I happened to mention in passing to Bookwitch the other day that I'd never read any Neil Gaiman, then lo and behold through the letterbox, courtesy of Bloomsbury, came his latest, The Graveyard Book, and my thanks to them because it is quite fantastic!
I'm not going to apologise for going off into cliched raptures about it because I really couldn't put it down, the end moved me to tears and the whole thing just gripped me with childlike delight. Mr. Gaiman is not short of fans but he's got a new one in me as this is going on my 'best reads of the year' list without a doubt, and I can barely write coherently about it as my enthusiasm is too great!
The publicity sheet says that the book will be "Unshrouded in hardback on 31st. October" and that's a nice touch as it is set in a graveyard and features many ghosts (and their wonderful headstone epitaphs), ghouls and other spooky types, but its main character is a real live boy called Bod who is saved from certain death by the occupants of the cemetery and brought up by them and his strange but fascinating guardian, Silas. I need say no more about the plot than that, but though it sounds dark and scary (and parts of it are, though in a good way) it's all done with such warmth, wit and cleverness that it makes for a magical piece.
I was interested to read in the acknowledgements that Neil Gaiman credits Kipling as a huge inspiration, and this bodes well for our Book Group reading of his stories, but The Graveyard Book itself is beautifully crafted and written with great heart. I absolutely loved it!!
Nice to have you so easily converted!
So, will you join the queue to see Neil when he's in Edinburgh (before Halloween, even)?
Posted by: bookwitch | 22 September 2008 at 12:32 PM
I am so incredibly jealous that you have managed to get your hands on a pre-release copy! Well done.
Posted by: Peta | 22 September 2008 at 12:54 PM
Yes - do spread the word that Neil's doing an event for us on the 28th October!
Posted by: Vanessa | 23 September 2008 at 12:00 PM
I was so intrigued by this book, especially the illustrations. I put it on hold at our local library, only to find it's a different illustrator here in the States. Boo! Well, we'll see if I'm still as intrigued. I haven't read Gaiman before.
Posted by: Terri - teelgee | 23 September 2008 at 03:22 PM
Do rush along to Vanessa's shop and buy a copy of CORALINE which is one of the very best (and scariest!) books of recent years. For all ages... Gaiman is brilliant and I will definitely get hold of this one. Sounds terrific.
Posted by: adele geras | 23 September 2008 at 03:24 PM
I was delighted by Stardust, which I read after really liking the movie. . . and guess what? The book was better!
Posted by: Becky | 24 September 2008 at 12:12 AM