Coraline

Rating:
Summary: Superb book that will keep you thinking
Review: I saw this book at an airport and thought it looked interesting. Boy is that an understatement. Neil Gaiman takes the reader through a spooky, creepy world, even and especially for adults. There is a great deal of commentary interwoven throughout the book on how we live our lives and raises questions about how we SHOULD live our lives, but doesn't give the answers. There is so much symbolism in the book, yet it can be interpreted in many different ways. I would recommend this book to anyone, and especially to book clubs or college classes that include contemporary fiction. This is a work to buy and read over, and over, and over.

Rating:
Summary: Catadded peradventure
Review: "Coraline", is from author Neil Gaiman who is very well known for some remarkable, thought-provoking and original fiction. This book is a departure for him, as it is ostensibly written for children who the author explains, read what adults would consider a tale of horror, as an adventure. Children can supply the answer, but this book will keep many up at night, or will invade and transform a dream in to a nightmare regardless of age.

In the event your imagination needs help, illustrator Dave McKean provides black and white images that will make you wince in the brightest light of day. I almost always find black and white imagery more powerful than color, and here once again, color would have detracted from these illustrations. Black and white focuses the images, color can sometimes confuse and distract, or perhaps dilute the message. The illustration facing the text on page 149 easily gains my vote for the creepiest image in the collection. If you have seen images drawn by Tim Burton for some of his films, which will give you an idea of what you will see.

Comparisons have been made to, "Alice In Wonderland", and while you will see it is a comparison that is easy to make, it does a disservice to both writers. A shared element does not automatically mean a comparison is valid or called for, and it can prejudice the reader before the book is opened.

The 162 pages took 10 years to create, and the author states it was both the most difficult book he has written, and the book he is most proud of. I think the audience for the book is as legitimate for adults as for children, and could spark some great conversation between generations, something a great book can do. The book also carries messages for both kids and parents alike, so the book is more than just entertainment.

Buttons for eyes, cat assassins, souls, marbles, mist and mirrors, rats who chant, and mice that jam. It's all here, and it will either keep you up, or keep the lights on while you doze.

Rating:
Summary: Cute children's story
Review: I read Coraline today and just loved it. The fact that it's a children's book kept me from expecting the normal complexities and depth of Neil's writing, but I was impressed with his imagination and writing style as I am over and over again.

This story is an "Alice in Wonderland" type of book that can be a good creepy fairy tale for a ten year old who loves the thrill of a scary story. The story covers all the things kids deal with growing up; exploring, boredom, discontent on rainy days, never liking what your parents cook for dinner, dropping in on neighbors who never get your name quite right and talk about wierd things.

I'm sure any child would find stumbling into a door to find their "other mother" with button eyes and long fingers completely creepy and fun...

Rating:
Summary: My goodness, how creepy.
Review: "Coraline" is excellent, a child's book that manages to be profoundly creepy in its illustrations and its verbal imagery. I'd never realized that buttons could be quite so scary, but to think that there's a mirror world out there and that all we have to do to join it forever is to sew buttons into our eyes frightened me in a way I thought was no longer possible.

I'm a huge Gaiman fan. Huge. This was better than NEVERWHERE and far darker than GOOD OMENS.

Rating:
Summary: Superb - Gaiman at his best
Review: Gorgeously writen modern gothic fairy tale, markedly original, very satisfying to read and of the length at which Gaiman excels (see also his wonderful Smoke and Mirrors collection). For me his novels dont quite match up to his short stories/novellas.

Rating:
Summary: a good time scare
Review: I'm fan of Gaiman's adult fiction and really liked this nightmarish children's tale. Lots of fun. It reminded me of an old "Twilight Zone" in which the kids get caught in another dimension inside a cabinet.

Rating:
Summary: Creepy
Review: If you get freaked out really easily, this book is not for you. full of dark, creepy, and mysterious words, this book is the perfect cross of Lemony Snicket and The Sixth Sense.
This invigorating novel is just right for children over ten years old.

Rating:
Summary: Deliciously scary
Review: Coraline, a young girl, opens up a door in her apartment that everyone thinks was boarded up. She steps through to find an apartment that is exactly like hers, complete with her "Other Mother," and her "Other Father." They seem nice and all, but she still goes home to her own parents. Except her own parents don't seem to be around anymore - they certainly don't come home for a couple of days. What is Coraline going to do?

I would say that this is a darker _Alice in Wonderland_, except Alice was pretty dark too. Coraline, however, is both a great book and a great character. It's just scary enough to give you chills, and just funny enough to make you laugh out loud in parts.

Rating:
Summary: Perfect
Review: I read this book in one sitting. When I finished, I wished I would have read slower. The characters are delightful to spend time with. I have never read a Neil Gaiman novel, but plan to after this delightful book. The illustrations are excellent fun, as well. I find myself comparing this to 'The Thief of Always'by Clive Barker, which is one of my favorite fantasy books.

Rating:
Summary: Definitely not all it's cracked up to be.
Review: If you're under 13, this book might be good for you. But the audience that enjoys Harry Potter will definitely not want to spend money at an overpriced bookstore for this book. I got it through my book club, so I can't complain, but it's just not that great.

I'm sure by now you've heard the premise, but this book evidences something Gaiman once mentioned in his blog, "plot coupons". In this case, it's other children who've been caught by the Other Parents.

The book is too straightforward and, while creepy enough to keep the interest of the target audience, is just not GOOD enough to justify Neil Gaiman's name being on it. I've enjoyed everything else Neil Gaiman has done (except Stardust, which really didn't do it for me), but Coraline just isn't that good. Sorry, Neil. Better luck next time.