"The Ocean at the End of the Lane" by Neil Gaiman

One of the authors I would like to read more from is Neil Gaiman. A lot of people love his books, and earlier this month I listened to The Ocean at the End of the Lane, an audio book read by the author. The book has the same eerie atmosphere as Coraline – not quite a dream and not quite reality. In Gaiman’s world, a thing of nightmares suddenly invades the life of a seven-year old protagonist: a vile creature enters his house in the guise of a pretty nanny/housekeeper Ursula. And only the boy knows of her true nature. She beguiles his parents and sister, and almost drives his father to drowning his own son. But luckily, the boy is friendly with the Hempstocks who live at the end of the lane, a family of not-quite humans, who see the evil creature for what it is and are able to get rid of it.

Gaiman’s story even though it reads as a fairy tale, has some underlying terrifying truth to it. Some children do encounter evil and misery which can come looking as a pretty housekeeper who will end up breaking up the marital bliss; or worse: a father who in a fit of violence can hurt or even kill his own child. The book also gave me a sense that life according to Gaiman is more than just a string of mortal years. There is magic, love, and purity that transcend the daily grind of human existence. I really enjoyed this novel, and look forward to reading more of Gaiman's work.