No matter what you think of his stories, Neil Gaiman is always creative. The Graveyard Book is a truly strange and creepy book, but well written and fascinating. Full of ghosts, ghouls, a vampire and a werewolf, all raising and protecting Bod, orphaned due to the murder that opens the story.

One of the things said often in the story is that a thing is neither bad or good, it just is. I don't personally believe that, but it brings up an interesting premise as Bod deals with a need to revenge the deaths of his family. it is also interesting to view the development of his own sense of right and wrong even though he is raised in a somewhat amoral environment. ( )

A man slaughters a family in the middle of the night as they sleep, but one manages to escape the horror, a toddler who walks out the front door unnoticed and makes his way to a graveyard . This graveyard is full of ghost who takes him in Behind the locked gates of the graveyard the toddler grows up and becomes known as "Nobody" or "Bod" for short.

Review from Badelynge
Although I adore Neil Gaiman's comic book work like his wonderful Sandman magnum opus, I have never really enjoyed any of his novels. His adult novels like American Gods failed to interest me and his books more aimed at younger readers never quite hit the right mark. Stardust attempts to to tell a tale in fairy tale style but is far too long for that style to engage. Basically I think he wrote a novel using a style more suited to the short form. He has great ideas, a wonderful imagination and a wide eclectic grab-bag of interests and knowledge to draw upon. Neverwhere was an explosion of concepts, wordplays and atmosphere but too much jumble at once and always preempted by the tv series and undermined by rewrites to suit other audiences.
The Graveyard Book is for me his first hit, yes, a very palpable hit. Escaping from the man Jack (a very Gaimaneske assassin) who murders his family in their beds, a young toddler escapes to the strange safety of a nearby graveyard. He's adopted by the local ghosts and named Nobody - or Bod for short. Each chapter is pretty self contained as Bod grows up and learns about the different characters that inhabit his new world. Perfect for reading a chapter a night for the kids. And there are some really fine characters; the vampirish Silas, Miss Lupescu, Scarlett and my favourite, the capricious ghost witch Liza Hempstock. It's a simply written, pleasurable, charming and surprisingly emotional read. My copy was illustrated by the excellent off kilter line drawings of Chris Riddell. ( )

This book follows a boy on a magical journey growing up in a graveyard & having friendships with ghosts along with other characters. The imagination Gaiman uses throughout this book makes it enjoyable & fun for any aged reader! You become very close with the main character, Bod, & love seeing his different progressions & maturation through life while living in a graveyard & figuring out who he is. Also, it holds a mystery regarding Bod's family & Bod's past that keeps your interest the entire time. ( )

I initially read this book when I was lying sick in bed, but that didn't affect that fact that I read it in a few hours. It's a quick and wonderful read with relatable characters and dark undertones. Not as creepy as it could have been, but it has those strange Neil Gaiman twists, wherein evil villains and ancient magic abounds. Based on Kipling’s “The Jungle Book” and full of creepy illustrations by Dave Mckean, it’s no wonder it won the Newbery Medal. ( )

http://nwittynpretty.blogspot.com/200... ( )

This is a lovely little novel. As an adult it was a little light but the dark subject matter really kept me interested. I really came to love Bod. An amazing story sure to be treasured by both young and old. ( )

I really enjoyed this book though I have several friends who did not. Gaiman's tale was unique and imaginative, perhaps a bit too much so for some. However, I enjoyed reading of Bod learning the different techniques ghosts can use and I liked the way it ended, very life affirming. ( )

I just loved this book! The nurturing environment that Bod grows up in is so far-reaching because of the death aspect, yet so life-like because parents want the best for their child and Bod gets it in an interesting way that only a graveyard "home" could provide. Recommended for all 8 year old and up, including adults! ( )

This is an interesting story because it exists on the border between life and death and the story explores the idea of life within the confines of this fantastical tale. Nobody Owens is a likable character, and the novelties of his living in the graveyard make for fun reading. Very satisfying conclusion. ( )

I’d seen this gothic fantasy highly recommended in several different places, and as I read my first Neil Gaiman last year (Good Omens, co-written with Terry Pratchett), I was really excited to pick up The Graveyard Book. It’s quite macabre for children’s/YA literature. The book starts out with the murder of a family and the chasing of a toddler to a graveyard, for goodness’ sake. From there, the ghostly residents of the graveyard vow to raise the boy, whom they name Nobody (Bod for short).

Through a series of what are essentially short stories, we see Bod’s childhood and his struggle to be alive in an unalive world (although I’d hardly call it dead). He is also given unique powers so that he can walk through walls, Fade, use the Fear, and do other things that any young boy would find really cool. But he is isolated from the world and we find him in a place that many kids find themselves — lonely, in a grown-up world they have a hard time understanding.

Gaiman’s writing is so fluid and beautiful, and each story is captivating and magical in a different way. Some are scary, some show Bod how to love, and some show the struggle to just get by. Top this off with Gaiman’s quirky sense of humor, and you get a book that’s nearly impossible to put down. The end felt a little rushed, but overall Gaiman wrapped it up nicely. Like in real life, Bod doesn’t get everything he wants, and he has to deal with heartbreak along the way. But somehow, being raised by ghosts and his odd not-dead/not-alive guardian Silas, Bod is just as real as any child out there. It’s a keen allegory of the life of any kid.

Read my full review here: http://c2rcc.wordpress.com/2010/01/20... ( )

The book was interesting and I cared about the characters, many of whom were charming, and the baddie is well done, but it didn't leave me saying "yes" or "aha!" ( )

This is exactly the sort of book I'd have loved when I was a child and I still loved reading it now. I'm not sure what age range it would be most appropriate for though as the first chapter could certainly be quite scary.

In the first chapter of this book, a young toddler's family are killed by a mysterious and definitely very creepy assassin identified only as 'the man Jack'. The toddler, however escapes and toddles to the graveyard at the end of his street. The ghosts there agree to take the boy in and protect him from the assassin until he is older. They call the boy 'Nobody' or 'Bod' for short and as he grows up he is cared for and taught by the ghosts but all the time the man Jack is searching for the child who escaped him.

The book itself is completely magical, perfect escapism and beautifully illustrated. I felt very sad to have to return this one to the library. ( )

"Bod could feel the Sleer listening to Jack's words, could feel a low susurrus of excitement building in the chamber." Excellent writing, creative plot not bogged down with details, enticing in it's simplicity of suspense and character development. ( )

The Graveyard Book does exactly what a story should do: it takes you away to another time and place where your imagination can believe in an another world. I can see why this book won the Newberry award this year. This is the perfect book to read out loud to a child, although I could see where this spooky story would be best for older ones.

The descriptions are so vivid that you can see Bod and his ghosty friends. The action becomes quite intense as Bod grows up and starts to question his existence. He seeks out his family's murder and with some quite clever allusions this books comes to a satisfying conclusion. This is a must read for adults as well as kids. ( )

I loved the Jungle Books as a child, and I loved The Graveyard Book. A quick read, and delightful, with its cemetary protagonists, it neither tells too much or too little, and it's restraint is just right. If you look too closely this ball of fluff might disappear with the morning sun, but why would you want to hurt something so lovely and so delightful? Enjoy it for a quick and joyful read. Gaiman at his best. ( )

(BTW, the book geek in me found it extremely intriguing that Neil Gaiman got a tour of a cemetery from Audrey Niffenegger and stayed in Tori Amos' house in Ireland. He knows how to make the right friends, fo sho.)

Favorite Quotes:

And then the music stopped and there was silence in the square, a muffled silence, like the silence of falling snow, all noise swallowed by the night and the bodies in the square, no one stamping or shuffling, scarcely even breathing.

I...am precisely what I am, and nothing more. I am, as you say, not alive. But if I am ended, I shall simply cease to be. My kind are, or we are not. ( )

The language in this is great. A toddler narrowly escapes being murdered by a dark man named Jack and is adopted by a cemetary of ghosts.

When I heard that Gaiman was releasing another book I was very excited and I am happy to say that this book met all of my expectations. Gaiman is such an excellent storyteller.

This book expands on one of the short stories in "M is for Magic" by Neil Gaiman. In that story we meet Bod, a boy who lives in a graveyard. This book tells about how Bod got there and of the adventures he had there. You learn more about the mysterious Jack too! In fact I believe chapter 4 or 5 of The Graveyard Book, is actually an exact reprint of this story.

The story starts with a creepy killer named Jack who kills Bod's whole family (trust me no spoilers here, this happens in the first page); Bod as a small, curious toddler escapes to the graveyard. The book is interesting in that for the first two-thirds of the book each chapter is more of a short-story about Nobody Owens (Bod). Initially there is a large time span between each chapter and in each chapter (short-story) we learn about one of Bod's adventures in the Graveyard. As you get towards the end of the book things happen closer together and the chapters turn into more of what you would consider a standard chapter.

It is fascinating to hear about a boy who is raised in a graveyard by ghosts. Bod develops into and strong and very interesting character, that you can't help but love. Silas, the guardian of the graveyard, is also fascinating. Gaiman, as usual, adds an ironic touch to the story by showing how similar Bod's issues when growing up are with any other childs.

As for being a kids' book; for the most part the book would be okay to read to a young child. The first chapter, where Jack murders Bod's family, I found the be extremly creepy; so I would shy away at reading this chapter to a young child. Many of the other chapters are also scary. If a child under 10 was going to read this book, I would say a parent should read through it first and then you can read it together and skip any inappropriate parts. This book, naturally, deals a ton with death and what it means to be dead.

I absolutely loved this book. I thought the age level was a bit higher than Gaiman's Coraline. People who complain about Gaiman being too morbid, haven't read enough Gaiman. He is like the young adult, fairy tale version of Stepan King...many of his stories are crafted to make you think and feel slightly uncomfortable. This was absolutely a wonderfully crafted story, it's one I am keeping to add to my book collection. ( )

A fun, quick book geared for the young reader, but done well enough to keep the interest of the not-so-young reader! One particular element of the story reminded me a bit too much of an early Harry Potter plotline, but overall very enjoyable. ( )

The Graveyard Book follows the story of young Nobody Owens, a toddler who manages to escape the murderous clutches of the man Jack by hiding in a nearby graveyard. The inhabitants of the graveyard (i.e., ghosts, although they are never called such in this book) adopt Nobody and raise him, dictating that he remains within the graveyard gates as Jack is still out there trying to murder him. Despite such limited scope geographically, Nobody manages to scare up numerous adventures. I can’t quite place my finger on it, but this book didn’t thrill me. It may have been too high expectations or that Gaiman’s voice on the audio book version was soothing me to sleep. Regardless, I wasn’t that vested in the characters and the action didn’t seem particularly riveting. I fail to see how it’s an award winner, although I did enjoy the occasional macabre joke. ( )

As a baby, Nobody Owen’s family is killed. Somehow he is able to make it down the street to the graveyard, and the ‘residents’ take him in and give him the rights of the graveyard. Commentary says that this book is greatly influenced by the Jungle Book, but since I’ve never read that book, I couldn’t say if that is true. The story follows Nobody as he grows up in the graveyard, and the unusual lessons he learns, such as ‘haunting’ and ‘fading’. It’s an enjoyable light read, but when I finished it… I felt that I was read something that was a bit too young for me – which I normally don’t feel when I read Newberry Medal winners. Yes, it was humourous and slightly macabre edge, but it seemed like a book for kids and didn’t have enough oomph for me as an adult reader. ( )

Haunting, original but mythic in the way that Gaiman does best. He manages to access deep emotion with sparse, direct text. His characters feel real and deep but hit archetypes. This also has a lovely use of restricted third person that really aids in the world-building. Basically? OH GOD, I wish I'd written this. ( )

Haunting, original but mythic in the way that Gaiman does best. He manages to access deep emotion with sparse, direct text. His characters feel real and deep but hit archetypes. This also has a lovely use of restricted third person that really aids in the world-building. Basically? OH GOD, I wish I'd written this. ( )

The Graveyard Book is the first Neil Gaiman book I have ‘read’ and it was interesting to have it read to me by the author. My oldest son, who is 24, recommended the author and so I put in a request for a couple of Gaiman’s books from the local library. The story entrapped me from the beginning.

Summary Summary

A baby, barely able to walk, wanders out of the house while his family was being murdered. He wanders into a graveyard where he will grow up under the care of ghosts and other creatures of the graveyard until he is old enough to leave. The book is a collection of stories of his adventures while in the graveyard.

Review

The story is written is such a way that each chapter is almost a stand-alone story, each building ever so slightly on the chapter before. My main complaints was that each chapter seemed to begin with details that would be required a few pages later, almost like downloading data in the Matrix movies. Still, each chapter told a good story and I could see reading these stories to children over successive nights.

As a children’s book, the subject is dark enough and enough violence that I would only recommend it to kids at least 12 years old. My ‘prudishness’ may be a product of the Disney-fied versions of children’s stories that I grew up with, but the macabre has always been a part of children’s literature since forever. Why? I leave that to the sociologists I think children, as they grow up, need to be able to learn how to deal with bad things that happen, to learn that things are not always sugar coated and stories are a safe way to do that.

Overall this was a fun read and I look forward to reading more of Gaiman’s books.

Original: Dogberry Patch Book Review ( )