The Ocean at the End of the Lane

A Novel

By: Neil Gaiman

Narrated by: Neil Gaiman

Audie Award Finalist, Narration by the Author or Authors, 2014

Audie Award Finalist, Fiction, 2014

Sussex, England: A middle-aged man returns to his childhood home to attend a funeral. He is drawn to the farm at the end of the road, where, when he was seven, he encountered a most remarkable girl, Lettie Hempstock. He hasn't thought of Lettie in decades, and yet sitting by the pond (a pond that she'd claimed was an ocean), the unremembered past comes flooding back. Forty years earlier, a man committed suicide in a stolen car at this farm at the end of the road. Like a fuse on a firework, his death lit a touchpaper and resonated in unimaginable ways. The darkness was unleashed, something scary and thoroughly incomprehensible to a little boy. And Lettie - magical, comforting, wise beyond her years - promised to protect him, no matter what.

A groundbreaking work from a master, The Ocean at the End of the Lane is told with a rare understanding of all that makes us human, and shows the power of stories to reveal and shelter us from the darkness inside and out. A stirring, terrifying, and elegiac fable as delicate as a butterfly's wing and as menacing as a knife in the dark.

©2013 Neil Gaiman (P)2013 HarperCollinsPublishers

this was brave, and well done

Its hard to know what to say about this story, it cuts so close to the bone and touches the heart. When I was in highschool my favorite teacher told me " Art is learning how to see." I keep thinking of that now.

I can't help but wonder what people who have never been afraid of someone who is suppose to care for them, who was never hurt by such a person, will make of this. I can't talk about this more.... listen to the story and maybe you will understand. Its a good story. It is art. Its learning how to see.

On the performance, Neil is the only author who I think does his own books justice.

Me Like It :)

Any additional comments?

I was hesitant to purchase “The Ocean at the End of the Lane” (Ocean) as this was my first Neil Gaiman novel and my interest in the fantasy genre extends as far as George Martin. I was old-fashioned wrong! Ocean was terrific. Ocean was a simple and unpretentious story about a childhood experience. Similar to Martel’s “Life of Pi”, there’s much more happening here if the reader/listener bothers to delve underneath the surface.

Gaiman has an expert sense of the fears and anxieties that fuel the behaviors of a 7-year-old child. He also captures the magical thinking that children use to understand and negotiate their environments. Gaiman’s child has yet to be overtaken by the realities of science and logic. As a result, the reader is taken into imaginative situations only available through the mind of a child. The insights that come out of Ocean are refreshing and creative.

Ocean is very entertaining and never boring. The audiobook is also very manageable at roughly 5 hours in length and only a handful of characters to track. Ocean is well worth your investment in time and money.

A childhood tale for adults

I had no expectations about this book. I really not heard of it and did not know the Author, but I am very happy to have met him.

This book was well written and so enjoyable. It made me open my imagination, I loved how free that made me feel. The Letty character was wonderful as were the rest of Hemstead ladies. Every child who is having difficulty fitting in should have the Heamstedas in their lives.

I could listen to Neil Gaiman read the dictonary

I mostly listen to books only once. But this is one of the rare books that I listen to again and again. Neil Gaiman is one of the best narrators and listening to him read his own novels is magic. He's a brilliant author and this novel is one of his best.

A story that is everything

Gaiman gives you a fairytale, nightmare, lovestory all intertwined into a tale that is both new and legend in your mental story archive.

Practically Perfect in Every Way

I am a big NG fan, but I have avoided this book because it is relatively short (I like long, epic tales). I'm glad that I chose this book despite that.
The story itself is quite good, but the writing is that of a practiced master, and is wonderfully immersive. NG has also been doing a great job of narrating his work, which isn't always the best choice for some authors.
I enjoyed the imagery and the state of mind that I was put into by the way the story was told, which is exactly what I like when diving into a novel.
I highly recommend this book.

I loved this story.

Would you consider the audio edition of The Ocean at the End of the Lane to be better than the print version?

I really liked Neil Gaimon's reading of his own book.

What other book might you compare The Ocean at the End of the Lane to and why?

It is one of a kind.

Which scene was your favorite?

I didn't have a favorite.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

The world has more layers than you can see.

Any additional comments?

I really enjoyed the book. It made me feel like a child again.

Didn't want it to end

What made the experience of listening to The Ocean at the End of the Lane the most enjoyable?

This is such a captivating story and read in such a story telling manner. A modern myth for modern times. I didn't want it to end. These are characters so vivid and real you feel like you know them with such a great story I couldn't wait until it was time to listen again and so disappointed when it was over because it was over.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Lettie Hempstead was my favorite character. Just so matter of fact and full of positive energy.

What does Neil Gaiman bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I would have read it with a different cadence than the reader. Listening to the story this way made it so much more like a bedtime story for grownups.

Captivating

The narration was great -- I love it when authors can narrate their own tales, and Neil Gaiman is a master.
The story is captivating.
Definitely worth the credit!

A fantastic story and narration.

Would you listen to The Ocean at the End of the Lane again? Why?

I would, because Neil Gaiman's narration was so intriguing to listen to, compounded with a great story. I absolutely loved this book!

What did you like best about this story?

I enjoyed the fairy tale-esqueness of it.

What about Neil Gaiman’s performance did you like?

He has a fantastic voice, a lovely accent, and as the writer, no one knows the characters better for performance purposes.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Some things are not as they seem.

Any additional comments?

I dare you NOT to love this!