It was a happy accident the day I came upon Neil Gaiman. I was browsing around Waterstones looking for that 3rd book, as Waterstones always has a 3 for 2 deals on. I have always liked authors such as Edgar Allen Poe, H.P. Lovecraft, and Ray Bradbury and Neil Gaiman’s book Fragile Things was on the table mixed with such authors. The main reason I was drawn to it was the sticker on the cover that said “3 for 2.” Also the cover was really cool. I know I’m not to judge a book by its cover, but being somewhat of an artist myself I can’t help but admire book cover art. Hey I think I have a new calling….This title Coraline was written for ages 9-12 and being only 192 pages I was able to finish it in less then a day. When I first read Gaiman’s work I was unsure how I felt about him. Now I know that he will eventually be talked about like the authors I mentioned above. Coraline was an engaging read. I also enjoyed how it was short and to the point. Sometimes authors get to windy and babble too much about things that don’t have any relevance to the story. It has Alice in Wonderland qualities about an alternate world where you learn that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.
I found the other mother completely creepy and the world she created even more so. It reminds me what it was like to be a kid. Not that I ever wanted for attention from my parents, but that age when you start to realize who you are. I hate when people say things like “I just need to find myself” and the response I always what to give is “Where did you lose yourself? Maybe that’s where you should look first.” But when you are young and you’re learning about the world it is the biggest change in character. When you have to start being responsible for yourself and when the innocence of childhood starts to leave you. That’s exactly what happens to Coraline. She isn’t happy with the way her parents tend to brush her aside and don’t always listen to her. As she is going back through the doorway she recalls a story to the cat about her father taking her exploring and how he saved her from a wasps nest by telling her to run and taking 28 stings to her 1. She knows her parents love her and she loves them and does everything she can to rescue them from the other mother. It’s another step in growing up when you realize your parents are human too and that even though you don’t agree with some of the ways they behave it might be impossible to change them. One of the lessons that Coraline learns is that by changing her parents they wouldn’t be HER parents anymore.
ReplyDeleteAll in all a recommended quick read for all those who love a little mystery and horror. Now a Major Motion Picture