Patrick's Reviews > The Ocean At The End of the Lane
The Ocean At The End of the Lane
by
Sitting down to write a review of this book, I don't quite know where to start.
I was going to quote a passage that I particularly loved. But no good can come of that. Once I opened that door, where would I stop quoting?
So let me say this. I genuinely loved this book. I look forward to reading it again. I will buy copies for my family as gifts. I will listen to the audio and lament my own lack of narrative skill. I will gush about it to strangers.
In short, it is a Neil Gaiman novel.
There is truth here, and beauty, and joy, and a sad, sweet melancholy that moves through my chest like distant thunder.
I realize that what I am writing here is not really a review in any conventional sense. It is a paen. A panegyric. It is the textual equivalent of a huge, happy, gormless grin.
And you know what? I'm fine with that. Let the professionals write their reviews. Let them get all jargony about it. Let them try to pin this book to the page, not realizing that a pinned butterfly holds no delight. A pinned butterfly is nothing like a butterfly at all.
I make no claims to impartiality in regard to Gaiman's work. Sandman changed how I thought about stories. Neverwhere was a talisman for me. Stardust is a golden bell hung in my heart. And American Gods taught me that there was a *name* for the sort of book I was struggling to write. It was a picaresque.
So if you're looking for impartiality, this is not the review for you. Look elsewhere.
Me? I will enjoy The Ocean at the End of the Lane without dissection. It made me happy. It made me feel less alone. It made me love Neil Gaiman a little more than I already did, and that's something I didn't think was possible.
Do I hope to someday write a book like this? No. I never could. He's done something odd and strange and lovely here. I couldn't hope to replicate it.
Instead, this is what I hope.
In the future, when Joss Whedon and I are best friends and hanging out together in my tree fort, I hope Neil Gaiman comes over too. Because then the three of us will all play Settlers of Catan together. And I will win, because I'm really great at Settlers of Catan. But I will also be very gracious about it, and apologize for putting the bandit on Gaiman's wheat twice in a row.
Then we will make smores, and I will toast a marshmallow with such deftness and perfection that they will be amazed and realize I am kinda cool. Then we will talk about Battlestar Galactica, and which Doctor is our favorite, and we will tell ghost stories late into the night.
God I'm tired. I should really go to sleep. I have no idea what I'm saying anymore.
I hope I don't regret this in the morning.
by
![922495](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1351307095p2/922495.jpg)
Patrick's review
bookshelves: books-i-would-blurb
May 31, 2013
bookshelves: books-i-would-blurb
Read 2 times. Last read May 31, 2013.
Sitting down to write a review of this book, I don't quite know where to start.
I was going to quote a passage that I particularly loved. But no good can come of that. Once I opened that door, where would I stop quoting?
So let me say this. I genuinely loved this book. I look forward to reading it again. I will buy copies for my family as gifts. I will listen to the audio and lament my own lack of narrative skill. I will gush about it to strangers.
In short, it is a Neil Gaiman novel.
There is truth here, and beauty, and joy, and a sad, sweet melancholy that moves through my chest like distant thunder.
I realize that what I am writing here is not really a review in any conventional sense. It is a paen. A panegyric. It is the textual equivalent of a huge, happy, gormless grin.
And you know what? I'm fine with that. Let the professionals write their reviews. Let them get all jargony about it. Let them try to pin this book to the page, not realizing that a pinned butterfly holds no delight. A pinned butterfly is nothing like a butterfly at all.
I make no claims to impartiality in regard to Gaiman's work. Sandman changed how I thought about stories. Neverwhere was a talisman for me. Stardust is a golden bell hung in my heart. And American Gods taught me that there was a *name* for the sort of book I was struggling to write. It was a picaresque.
So if you're looking for impartiality, this is not the review for you. Look elsewhere.
Me? I will enjoy The Ocean at the End of the Lane without dissection. It made me happy. It made me feel less alone. It made me love Neil Gaiman a little more than I already did, and that's something I didn't think was possible.
Do I hope to someday write a book like this? No. I never could. He's done something odd and strange and lovely here. I couldn't hope to replicate it.
Instead, this is what I hope.
In the future, when Joss Whedon and I are best friends and hanging out together in my tree fort, I hope Neil Gaiman comes over too. Because then the three of us will all play Settlers of Catan together. And I will win, because I'm really great at Settlers of Catan. But I will also be very gracious about it, and apologize for putting the bandit on Gaiman's wheat twice in a row.
Then we will make smores, and I will toast a marshmallow with such deftness and perfection that they will be amazed and realize I am kinda cool. Then we will talk about Battlestar Galactica, and which Doctor is our favorite, and we will tell ghost stories late into the night.
God I'm tired. I should really go to sleep. I have no idea what I'm saying anymore.
I hope I don't regret this in the morning.
5826 likes · Like
∙
flag
Sign into Goodreads to see if any of your friends have read
The Ocean At The End of the Lane.
Sign In »
Reading Progress
October 26, 2012
– Shelved
(Hardcover Edition)
Started Reading
(Hardcover Edition)
January 28, 2013
–
Finished Reading
(Hardcover Edition)
Started Reading
May 31, 2013
– Shelved as:
books-i-would-blurb
May 31, 2013
– Shelved
May 31, 2013
–
Finished Reading
February 1, 2016
– Shelved as:
to-read
(Hardcover Edition)
Comments Showing 1-50 of 267 (267 new)
message 1:
by
Jeraviz
(new)
-
rated it 5 stars
May 31, 2013 02:25AM
![Jeraviz](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1346795787p1/12429299.jpg)
reply
|
flag
![John Olav](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1511188272p1/11884154.jpg)
![Lisa](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1244051061p1/2380055.jpg)
Now go sleep you lovable insomniac.
![Bonnie](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1491583334p1/731159.jpg)
![liquid soap](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1474986430p1/17200889.jpg)
I hate you so much, Rothfuss, go away. And yeah, I'm positive that I'm going to give Gaiman's book a chance now.
![Raquel Sorensen](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1361785986p1/17801627.jpg)
![Ness](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1360389500p1/17262898.jpg)
When you have your treehouse filled with my story-hero-gods can I camp at the bottom? I'll bring you snacks and fill your drinks and you won't even know I'm there.
![Vee](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1344061664p1/11550042.jpg)
Your adoration for this book has led me to be willing to give Neil's works another try. Perhaps I'll start with Stardust. If one of my favorite authors loves it so much, it's got to at least be worth my time.
![Jesús](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1615811757p1/9511621.jpg)
Greetings from Spain!
![John Olav](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1511188272p1/11884154.jpg)
Translated, in short: This is among the best fantasy I've ever read.
![Akshay Sharma](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1349316428p1/13367452.jpg)
Simply because you write better than most if not all.
(No flattering just fact)
![Jasmine M](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1359026202p1/4650616.jpg)
![Belinda Lewis](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1512662052p1/12574454.jpg)
Actually made me cry a little *sniff*; so beautiful to see an unarticulated emotion written down for the first time.
![Roberta](https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/f_25x33-d79c46f9428d2aea1444d67c091766a6.png)
![Kelly Egan](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1496465912p1/3189012.jpg)
![Jeanette](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1292170556p1/4162369.jpg)
I am always amazed at the number of readers that have not read Gaiman.
I have this on my to read list, was going to wait until a time I could relax and enjoy it, but i may have to move it closer to the top of the pile.
![Juniper](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1687694505p1/11557375.jpg)
![Maria](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1356920660p1/4480463.jpg)
![Erin Sanderson](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1370004493p1/20881159.jpg)
![Dichotomy Girl](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1443544131p1/2462318.jpg)
(edited, because my original post asked "can I bride you", which I'm sure has some kind of deep psychological meaning that my husband would fail to appreciate)
![Lindsay](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1365357612p1/19064348.jpg)
![Pam Case](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1393269437p1/9315000.jpg)
![Manda](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1460518538p1/15122817.jpg)
You introduced me to Neil Gaiman too. I went through a small binge a few months ago. Thank you!
![Sara](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1493660897p1/156639.jpg)
And then the world would explode because there would be too much awesome in one place. Settlers of Catan is amazing, but not nearly as amazing as this review. As if I wasn't already excited about this book!
![Anthony Snow](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1389384690p1/8467368.jpg)
![Evan Kennedy](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1326302375p1/7399763.jpg)
![Miri](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1370016228p1/4679014.jpg)
I'm enraptured.
I don't even comment on things and I need to comment because I want so badly.
Neil Gaiman is one of my favorite authors, with you being in the same circle. It absolutely astounds me to see what are essentially my gods, being people, who do people stuff, like review books that they like.
So, thank you for reviewing Neil Gaiman's book. And thank you for writing your books. I can't wait to read any and all. Thank you.
![Kevin Gray](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1370015499p1/20885694.jpg)
So to do what you did not do. I loved your review and can not wait till the book arrives in the UK (Oh why are we waiting ?)
"It is the textual equivalent of a huge, happy, gormless grin." split my face in two and made me want to walk over to the US so that I could just buy the book and read it now.
Patrick wrote: "Wow. It's baffling to me that someone who has read my books hasn't read Gaiman...."
I haven't read any of Gaiman's stuff - yet. In fact, I only recently discovered your own work through the Torment Kickstarter. I'm about half-way through The Wise Man's Fear. I do, however, have both American Gods and Good Omens awaiting my appraisal on my Kindle device.
I haven't read any of Gaiman's stuff - yet. In fact, I only recently discovered your own work through the Torment Kickstarter. I'm about half-way through The Wise Man's Fear. I do, however, have both American Gods and Good Omens awaiting my appraisal on my Kindle device.
![Judy Chun](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1362358938p1/18021187.jpg)
![Patrick](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1351307095p1/922495.jpg)
you cruel human being..."
I am. I'm a monster, really....
![Eric](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1335412011p1/9063904.jpg)
But yes, I am above and beyond excited for this book. Thank you!
![Red](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1357345927p1/16096171.jpg)
![Lily Knol](https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/f_25x33-d79c46f9428d2aea1444d67c091766a6.png)
![Jelena](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1359495756p1/15170158.jpg)
This review just made my day.
![Kay Stevens](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1331260766p1/8114677.jpg)
![Sue](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1622140538p1/10077856.jpg)
NOW QUIT WRITING REVIEWS AND BRING ME MORE KVOTHE.
![E.](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1344329909p1/1267727.jpg)