The Ocean at The End of the Lane - Neil Gaiman (2013)

We meet the middle aged narrator at the beginning of the story, who after a funeral, has returned to the site of his boyhood home.  Here her remembers what happened to him when he was seven, the summer he met Lettie, who lived down the lane, and her interesting mother and grandmother.  It was a time of monsters, and spooky nights when the new nanny isn't all she seems.

It might be just me, as I am not a big fan of the fantasy genre in general, but possibly the best thing I liked about the book was the cover, just awesome, I kept looking at it every time I read it, hypnotised by the blue.  I can see the magic in the story, but for me it just didn't resonate.  3/5

Coraline - Neil Gaiman

Coraline - Neil Gaiman (2008)
This is a graphic novel of the book by Neil Gaiman, but the fantastic illustrations are by P. Craig Russell.

Coraline has moved with her parents, to a secluded and spooky house. Even with lots of exploring done Coralines main problem is she is bored. Seduced by the secret places in the house, she enters into a parallel house with strange inhabitants. Essentially the book is about Coralines journey back.

I can't say that I am a big fan of the fantasy genre, and the books I have tried to read of Neil Gaimans usually get put aside. Still the graphic novel was a quick and more entertaining way of reading for a change. I think this is meant to be a children's book, and my first thought was if I enjoyed it I would get it for Belle. Sorry hon, I thought it only was worth a 2/5 and not worthy of you.