"It felt like I had driven back in time."
June 10, 2013 8:05 PM Subscribe
The Guardian has an excerpt of Neil Gaiman's latest novel, The Ocean at the End of the Lane. You can also watch him reading an excerpt of it, and he writes about it a bit (and links to several reviews) on his blog.
Here's Gaiman talking to Joe Hill about the book, the characters and some other things, including pancakes.
And remember...
posted by oneswellfoop at 9:11 PM on June 10, 2013
And remember...
posted by oneswellfoop at 9:11 PM on June 10, 2013
I gather from Neil's blog that the Hill interview contains spoilers. I am looking forward to reading it after I've read the book, for maximum spoiler reduction.
posted by Athanassiel at 10:19 PM on June 10, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Athanassiel at 10:19 PM on June 10, 2013 [1 favorite]
Also, I'm always disproportionately shocked when great people turn out to have bad teeth.
Obviously this is a massive derail, but Neil looks to have perfectly healthy teeth to me, so presumably you're commenting on the fact that they're not the perfect line of shiny white tombstones decreed by modern US beauty standards? The idea that everybody should have perfectly straight white teeth in order to be "normal" is a twisted one.
It's also no more acceptable to call someone out on their 'bad teeth' as it would be to call them out on any other of the myriad ways in which people might fail to meet whatever unattainable standard of physical perfection you happen to be comparing them to.
I'll look forward to reading the book at some point, although I've always found Neil's books for younger readers worked better than his more adult efforts for me. I've never been able to put my finger on why though.
posted by pharm at 1:54 AM on June 11, 2013 [4 favorites]
Obviously this is a massive derail, but Neil looks to have perfectly healthy teeth to me, so presumably you're commenting on the fact that they're not the perfect line of shiny white tombstones decreed by modern US beauty standards? The idea that everybody should have perfectly straight white teeth in order to be "normal" is a twisted one.
It's also no more acceptable to call someone out on their 'bad teeth' as it would be to call them out on any other of the myriad ways in which people might fail to meet whatever unattainable standard of physical perfection you happen to be comparing them to.
I'll look forward to reading the book at some point, although I've always found Neil's books for younger readers worked better than his more adult efforts for me. I've never been able to put my finger on why though.
posted by pharm at 1:54 AM on June 11, 2013 [4 favorites]
I'd forgotten all about this, hooray for yet another book to look forward to reading during my upcoming holiday!
posted by Ravneson at 2:06 AM on June 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Ravneson at 2:06 AM on June 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
One of the reasons I enjoyed American Gods is that, on a re-read, I discovered that you could very easily read the entire thing being about loss, and coping with that (in that all the characters are coping with the loss of something or someone), which I think is such an interesting and powerful theme as we all have to come to terms with that at some point. That this story opens (or near enough does, I'm guessing) with a funeral and then delves into memory makes me suspect I'm going to like it a lot.
I guess Gaiman actually deals with loss in several of his books, the other obvious example being Anansi Boys.
posted by Cannon Fodder at 3:39 AM on June 11, 2013 [4 favorites]
I guess Gaiman actually deals with loss in several of his books, the other obvious example being Anansi Boys.
posted by Cannon Fodder at 3:39 AM on June 11, 2013 [4 favorites]
He read a different excerpt a few months ago at an event he did in Pittsburgh and it was really delightful. I'm so anxious to read this. Thanks for this post!
posted by Stacey at 6:02 AM on June 11, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by Stacey at 6:02 AM on June 11, 2013 [2 favorites]
The writing has a palpably Bradbury-esque quality to it, childhood and bittersweet and loss, and I am into it.
posted by FatherDagon at 9:55 AM on June 11, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by FatherDagon at 9:55 AM on June 11, 2013 [2 favorites]
he mentioned that he wrote this because he wanted to write his wife a story. i am very excited for this book. it might be the first ebook i buy...
posted by nadawi at 7:01 AM on June 14, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by nadawi at 7:01 AM on June 14, 2013 [1 favorite]
Michael Sheen will read The Ocean at the End of the Lane for Radio 4
posted by homunculus at 2:03 PM on June 22, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by homunculus at 2:03 PM on June 22, 2013 [1 favorite]
I'm reading the book now (according to my Kindle, I'm 80% through). I have to say that as much as I sometimes feel impatient with him lately in terms of seeming maybe too ... internet-celebrity-fame-seeking? Or something? – I'm so happy to sink into a fully realized Gaiman novel. This one ticks so many of the why-I-love-Gaiman buttons for me.
posted by taz at 8:17 AM on July 2, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by taz at 8:17 AM on July 2, 2013 [1 favorite]
I just finished it this morning. It was so good it actually made me cry. I almost wish he'd always stick to this level of brilliance, but then maybe I wouldn't appreciate it as much when he does. Best thing he's done since Sandman.
posted by Athanassiel at 8:03 PM on July 2, 2013
posted by Athanassiel at 8:03 PM on July 2, 2013
« Older He's dancing all night on a Star Destroyer | How A War Hero Became A Serial Bank Robber Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
Also, I'm always disproportionately shocked when great people turn out to have bad teeth.
posted by gurple at 9:01 PM on June 10, 2013