I found The Ocean at the End of the Lane to be very disappointing and honestly somewhat alienating. But, then, I'm not in the best place to read about kids being utterly powerless in the faces of the adults in their lives, or about life being mainly without magic and, what magic there is, you're not allowed to remember.
I have reservations about the origin story of this novel as well, and think it undermined the fiction rather than supported it.
I had a similar reaction without the surprise at not really liking it. I bounced hard off of the book, but was able to finish the audio book. The last half is better, and reminded my of King in an entirely different way.
Beyond that. I'd love to hear what you thought of Lisey's Story. I liked it a lot.
Agreed entirely. (Well, I haven't ever read a King book. But Gaiman? Multiple Gaimans? Yes.) A couple of the fabric-of-time images I liked, but as a book? As a thing? It left me completely unsatisfied and going ......?
I like it, but when Neil asked me I said "I'm not sure your regular readers will like it".
See, I'm *not* a fan: I love Anansi Boys to bits but thought American Gods a waste of space, loved Coraline and thought the Graveyard book a great short story with a weak novel attached.
So I am not surprised if people who adore Neil's work don't like it: it seems to be coming from a very different place.
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I have reservations about the origin story of this novel as well, and think it undermined the fiction rather than supported it.
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Beyond that. I'd love to hear what you thought of Lisey's Story. I liked it a lot.
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See, I'm *not* a fan: I love Anansi Boys to bits but thought American Gods a waste of space, loved Coraline and thought the Graveyard book a great short story with a weak novel attached.
So I am not surprised if people who adore Neil's work don't like it: it seems to be coming from a very different place.
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