Gaiman has the most astonishing and stupendous Imagination but yes, he needs to learn how to flesh the bones. This is why The Sandman was so brill - his writing is so very visual and works as the skeleton of a graphic novel.
I loved "American Gods" but....felt the ending just...wasn't enough.
I actually loved this book. But then, I also loved The Jungle Book. We ended up reading this in the Readings in the Genre: Recent Science Fiction Fantasy class for the Writing Popular Fiction MFA last term, so I wrote two essays about it. (One is on world building, the in the other, I compared The Graveyard Book with Newberry Award winner, The Grey King by Susan Cooper.)
Re covers: The UK "younger readers" version cover (and the UK inside art) was illustrated by Chris Riddell.
Though I haven't read this particular book, I have read American Gods and was thoroughly unimpressed with Gaiman's style. I felt the prose was dry and the characters lacked real depth. Plus, I never got a feel for Shadow or his wife or pretty much anybody. I think it was a great idea, but not the best book I've ever read. It actually makes me not want to read his other stuff.
But I read some of the Sandman series and really enjoyed that. Perhaps Neil is better suited to a visual medium (??). :3
I haven't read STARDUST, but I've both read and seen Coraline, in regards to the latter, it's enjoyable, but I'm not in love with it and scratch my head wondering why people ARE in love with it so! :)
The US paperback edition won't be out until late September (Amazon kindly informs me), but there are both UK and international paperbacks available already. ^-^
(At least, I'm assuming you're looking for/wanting a paperback copy of your own from the way you've phrased it. ^-^; )
Not exactly: I'm telling people that if they want to buy it, they need to look for a cheaper version. "Buy the Paperback" is the easiest way to say that when it comes to a hardcover. :) I've already got my copy, so I'm good to go. :)
But yes, the US paperback won't be available until later this year. :)
*bemused* I know. It's just letter4no1 seemed to be looking for a paperback copy, so I offered up the information I had on them (and why I gave it) in an attempt to be helpful to her. ^-^
I've read most of his other novels (I own Neverwhere, but haven't read it yet) and am a little bummed I haven't read The Graveyard Book. I skipped the main portion of your review because of this.
Have you read Stardust? It was my first Gaiman book. I loved it. I'm not sure which of his novels I liked the best, although there are one or two that are more intricate than others. American Gods is one of them. I think one of the cameos that amused me the most was King Arthur working in a grocery store. ;)
I've not. I was tempted to read it after I saw the movie, but I heard an overwhelming amount of feedback that the movie just does it better than the book, and a lot of people don't care for the book. Given my love/meh relationship with Gaiman, I think I'll pass. :)
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Gaiman has the most astonishing and stupendous Imagination but yes, he needs to learn how to flesh the bones. This is why The Sandman was so brill - his writing is so very visual and works as the skeleton of a graphic novel.
I loved "American Gods" but....felt the ending just...wasn't enough.
Have you read "Good Omens"? Brill!
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Re covers: The UK "younger readers" version cover (and the UK inside art) was illustrated by Chris Riddell.
There are images here:
http://forbiddenplanet.co.uk/blog/2009/neil-gaimans-graveyard-book/
The UK adult version cover was the tombstone cover.
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Ugh, I saw the Riddell cover, and I didn't care for it. :-/
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But I read some of the Sandman series and really enjoyed that. Perhaps Neil is better suited to a visual medium (??). :3
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(At least, I'm assuming you're looking for/wanting a paperback copy of your own from the way you've phrased it. ^-^; )
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But yes, the US paperback won't be available until later this year. :)
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Have you read Stardust? It was my first Gaiman book. I loved it. I'm not sure which of his novels I liked the best, although there are one or two that are more intricate than others. American Gods is one of them. I think one of the cameos that amused me the most was King Arthur working in a grocery store. ;)
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