - what;s behind that, where does that go. In Coraline's case, it goes into a parallel universe that looks a lot liker her own home, but is very different in nature. When she explores through the door for the first time she comes home to find her parents missing. They are in the mirror in the hallway, but where are the really? Coraline ventured back through the doorway and into the parallel world to find them. Along the way she finds other trapped individuals and a talking cat that helps her along the way.
It's an inventive journey through to a parallel world. ( )
  Helenliz | Jan 7, 2024 |
In a way, this kind of reminded me of [b: Skellig|24271|Skellig (Skellig, #1)|David Almond|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1320460285s/24271.jpg|960] because they're both short novels about supernaturally mature children encountering supernatural strangers (though in Skellig the stranger isn't scary).

It sort of seemed to me like the whole point of the book was to flesh out or illustrate the epigraph, which says something like, "Fairy tales are not important because they tell us dragons exist. They're important because they tell us dragons can be beaten." ( )
  LibrarianDest | Jan 3, 2024 |
This is the second time I listened to this story, and it improved on the re-reading. Coraline has affectionate, but busy, parents who work from home, and on gray days when she has read all her books and played with all her toys and seen all the videos, and she is bored and restless, they won't leave off working to play with her. Also, her dad keeps making meals from recipes with gross things like spices and sauces. Then she discovers that she has an Other Mother in a mirror world behind a bricked up door, who will keep her endlessly entertained and spend time with her and make pizza for her. There's just one little thing...

Coraline is a wonderful character, smart and brave and determined, but also with very human wants and weaknesses. But it is Gaiman's writing, and his voice on the audio, that makes this story special. It's a scary little kid's what-if story that adults can connect with, because we have those human wants and weaknesses, too.

Audiobook, borrowed from my public library, read by the author. ( )
  Doodlebug34 | Jan 1, 2024 |
"Coraline" by Neil Gaiman presents itself as an enthralling and swift journey through a narrative that effortlessly captivates the reader's imagination. Having previously experienced the cinematic adaptation, I approached the book with a sense of familiarity, only to find the original text surpassing its screen counterpart in depth and engagement. Gaiman masterfully portrays a world that, through the lens of childhood innocence, transforms what might be considered horror for an adult into a fantastical and eerie adventure.

The book's strength lies in Gaiman's distinctive writing style, which skillfully balances the eerie with the whimsical. His descriptions are meticulously crafted, allowing readers to vividly imagine the unfolding scenes while maintaining a light-hearted tone that occasionally elicits a chuckle. This blend of horror and humor is a testament to Gaiman's prowess as a storyteller.

While some plot elements tread the path of predictability, a common occurrence in storytelling, they do not detract from the overall enjoyment of the book. Instead, they provide a familiar structure within which the more unique aspects of the story can shine. Gaiman's talent in creating a world that is both fantastical and relatable is evident, making "Coraline" a delightful read for both young adults and those who are young at heart.

"Coraline" is a commendable work that showcases Neil Gaiman's unique ability to weave a tale that is as enchanting as it is unsettling. It comes highly recommended for readers seeking a story that combines the thrill of a ghostly tale with the innocence of a child's perspective. ( )
  TrevR | Dec 26, 2023 |
Showing 1-5 of 663 (next | show all)
A modern ghost story with all the creepy trimmings... Well done.
added by Shortride | editThe New York Times (Aug 11, 2001)
 
Strange, surreal tale sure to creep kids out.

added by vibesandall | editCommon Sense Media, Matt Berman
 

» Add other authors (14 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Gaiman, Neilprimary authorall editionsconfirmed
Andoh, AdjoaNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Bartocci, MaurizioTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Boatswain, JacquelineNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Braiter, PaulinaTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Carvalho, Regina de BarrosTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Clary, JulianNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Davies, PixieNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Davis, NicoleNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Ernst, EnricoTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
French, DawnNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Gothic ArchiesComposersecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Kingsley, KatherineNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Kivimäki, MikaTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Krutz-Arnold, CorneliaÜbersetzersecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Marcel, PatrickTraductionsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
McKean, DaveIllustratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
McNally, KevinNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Merritt, StephinComposersecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Nicol, HeatherNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Parker, WilliamNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Rhind-Tutt, JulianNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Riddell, ChrisIllustratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Rosich, MarcTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Russell, P. Craigsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Schiller, AdrianNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed

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Canonical title
Original title
Alternative titles
Original publication date
People/Characters
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Important events
Related movies
Epigraph
Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.
--G.K. Chesterson
Dedication
I started this for Holly, I finished it for Maddy.
First words
Coraline discovered the door a little while after they moved into the house.
Quotations
We are small but we are many/
We are many we are small/
We were here before you rose/
We will be here when you fall
Coraline was woken by the midmorning sun, full on her face.
For a moment she felt utterly dislocated. She did not know where she was; she was not entirely sure who she was. It is astonishing just how much of what we are can be tied to the beds we wake up in in the morning, and it is astonishing how fragile that can be.
Coraline sighed. 'You really don't understand, do you?' she said. 'I don't want whatever I want. Nobody does. Not really. What kind of fun would it be if I just got everything I ever wanted? Just like that, and it didn't mean anything. What then?
The pale figues pulsed faintly; she could imagine that they were nothing more than afterimages, like the glow left by a bright light in you eyes, after the lights go out.
There was something irritatingly self-centered about the cat, Coraline decided. As if it were, in its opinion, the only thing in any world or place that could possibly be of any importance.
Last words
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)
Disambiguation notice
Please do not combine Coraline with the graphic novel adaptation Coraline nor with the film.
Publisher's editors
Blurbers
Original language
Canonical DDC/MDS
Canonical LCC

References to this work on external resources.

Wikipedia in English (1)

Looking for excitement, Coraline ventures through a mysterious door into a world that is similar, yet disturbingly different from her own, where she must challenge a gruesome entity in order to save herself, her parents, and the souls of three others.

No library descriptions found.

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Lyra's Press Announces "Coraline" in Fine Press Forum

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