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Coraline

Coraline

List Price: $15.99
Your Price: $10.87
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: extraordinary little girl!
Review: I've been reading this book to my cat in the evenings. I enjoy it immensely. I'm not quite sure what my cat thinks of it.

I like the concept of reveling and looking forward to the regular and the expected. There's a lot to be said for a hum-drum life. Coraline is a wonderful young role model who draws upon inner strengths and cooperates with friends to reach her goals.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Creepiest and Most Captivating Book I have Ever Read
Review: I had the honor of hearing Neil describe the book "Coraline" in person at a book signing for "American Gods" last year in NYC and just his description of 'the other parents' gave me not only a shiver up my spine but a smile of anticipation as well. After what seemed like ages (but what was in reality a mere year) I held the book "Coraline" at long last in my hands. I devoured it in two days (which says something since those two days were somewhat on the particularly busy side).

From page one, paragraph one, word one Neil Gaiman had me under his spell. When at work, I had a near constant smile on my face because I knew what I was reading was not just another book. The sheer masterful talent (dare I say 'genius'? Oh well, it came out and I will leave it there -- sorry Neil!!) behind it just put me in such a pleasant mood plus I new when my shift was over I would be returning home to allow Neil to wrap me up within the shadowy world he had created.

Let me talk a little about the main character Coraline. I think she is an incredible role-model for young girls -- she is brave, intelligent, quick-witted, kind, and one of the best female heroine's I have ever seen in either written form or film. She is the daughter that I would love to have.

To compare "Coraline" to "Alice in Wonderland" or "The Chronicles of Narnia" would not do the book justice as it is far darker than either one ever was. It stands alone, not only as a remarkable achievement in children's literature but in literature itself. Not only is this one of the best pieces I have read from Neil Gaiman, it's one of the best books I ever read -- and I have read a lot throughout the years (not that I'm old yet -- 30 years have not yet passed me by!).

I have heard it said that Neil Gaiman has written this book for "strange girls of all ages". While I am not a girl, I do suppose I could be considered 'strange' to some, but I am one who loves to read a fantastic tale with a strong female lead and captivating narrative style.

Anyone who meets those requirements or just loves an incredibly well-written book, needs to own this.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Uneven and not-so Scary
Review: Neil Gaiman is definitely a creative powerhouse, there's not questioning that. But this book really isn't worth all the hype surrounding it.

Some of the imagery created by Gaiman is very clever and chilling, but the execution falls flat. It reads like a "Choose Your Own Adventure" book, and I never really felt the main character was in any real danger (just creepy circumstances). And even though the evil mother character is very well written, her actions and origins seem a bit vague so it all falls a bit flat.

Although the book's jacket touts it as the next Alice in Wonderland, this book lacks the wit and charm to be a book for all ages. Kids will no doubt be frightened by by Gaiman's creepy imagery, but as they grow older, they'll begin to wonder exactly why as this book lacks the bite it's teeth imply...

I'd stick to Road Dahl or The Brothers Grim...

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Wonderful!
Review: An amazing story of an explorer who loves her parents very much, knows chocolate is bad for dogs, has no fear of buttons and knows how to handle a cat. Very fun.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Once you start, you have to finish or you're stuck in there
Review: When reading "Coraline" one has the almost overwhelming urge to read phrases and paragraphs and entire chapters to anyone within range. The first impression I got when I read it was that the author desperately wanted to come to each and every person's house and read the book, and that the print version was only a temporary measure.

Well, okay, that was the second impression. The first impression was that this was a seriously creepy story. Not terrifying in the way that so many authors try to startle you or shock you, but ominously creepy in such a way that you have to keep reading or the story will never end and you'll go through the rest of your life with this crawly feeling all over you.

Coraline is a young girl, small for her age, whose family moves into a new house. The house used to be larger before it was subdivided, and so there is an old door opening onto a brick wall. Coraline is fascinated by this intriquing exception to an otherwise boring existence; this, along with some odd neighbors, are all that liven up her summer days. Further investigation leads to a mysterious other side, complete with other side parents determined to keep Coraline with them, even if it means stealing her real parents away. This may be a children's book, but only in that it speaks with a child's sensibilities and focus. At no point does "Coraline" speak down to the audience, and that's one of the marks of a children's book that will last.
The other is excellent writing, and he's got that covered too.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Turn the Key
Review: There once was a young girl named Coraline who moved into a new flat with her mother and father. The neighbors are friendly, if not a bit odd and a bit confused, repeatedly calling her "Caroline" by mistake. The little girl is a self-proclaimed explorer, taking walks around the neighborhood no matter what the weather. With both of her parents occupied by work, she counts the doors at home, and figures out how to open up a door which is supposed to open up to nowhere - more specifically, a brick wall...

Coraline's curious nature is akin to that of Alice (in Wonderland), Anne (of Green Gables) and other historical young heroines. Far from being a damsel in distress, Coraline is witty, intelligent and aware. Her 'White Rabbit' comes in the shape of a black cat who has no name; as he wryly explains to her, cats know who they are so they don't need names, unlike insecure human beings.

"Coraline" is a fantastic read for all ages, genders and critters. This is a book to read late at night when huddled under the covers with a flashlight. The gothic feel of this book will please long-time Neil Gaiman fans as well as fans of classic dark fairy tales.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: deliciously creepy
Review: Neil Gaiman is a master storyteller. His diction is perfect. He does not waste words, but is not miserly with them either. His descriptions never fail to rouse a knowing nod and smile from the reader. Even when writing a quick throwaway piece in his journal...his style is impeccable.

For this novel, Neil sets his eyes on another audience: young adults. He gives children (or, as he has said, 'strange little girls of all ages and genders' - a nod to his friend Tori Amos and her 2001 "Strange Little Girls" album) a deliciously creepy novel about a girl, a new flat, and her other mother.

Coraline (not Caroline, even though all of the adults who live in the other flats keep on saying it that way and ignoring her corrections) and her parents move into a new home. One day, she pesters her father one too many times, so he sends her off on an expedition: find the water heater, count everything blue, count all the doors and windows. She does so, and is shocked to find that there are 13 doors that open and one that doesn't. She asks her mother what is behind the 14th door, and is told that it was bricked over when the house was broken up into flats. Her mother unlocks the door to show her this, but doesn't lock it again.

Later, Coraline creeps back, and finds that the door opens into another flat. It is just like her own, but not quite. In her room (green and pink, not boring like her own), she finds the sorts of clothing that she thinks she would have if she could pick out her own wardrobe -- not a grey school skirt, but costumes. In the kitchen, she finds her other parents -- not her real parents who work and don't play with her, but other parents who cook real food (not something from a "recipe" involving tarragon and butter beans) and dote upon her. Coraline knows that this is not right, and returns to her own flat.

Thus begins Coraline's adventure. The other mother steals Coraline's parents. Coraline returns to the other flat to get them back. Along the way, she makes friends with the most sarcastic of cats and finds the ghosts of other children who were stolen away by the other mother.

Gaiman's mastery of timing has never been shown so well than in this novel. Just when things are getting really scary, he breaks in with a droll and dry line that makes the reader laugh. This is a novel that is just begging to be read aloud -- as Neil Gaiman himself did on 02 July 2002 in Berkeley, California. His audience, around 500 people, hung on his every word. The adults in the audience were just as delighted as the children to have someone read such a delicious story to them. If you dislike reading aloud, you can always buy the audio CD (complete, unabridged) version of this story.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Delightful and Engaging!
Review: I received the audio CD of Coraline in the mail yesterday in the early afternoon. I'd read the book, and heard parts of it read by the author here and there, so I put it on for background, while I did other things. The "other things" didn't even get started for roughly three hours.

The recording begins with a verse from a quirky Gothic Archies tune in which Stephin Merritt sing-songs, "You are not my mother, and I want to go home," over layers of atmospheric dings and bonga-bongas. The song echoes the story's cohesion of humor and spookiness, and is split into three parts, playing a bit before each of the three CDs.

The story itself is a delight. Coraline is a typical child-explorer, examining the house and grounds to which she recently moved, uncovering the strange personalities that inhabit her world, and discovering that a door in her home which was previously bricked-up actually leads to a misty echo-world where old, hungry, button-eyed creatures masquerade as her other parents, having parent-napped her real parents, while trying to convince her to stay there forever so that they can keep her soul . . . Well. Perhaps her story is not so typical. Not typical, also, are the fantastic characters who pop in and out of the story, such as the Slavic mustached man who lives in the upper flat and is training a mouse circus, and his other-self, or the pair of dotty, but kind, retired theater mavens who read tea leaves and worry about their dogs' tummies, and their less-benevolent, other-world counterparts. Like any true exploration story, Coraline has an assistant for the more dangerous times, in the form of a condescending, snarkily witty black cat. And like every true exploration story, there are acts of great courage and startling discoveries made along the way.

Neil Gaiman is an engaging and expressive reader, as well as writer. He infuses the characters with a spark all their own, changing cadences and even accents, always to the benefit of the story. The pacing is smooth and quick, with minute dips and well-placed pauses that give the shivers a chance to manifest before the story is once again plunging on to the good stuff.

Coraline is a story that begs -- no, demands -- to be read aloud. Usually the problem is that someone has to be the reader, while the listeners get to experience the full effect and thrill of the story. Let the author be the reader, and indulge yourself in the sheer delight of hearing a wonderful story told well.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Not so much scarey as really really ugly
Review: I give this book 2 stars for the writing talent the author has shown in the past and continues to display in this book. He obviously has a 5-star talent. But this book is not so much scarey as truly creepy -- and not in a nice way. This book is just ugly. And the pictures were even uglier. Think of the emotional reaction to something really sad and sick -- like maybe chronic skin infection exhudate, and that is my reaction to this story. E-e-e-w-h! If that is what you like, then the rating should be 5-star. But if you want a nice day with nice images in your brain, then avoid this book.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Once again, he fails to let me down.
Review: I am an avid reader and a huge fan of everything Neil Gaiman has his fingers in. I've read almost all of his novels and graphic novels, but until he started coming out with children's books (namely, The Day I Swapped My Dad...), was unable to share them with my son.

I ordered Coraline, not realizing it was a children's book, however I was most pleasantly surprised.

My son is not big on reading, in fact, it's difficult to find things that he is willing to read from start to finish. Happily, Coraline has been added to that list (and in theory, anything Gaiman writes for kids from now on).

While a little twisted for younger people, it's sometimes that bizzare perspective that will captivate children. It's a little creepy and quite suspenseful, and Coraline is the sort of character you can identify with. Additionally, you can empathize with her desire to explore an alternate reality as well as her later desire to return to familiar surroundings. I think that children who are approaching puberty will very much relate to the story that emerges within this book.

I love being able to share Neil Gaiman with my son. I love that one of my favorite authors has spurred his interest in reading a little more.

It's not your standard children's fiction by any stretch of the imagination, but for kids who aren't interested in standards and who are reluctant to read books that are so sterile and contrived that they simply cannot relate, maybe turning to darker fiction is the solution. It is in my case :)


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