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The Ocean at the End of the Lane

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( 652,268 ratings, 62,305 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
In The Ocean at the End of the Lane, a middle-aged man returns to his childhood hometown for a funeral and finds himself drawn to a farm where, as a boy, he encountered a girl named Lettie Hempstock. Together, they navigated a surreal adventure involving dark, otherworldly forces lurking just beyond the surface of everyday life. This modern fairy tale explores the fragile boundaries between fantasy and reality.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you appreciate fantastical stories infused with a sense of longing and nostalgia. The narrative blends reality and myth, exploring themes of friendship, memory, and the beauty of childhood wonder. Neil Gaiman's imaginative storytelling will captivate those who love haunting tales with a touch of the supernatural.

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From New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling writer Neil Gaiman, comes a novel of memory, magic and survival, about the power of stories and the darkness inside each of us.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A special Christmas edition of the bestseller.

WINNER OF THE SPECSAVERS NATIONAL BOOK AWARDS 2013 BOOK OF THE YEAR

It began for our narrator forty years ago when the family lodger stole their car and committed suicide in it, stirring up ancient powers best left undisturbed. Dark creatures from beyond the world are on the loose, and it will take everything our narrator has just to stay alive. There is primal horror here, and menace unleashedβ€”within his family and from the forces that have gathered to destroy it.

His only defence is three women, on a farm at the end of the lane. The youngest of them claims that her duckpond is an ocean. The oldest can remember the Big Bang.

The Ocean at the End of the Lane is a fable that reshapes modern fantasy: moving, terrifying and elegiacβ€”as pure as a dream, as delicate as a butterfly's wing, as dangerous as a knife in the dark.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Neil Gaiman's novel is praised for its ability to transform the mundane into a rich, evocative world, effectively blending fantasy with everyday elements. Critics appreciate his talent for tapping into mythology and primal themes, delivering one of his most accessible and emotionally raw stories. The book is described as a beautiful yet frightening fairy tale, with an underlying sense of unresolved trauma adding depth and power to the narrative.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781472228420

Publisher: Headline Publishing Group

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 05 November 2015

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Headline Book Publishing

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 21.0mm

Width: 146.0mm

Height: 197.0mm

Weight: 244g

Pages: 272

About the Author

Neil Gaiman is the author of over thirty acclaimed books and graphic novels for adults and children, including AMERICAN GODS, STARDUST, CORALINE and THE GRAVEYARD BOOK. His most recent novel for adults, THE OCEAN AT THE END OF THE LANE was highly acclaimed, appeared on the hardback and paperback Sunday Times bestseller lists and won several awards, including being voted Book of the Year in the National Book Awards 2013: 'Some books you read. Some books you enjoy. But some books just swallow you up, heart and soul' Joanne Harris.

The recipient of numerous literary honours, Neil Gaiman's work has been adapted for film, television and radio. He has written scripts for Doctor Who, worked with authors and illustrators including Terry Pratchett, Dave McKean and Chris Riddell, and THE SANDMAN is established as one of the classic graphic novels. As George R R Martin says: 'There's no one quite like Neil Gaiman.'

Originally from England, Neil Gaiman now lives in America.

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