The Ocean at the End of the Lane

The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have always loved stories like this. It's another one of those books that I couldn't put down once I start reading it. There is an innocence when the story comes from the memories of a child. There is also truth to it. It makes the horrors and nightmares more real. The story also reminded me of the comfort good food and a warm hearth can bring. It also reminds me of the secure feeling a friend's hand can offer. Maybe it is true, "grown-ups don't look like grown-ups on the inside". Reading the story kept me in touch with my inner child-- the one who still long for adventures and opening doorways to another realm and fighting monsters.

"The Ocean at the End of the Lane" is truly mystifying and seriously creepy, with a hint of warmth that targets a soft spot in me. The story tells about boundaries, friendship, family and sacrifice. Only a Neil Gaiman novel can bring out a combination of these.

View all my reviews

Beautiful Creatures

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is one of those instances wherein I wanted to read the books after watching the movie. The first book of the Caster Chronicles was surprisingly funny. It's a teenage love story but the plot did not make me want to puke and that's a good thing. There are more to the characters and more to the story than what the movie showed. Although there were slow-paced moments, the ending of "Beautiful Creatures" still kept me interested in knowing what happens in the succeeding books. I hope the ending won't be a disappointment.

View all my reviews