SciFi and Fantasy eBook Club discussion

I just finished listening to the audiobook narrated by Neil Gaiman himself. I almost skipped this one because it was pretty pricey but I saw so many good reviews that I went for it. I thought the story was mesmerizing and Gaiman's narration definitely added to the experience. I was listening to it at the gym today on the elliptical and was completely absorbed in the story at a rather creepy part. My husband came up behind me and touched me to get my attention and I almost punched him. Mesmerizing indeed. One thing I'll say for Gaiman, he shows a wide range as a writer. The other thing I'll say is don't sneak up on me.

I'm only about 550 locations or 15% and it reads pure Gaiman. At first I was disappointed that it centers around a 7yo boy as this is supposed to be his first non children's book in forever. But, though its about a child, it's definitely not a child's story.

So far, it feels like some of this Neverwhere creepy darkness is just around the corner so I'm happy. I wish it was a longer book, though.

I was disappointed that it's only 2600 locations long - just a novella, really.

There was a part at the end of the audiobook (I assume it's in the print book also) where he talks about how it actually started out as a short story and got longer from there, so it was never intended to be a full novel.

It is not expandable, however. In other words, I think this is all the story there is; there is not a sense that there is more that he'll get around to some time.

I wish this book had been longer! In a perfect world, we would have backstory on the 3 Hempstock sages who lived at the end of the lane. Such fun throwaway lines in the book too - I want to hear more about the Mouse Wars!

Too bad we can't clone Neil Gaiman and send the Neils off to write more stories. :)

Not read it yet but I did very much enjoy his childrens story Fortunately, the Milk which I got an advance copy of.

I am also listening to the audiobook. I have 1 hour left, so I'll finish it tomorrow on my commute. :( I love the Hempstocks! I love Gaiman's work. he just has this way of pulling you into the story. If I could, I would devour his books in one sitting.

Donna wrote: "There was a part at the end of the audiobook (I assume it's in the print book also) where he talks about how it actually started out as a short story and got longer from there, so it was never inte..."

He reiterated this in person as well. (I attended a reading+signing in Portland.) It is technically long enough to be considered a novel, but not by much.

On a slightly different note: the core of the episode with the Mini Cooper is true, except he didn't witness any of it.

Technically perhaps - but in my book, anything that I can read on a Saturday without trying hard is a novella and not a novel. :-) But I know that authors and publishers do it by word count and not how fast it's read so I'm in a bit of a minority opinion there.

But, I got side tracked by a book I didn't know was being released this weekend so I'm only at 40%. So technically it is taking me several days to read.

I'm enjoying it ... it's just going very fast.

I did finish the book today and it is a charming little fairy tale and I have to admit I enjoyed it.

I finished this a couple of days ago. I absolutely loved it! I had a sense of something scary lurking just out of sight, just fantastic writing.

Just finished this yesterday. The length felt right for the story. Enjoyed this one very much, left me thinking afterwards.

Finished it a few days ago. Whilst the writing was perfect for the ethereal feeling of the story, I couldn't help but feel disappointed, mainly because of its length and the fact that it felt more like a YA book. Not that I mind YA books, I was just expecting...more. I think a big part of my reaction is because the book came with such lofty expectations from all the talk around it AND it was really, really expensive for such a short book - almost a tenner. After I'd finished I felt like I was paying for the Gaiman name. But, the descriptions of the 'other' world, and the Hemplocks were touches of brilliance in what, for me, was otherwise just a nice little story.

Just finished it--definitely a novella and not a novel by my standards. But awesome nonetheless.

From a technical point of view, that's absolutely a novella. Which should have been a short story (and maybe was one which has only been extended).

I haven't read Mr. Gaiman before, so this was my premiere.

I see that he's got the language quite good - but not as good as for example John Crowley in Little, Big.
He delivers a faery tale from a kids point of view quite well - but not as good as as Mr Stephen King in It.
And as I previously stated, it is too long in my humble opinion - as a short story it would have worked far better. Not that it contained too long sections. But the idea was not good enough to carry for a novella.

Worst thing for me was that it felt like a horror story, which I don't like at all. Especially when I read the scene describing the drowning, I nearly lemmed it.

Personally, I'd rate it between 1 and 2 stars (because of the horror elements). But I see where the quality comes from which deserves 3+ stars.

Gaiman is not at his best in his long work; his greatest strength IMO is the shorter length.

Ah,Andreas, I see where we part ways on this. I write horror, so I give extra stars for horror elements. :)

Hoping to finish this before the end of the month.

I just finished this yesterday. Really enjoyed it. I felt that Gaiman captured the magic and horror of childhood and all its innocence. Which is not an easy thing to do. The fact that the child is never named (at least not that I recall) makes it so anyone can relate with the protagonist. These quotes summed up essence of the book for me:

Memories were waiting at the edges of things, beckoning to me.

Ursula Monkton smiled, and the lightnings wreathed and writhed about her. She was power incarnate, standing in the crackling air. She was the storm, she was the lightning, she was the adult world with all its power and all its secrets and all its foolish casual cruelty. She winked at me.

She was also an adult, and when adults fight children, adults always win.

I do not miss childhood, but I miss the way I took pleasure in small things, even as greater things crumbled. I could not control the world I was in, could not walk away from things or people or moments that hurt, but I found joy in the things that made me happy.

The ending left me thinking and wondering and perplexed, but that's OK, because As Lettie says, "Be boring, knowing everything. You have to give all that stuff up if you're going to muck about here."

Colin wrote: "Finished it a few days ago. Whilst the writing was perfect for the ethereal feeling of the story, I couldn't help but feel disappointed, mainly because of its length and the fact that it felt more ..."
I agree with you.

I thought it fell flat. I think my expectations were too high given the wild praise by others, and given what I know Gaiman is capable of (American Gods). It felt just too superlimnal. We only see the surface of his Ocean. Only the shoreline. Such a missed opportunity - the foreshadowing and textual hints were far from subtle. I felt like Neil was bludgeoning me with description when he would discuss the "flea" in one sentence and use the same adjectives verbatim a sentence later with Ursula. I knew immediately, based on the association with gray and pink, pages before the story feels like it intends to reveal.

I just wanted more.

Fortunately, I can still await the new Gene Wolfe and read other books.