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The Ocean at the End of the Lane

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The Ocean at the End of the Lane

By: Neil Gaiman
Narrated by: Neil Gaiman
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About this listen

The celebrated modern classic from the number one best-selling writer.

THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD 'BOOK OF THE YEAR'

AN ACCLAIMED WEST END THEATRE PRODUCTION

This is what he remembers, as he sits by the ocean at the end of the lane:

A dead man on the back seat of the car and warm milk at the farmhouse.

An ancient little girl and an old woman who saw the moon being made.

A beautiful housekeeper with a monstrous smile.

And dark forces woken that were best left undisturbed.

They are memories hard to believe, waiting at the edges of things. The recollections of a man who thought he was lost but is now, perhaps, remembering a time when he was saved....

NEIL GAIMAN.

WITH STORIES COME POSSIBILITIES.

©2013 Neil Gaiman (P)2013 Headline Digital
Fantasy Fiction Heartfelt Mind-bending Scary

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Critic reviews

"Neil Gaiman's entire body of work is a feat of elegant sorcery. He writes with such assurance and originality that the reader has no choice but to surrender to a waking dream," (Armistead Maupin)

"Some books just swallow you up, heart and soul." (Joanne Harris)

"Summons both the powerlessness and wonder of childhood, and the complicated landscape of memory and forgetting." (Guardian)

All stars
Most relevant
As a fan of Neil Gaiman's previous work, I approached this new novel with great interest as it promised to include more realism than usual. It's a short book, but it suits its length well – Gaiman has turned out a little gem.

The blending of fantasy and the real works well, but Gaiman is on firmer ground with his treatment of the fantastical as he lets his considerable imagination fly. The more realistic narrative by contrast seems to come from a less experienced author, but it is still solid and well written, so my impression is just that Gaiman is still not completely comfortable with writing about real things.

Gaiman's narration is excellent as always and I would highly recommend that readers give any of his audiobooks a try.

Childhood through adult eyes

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What did you like most about The Ocean at the End of the Lane?

This novel creates a magical world set in memory and reality. The reader is invited into the world and explores it through the eyes of an accepting child. But it's not a saccharin tale, there is fear, insecurity and an ending which.... well, that would spoil things. A totally engaging listen.

Magical and beautiful, but without any sugar

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I adored this story!!! 🖤

There are so many ways to explain or describe it but all of them would have spoilers, so I'm going to keep it as simple as I can...

READ IT! READ IT! READ IT! It's worth it 😅🖤

Neil Gaiman at his finest

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Loved this book and whizzed through it. Gaiman's whimsical but dark magical fantasies set unusual mysterious paths that draw the reader/listener along.

A wonderful magical & dark childhood fantasy.

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Loved this story so strange and fantastic but somehow believable. Had me gripped all the way through.

wonderful!

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