Coraline
by Neil Gaiman
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Book Reviews of Coraline
Book Review: Coraline
Summary: 4 Stars
Coraline is a little girl about 7 or 8 years old. She loves to go exploring, Coraline gets bored very quickly and her parents cant play with her because they are always busy doing something else, so one day she asks her parents what she could do, she wanted to go outside but it was raining and her parents didn't want her to go outside, then they said to watch a movie, play with her toys, read, well Coraline then watched all the movies in the house, but she didn't want to play with her toys.
Coraline walked over to her dad and asked If he would play with her but he was on the computer working then he gave her something to do, he asked her to count all of the windows and the doors in the house, so she did but then she came to a room with a door in the corner she went to go open It but to her surprise the door was locked, so she went to find her mom who was on the kitchen, then she asked her mother were is the key to the art room.
Coralines mother got the key that was hanging in the kitchen then they both walked into the art room Coralines mother unlocked the door and opened it but there was nothing on the other side of the door, nothing but a brick wall, but later on when Coralines parents aren't around Coraline unlocks the door and is surprised to see what's really behind that what's on the other side she's seen it before.
Book Review: Short, yet seductive.
Summary: 4 Stars
This is the first work that I have read from Neil Gaiman, and I am pleasantly entertained. I chose to read this in quick form as I am an animator and most recently saw the "making of" for the film adaptation currently being produced by Laika. I liked the premise of the film and this book certainly did not disappoint. I feel the story is seductive and interesting, yet it seems obvious that the writer has made some concessions regarding character detail and overall exposition to progress the story and keep the pacing. It is a quick read and although a bit derivative (alice in wonderland meets a nightmare before christmas ...a bit of stretch to be sure, but it is closer than you would think.) In the end, aside from some abbreviated portions that sacrifice character motive, I feel that this short book is a good read for most readers who enjoy a bit of whimsy and imagination in their stories. In truth, although I do not have children, I would caution against having younger readers explore this book as the latter chapters introduce somewhat frightening subject matter, including everything from a disembodied hand to an amorphous shape changing creature...Overall, it is a well crafted execution and something to be enjoyed...Book Review: Gaiman does it again
Summary: 5 Stars
Neil Gaiman has a knack for young adult fiction - his The Graveyard Book is an imaginitive re-working of Kipling; in _Coraline_, he similarly shines.
Young Coraline is bored in her new house, her parents ignore her, and the people who have apartments in the house are all old and a bit nutty. Then Caroline finds a secret door that takes her to "her other mother." Think _The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe_ with a gothic, sinister twist and you're close to the mark. Initially Caroline is smitten with her "other family" - until she begins to pay closer attention to her surroundings.
Gaiman's target audience here seems to be the 8 - 13 year-old set - as a previous reviewer mentioned, its horror writing without the gore, hence its age appropriateness. I'm sure this scares the bejesus out of them. For older readers such as myself, there is also much to enjoy here, from Gaiman's witty dialogue (the exchanges between Caroline and the cat were a favorite) to the clever story line. Its a quick read at just over 160 pages, but an entertaining one nonetheless.
Book Review: Coraline
Summary: 4 Stars
"Coraline" is the most satisfying horror novel for kids since Roald Dahl's "The Witches." It has great elements of terror and a strong heroine who uses her wits to get out of a bad situation. And it's quite a situation. In a variation of "Through the Looking Glass," Coraline finds herself in an alternate world that albeit somewhat benign and slightly creepy at first, becomes far more menacing the longer Coraline stays.
What I liked about this book is that - and this is owing to Gaiman - it's not sugarcoated. Coraline is in real danger at times and the situations grow more and more macabre. It heightens the suspense of the tale when you don't know what's going to happen. There are a few scenes that could even keep a person up at night; I won't say what but you may want to make sure your windows are closed tight before you go to bed.
I wish there had been just a slight bit more explanation as to Coraline's adventures, but that could be due to too many years of reading comics and demanding origin stories. But otherwise, this is a nice, dark tale that's completely entertaining no matter what age you are.
Book Review: Elegant and artfully creepy
Summary: 4 Stars
If Coraline is a children's book, it's only because of the length at 26 years old I was completely drawn into the story and and coudn't put it down. the summer holiday's are getting boring for Coraline. she and her parents have recently moved to the country, to one of the flats in an old renovated house. observing the neighbors and exploring everything in sight has been interesting, but it's getting old, and Coraline's parents; who both work at home aren't doing much to entertain her. In fact she's quite annoyed with them. Coraline craves adventure, and by stepping through a mysterious door in her apartment, she's about to discover that some adventures a better left alone.
Despite the scare factor or maybe due to it, this book has some powerful positive messages, and the scary bits are so well crafted that their full impact didn't hit me right a way. Who new black button eyes could be so cringe worthy. My over all impression of Caraline is that it play's out like a very Tim Burtonesque silent movie, I highly recomend the Coraline experience.
Caroline goes to the movies. Oct. '08