2008 Woodie Awards
Spooky tale simplistic, hard to put down
Amanda Kaufman
Issue date: 10/10/08 Section: FUSE
Originally published: 10/9/08 at 6:40 PM EST
Last update: 10/9/08 at 6:38 PM EST
There is a boy, a graveyard, a man, and a murder - and so the tale of "The Graveyard Book" begins, written by internationally acclaimed author, Neil Gaiman.
The delightfully creepy tale, majestically painted with the perfect combination of both humor and darkness, was a Sept. 30 release, just in time for the Halloween season.
The novel focuses in on the life of Bod, short for Nobody, a living boy who is raised by the otherworldly inhabitants of a graveyard, after his family is victim to a vicious murder, of which he is the sole survivor.
Granted with the guardianship of Silas, a mysterious man from neither the living nor dead, and a new pair of parents long-deceased, young Bod remains behind the gates of the graveyard while growing up, an attempt by the dead to protect him from the murderer still out to finish what he had started.
The piece is a young-adult reader, while highly intelligent.
The first chapter may drag out more than necessary but remains entertaining while setting the tale in motion.
Once past the initial chapter, "The Graveyard Book" is hard to put down. Watching as Bod grows into young adulthood, living through the same problems as the average person despite his highly unusual situation, is a treat in itself.
From childish simplicities, such as the leaving of a new friend, to the deeper context of the mature mind, the writing grows with its character.
Each chapter could be contained as its own short story, a brief glimpse into a life segment, and yet they fall neatly together.
The development of the main character is apparent from chapter to chapter, as lessons learned from childhood are incorporated into situations later on in life, forming a hauntingly realistic bond with the reader.
Perhaps one of the only minor flaws in the book is the lack of background information, which can make a certain pivotal event in the novel unclear. While all is explained in the conclusion, through wording vague enough to explain and still leave the reader's mind wandering, it would have been nice to be presented with more depth. Yet again, doing so would conflict with the story's simplicity.
The large variety of colorful characters presented in the graveyard adds moments of laughter and pity to be almost expressed out loud, as the ghosts come and go it is easy to grow fond of them. Each one inserts spice to the story, a loveable feisty combination of personality and strength. As the readers part with each one, a small lingering of yearning to stay with them remains.
Yet in the end, it is the separation from the beloved living boy that is hardest.
"The Graveyard Book" concludes with the very perfection all stories should contain: The wish to continue even though it has come to an end.
The delightfully creepy tale, majestically painted with the perfect combination of both humor and darkness, was a Sept. 30 release, just in time for the Halloween season.
The novel focuses in on the life of Bod, short for Nobody, a living boy who is raised by the otherworldly inhabitants of a graveyard, after his family is victim to a vicious murder, of which he is the sole survivor.
Granted with the guardianship of Silas, a mysterious man from neither the living nor dead, and a new pair of parents long-deceased, young Bod remains behind the gates of the graveyard while growing up, an attempt by the dead to protect him from the murderer still out to finish what he had started.
The piece is a young-adult reader, while highly intelligent.
The first chapter may drag out more than necessary but remains entertaining while setting the tale in motion.
Once past the initial chapter, "The Graveyard Book" is hard to put down. Watching as Bod grows into young adulthood, living through the same problems as the average person despite his highly unusual situation, is a treat in itself.
From childish simplicities, such as the leaving of a new friend, to the deeper context of the mature mind, the writing grows with its character.
Each chapter could be contained as its own short story, a brief glimpse into a life segment, and yet they fall neatly together.
The development of the main character is apparent from chapter to chapter, as lessons learned from childhood are incorporated into situations later on in life, forming a hauntingly realistic bond with the reader.
Perhaps one of the only minor flaws in the book is the lack of background information, which can make a certain pivotal event in the novel unclear. While all is explained in the conclusion, through wording vague enough to explain and still leave the reader's mind wandering, it would have been nice to be presented with more depth. Yet again, doing so would conflict with the story's simplicity.
The large variety of colorful characters presented in the graveyard adds moments of laughter and pity to be almost expressed out loud, as the ghosts come and go it is easy to grow fond of them. Each one inserts spice to the story, a loveable feisty combination of personality and strength. As the readers part with each one, a small lingering of yearning to stay with them remains.
Yet in the end, it is the separation from the beloved living boy that is hardest.
"The Graveyard Book" concludes with the very perfection all stories should contain: The wish to continue even though it has come to an end.
Be the first to comment on this story