The Ocean at the End of the Lane by, Neil Gaiman

I am actually in multiple book clubs, but with my busy work schedule I hardly have time to read and attend the meetings. I finally finished a book this week, The Ocean at the End of the Lane: A Novel by Neil Gaiman. I found this book on the shelf at Barnes & Noble and picked it up. I read the back and it seemed like an interesting read to me. I suggested it to my book club, and it ended up being the one we decided on for this month. One positive is that it is nice and short at just 192 pages. I am all about short these days! The one thing I did not notice when choosing it though was the genre. It is a science-fiction/fantasy book, which I did not even realize until part way through reading the book myself. I’m not sure how the other ladies are going to feel about that tonight at book club, and I personally don’t usually read sci-fi. I’ll have to admit though, the book really did draw me in and captivated me. Maybe sci-fi will be a new genre for me that I enjoy!

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I loved the story and really felt invested in the characters. The main character is only 7-years old throughout most the book (he is looking back at his childhood), but he seems so mature and worldly. There also seem to be many layers to this novel. Themes that come to the surface include: growing up, perceptions of adults, having money versus being happy, sacrifice for those you love, and what is true happiness. It’s hard to even explain in words to you what the book is about. I will give you the short version, but you really just need to read it yourself to understand. 

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It begins with a man in his 40’s in England back home for a funeral. He decides to go back to the street he grew up on, as there is something that always draws him back. He passes his demolished house from when he grew up, and he goes all the way to the farm at the end of the lane. This is where the Hempstock women live. He remembered that, he remembered Lettie (who had been his friend while growing up; she was just a few years older than he was), and he remembered Lettie had a pond out back which she called the ocean. He went to the backyard of the farm to head to that “ocean” and when he saw it all the memories came rushing back. Memories of solitude, death, family interactions, purity and innocence, coming face-to-face with evil, sacrificing for someone you love, and worlds beyond our imagination. The story flows and is quick. There are different interpretations of the ending (in my opinion), so I can’t wait to discuss this book tonight and hear what the other women say from their point-of-view. This is a great book for discussions, and New York Times Bestselling Author, Neil Gaiman, really puts something together that makes you think. If you read this book, then please come back and tell me what you thought about it, especially the ending!

New York Times Best Selling Author, Neil Gaiman; Credit: From Yahoo Images