Coraline: Neil Gaiman Paperback – 6 Oct. 2003

My book great reading

I have just finished reading 'Coraline' and had to get online to do a review having purchased my copy through Amazon.com. The versatile and very talented Mr Gaiman combines horror and fairytale to bring about this enchanting story which children and adults alike will love. Beautifully illustrated by Dave McKean (who also collaborated with Gaiman on 'The Wolves in the Walls') this easy to read book leaves you wanting more. Coraline is a young girl if a little 'small for her age' who loves to explore and play games. One day she decides to explore the flat where she lives and ends up opening the door to an alternative world to her own. There she finds she has another mother and father who have been waiting for her and are desperate for her to stay with them on the other side of the door. ON the surface they seem very nice were it not for the fact that they have black buttons for eyes, eat black beetlebugs and don't really seem all that genuine. In Coraline's struggle to return to the real world and locate her real parents who have 'disappeared', she makes an unlikely alliance with a nameless cat and the spirits of three children.You might feel a little cheated having forked out your hard earned cash for a book which is only 184 pages, including an illustration in each new chapter, but it is well worth it.This is a far cry from Gaiman's other works such as the marvellous 'American Gods' and the Sandman illustrated books, which just goes to prove his ability to be flexible and versatile with his imagination and creative writing. Highly recommended for both adults and maturer children who won't end up with nightmares! Bravo.

I love Coraline. Despite Gaiman being one of my favourite authors, I originally came to the tale by the film adaptation, rather than the novel. As with many film adaptations, there are some slight differences to the original. This audio version provides you with the novel, unabridged, narrated by Gaiman himself.This has been the prefect companion to me on my journeys to and from work over the last couple of weeks. Coraline is certainly a creepy tale; I doubt that I would read it to young children as it would probably scare them silly, but I love it. There is a darkness to it, which runs through the whole story. Sometimes the creepiness is obvious, sometimes it hangs round the edges, hiding itself, but it is there.If you haven't discovered Coraline in any medium yet, and you like strange, creepy tales, I would recommend that you check her out. If you have only ever come across the film version, I would also recommend that you go back to where it all started; read the novel or listen on audio, it's a great tale.

Came exactly as described. Good quality and a nice keepsake

Perfect little book

I watched the film and loved how dark and gothic it was so bought the book for very cheap. Turns out it’s a kids book which is similar to the film but a lot shorter and missing out many scenes and characters. It’s more of a short story but is still an entertaining one. It features a weird mixture of English and American language but I would still recommend for a very easy read.

Coraline was my first Neil Gaiman book and was such a joy to read. Neil Gaiman just has such a way with words and can spin a story that’s equally as enjoyable for adults and children.I’d describe it as a modern-day fairytale, but with all the dark, twisted things that the original Grimm’s fairytales had. It’s quite a short book (176 pages) but that meant there was none of the bloat that authors sometimes feel they need to include to hit a certain word count.Coraline as the narrator gives the book that innocent feel of seeing the world through the eyes of a child which is something that Gaiman does particularly well. I think this can be a bit hit and miss with other authors but certainly isn’t a problem here.The story is by no means complex but that doesn’t make it any less enjoyable, and I’m glad this was my introduction to Neil Gaiman’s writing. Now that I’ve read Coraline I’m looking forward to reading more of his stories.

Wow. My pleasant surprise for this book was barely contained after I gobbled it up in two (albeit very busy) days.I admit I am a huge fan of the film and have watched it numerous times. There is actually more added to the film as the book is only around two hundred pages, however this did not disappoint me in the least.Coraline is jam packed full of various themes, beautifully haunting imagery, and colourful characters. It also had a frightful scene including the Other Father that I will unashamedly say scared me witless.Gaimans prose is also luscious and beautiful. This is the first and only book of his that I have read so far (The Graveyard Book is sitting patiently on my shelf) and was one of my best reads of the year. He speaks directly to you in third person but not down to you; he tells you stuff but not in a preachy way at all, we learn it along with Coraline, who would be an adventurer's dream to explore with!Coraline is a modern gothic fairtale with a refreshingly active protagonist. A little warning this book (and its illustrations) may frighten the much younger ones. Five stars all the way.