Four Stars and a Percolation

The Graveyard Book
 by Neil Gaiman (illustrations by Dave McKean)
(Winner of both the Newbery Metal and the Carnegie Metal)

This is the story of Nobody (Bod), a toddler who is adopted by resident ghosts in a graveyard after his parents and sister are violently murdered. Something sinister is brewing in the back-story as the murderer, years later, reappears to finish what he started, and searches for the boy who got away.

I read this book a while back but just never got around to a review, so yesterday when the Dude brought home Stardust - another Best Seller by Neil Gaiman, I thought, what better time to post a review, than with a Percolation by the same author!

It took me all of two nights to finish The Graveyard Book. The premise of a boy being raised in a graveyard by ghosts is something that is right up my alley.

There is murder, ghouls, vampires, werewolves, witches and ghosts. Duh. This one was a no-brainer for me. But it was also heart-breaking, haunting and funny. I love the despondent beauty of graveyards, and this book is a magical tour of despondency. ****




Stardust
by Neil Gaiman
(a Faerie~tale for adults)

This is a magical faerie story set in a Victorian-era tale of romance. A young boy makes a promise to fetch a fallen star for the lady he loves. But in order to retrieve that fallen star, he must cross over the ancient wall and into the magical realm of Faerie.…

Regrettably, I saw the movie adaptation of this book. My only redemption is that it was so long ago that hopefully I will have forgotten it by the time I read the book.

When Keith gave me Stardust, I rustled through the pages, and unbeknownst to him, I began hearing the voices leak out of the book and into my ear. I look forward to going beyond the gates of the city of Wall and into the land of Faerie where the falling stars light.