Coraline
by Neil Gaiman
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Book Reviews of Coraline
Book Review: Deliciously Creepy
Summary: 5 Stars
Young Coraline's family has recently moved into a new house and she is just starting to explore the house and getting to know her neighbors, Miss Spink and Miss Forcible and the old man who lives upstairs with his pet mice. She hasn't met any other children in the area yet so she has plenty of time to explore the house. But she gets more than she expected when she steps through a mysterious door in the house and finds another house almost exactly like hers and another mother and another father who look just like her parents. But they really aren't like her parents at all and soon Coraline is in a fight to return to her ordinary life and her ordinary parents.
"Coraline" is Neil Gaiman's delightfully quirky book that is aimed at readers ages eight and up but can be enjoyed by readers of all ages. While Gaiman creates a bizarre alternate world once Coraline goes through the door, the real world she lives in is a bit odd as well. Her parents basically ignore her, Miss Spink and Miss Forcible are obsessed with their dogs and the man upstairs is obsessed with his mice. Once she is through the door, Gaiman creates a world that seems familiar to Coraline but gets creepier the longer she stays there. Gaiman does a great job of creating the parallel world (I love what he does with Miss Spink and Miss Forcible and the talking cat). Coraline (not Caroline - nice touch) is a strong heroine who grows stronger throughout the course of the book as she has to save several people, including herself from a horrible fate. The world Gaiman creates is deliciously creepy but may be a bit too scary for younger readers.
"Coraline" is a wonderfully dark book for readers of all ages.
Book Review: fantastic!
Summary: 5 Stars
I really enjoyed this clever little novella, but then again, I enjoy mostly everything from Gaiman. This is a story of young Coraline (though often mistakenly, and to her despair, called Caroline) - a bored and curious girl who longs for an adventure. As is expected from Gaiman, the story contains comically eccentric characters, a talking cat, a sudden dark twist to an otherwise ordinary day, and one very stubborn main character.
Though intended for a young audience (indeed Gaiman originally set out to write this for his daughter), the story actually gets quite chilling (he does admit his daughter used to have a bit of Wednesday Addams about her). Kidnapped, soulless children trapped in a mirror, an Other Mother who looks like Coraline's mother (except that her eyes are made of black buttons) a body-less hand stalking Coraline outside her window at night...creepy! But in a good way!
The writing itself is simple enough for it to be a children's book, but that doesn't take away from the experience for the adult reader. In fact, it gives the book a sense of fun and lightness that counters the gothic horror of the plot.
I recommend picking up Coraline if you are a fan of Gaiman's work, or if you are looking for a cute, quick book to read on the train. And what's more, an animated movie is being made based on the book. I'm not usually a fan of animation and would much rather see this go the way of Mirror Mask, BUT the fantastic news is that the brilliant Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders are doing the voices of the wacky neighbors. But things always get lost in translation from book to screenplay, so do yourself a favor and read the novella first.
Book Review: Eh.. a little too young for me....
Summary: 3 Stars
Coraline by Neil Gaiman is a glorified short-story that has some mild chill factors that would probably be better for a younger audience.
"Coraline" brings us the story of a young girl who is as curious as the Benjamin Button case. Since she and her parents moved into their new flat she takes every opportunity to explore every inch especially since her overworked parents just don't seem to have enough time for her. One day she stumbles upon a small door. She soon finds this door leads her to a flat just like hers. This "other flat" even has its own version of her bedroom, her kitchen and her parents. But it's not the same bedroom, kitchen and parents. These parents do have time for her. These parents make the perfect dinner and always want to be with Coraline. But something isn't right about them. Something is definitely wrong with her "other mother" (as she is referred to). Soon her real parents go missing and Coraline needs to discover the secrets of her other flat so she can find her parents and return to her "normal" life.
As a pretty big Neil Gaiman fan I was a little disappointed in "Coraline". I just felt the target audience was beneath me. I've read other books of his that was targeted for a younger audience and found them to work for a wide range of audience. Not "Coraline". The other problem with it isn't Gaiman's fault but it is a result of poor marketing. On the cover of the book there are numerous quotes saying how scary it is and one that says it is one of the scariest books ever. That is just not true.
In closing, this book is not horrible. It's probably really good for the "below 13" crowd. Good one to read to your youngsters.
Book Review: Watch out sleepy little Alice, here comes Coraline!
Summary: 5 Stars
Have you ever wondered what the world would be like looking out of a mirror as opposed to into one? Such is the topsy-turvy reality Neil Gaiman creates in the story of "Coraline". The title characters name is a twist upon itself, which is your first sign that things are not always as they seem. Coraline is an adventurer; braver than most, but slighter than many. Size does not equal strength, kindness, or cunning though, when faced with evil. Longing for an escape from the hum-drum of everyday life, she follows a doorway to nowhere.....on this particular day, however, nowhere leads to a somewhere one would only hope to dream and never experience. In this "other" world, everyone and everything appears the same and yet different. Her "other" mother is especially affectionate, wanting nothing more than to feed her and play games. Coraline can't quite put her finger on it, but something there is just....wrong. What evil lurks behind their shiny button black eyes? Coraline feeling none to uneasy decides to return home after her visit only to discover her parents are missing! She knows in her heart that her "other" mother has them, and she knows where she must go to bring them back. Mustering all the strength a child can hold, she sets out on an adventure she will not soon forget with her only ally, a familiar, although sarcastic, black cat from her own world, guiding the way. Will this be enough to stop the evil lurking in the shadows? What other secrets are being held just out of her reach? You can be sure Coraline will uncover it all and more.Book Review: "She stole our hearts, and she stole our souls, and she took our lives away, and she left us here, and she forgot about us
Summary: 4 Stars
in the dark."
Coraline Jones, exploring her family's new flat one day, finds a brick wall blocking the entrance to another part of the building. Below the girl and her parents live Miss Spink and Miss Forcible, an elderly pair of former actresses and above lives a man who calls her Caroline and supposedly speaks with mice. One day he passes on a warning from the rodents (p 16), "Don't go through the door." But, of course, she does. And what she finds is otherworldly, abnormal in ways that range from slightly creepy to totally bizarre. Once there, a sharp-featured button-eyed woman resembling her mother tries to win her over and convince her to stay. Other Dad is not so bad. At least he tries not to be. Other residents exist there too, including rats and a cat that talk. And faster than you can say, "Button, button who's got the button," she's trapped on the other side. The matriarch tries a series of ruses to convince Coraline of her love and sincerity in wanting her to stay. But the girl learns the truth and makes a gutsy wager involving her own fate and those of several others. Disturbingly original, Coraline will leave you thinking about the otherworld long after finishing the story. Even better as read by the author, who makes a few subtle changes to the text and does a marvelous job with the voices of the various characters. Also good, The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury.