In 'The Ocean at the End of the Lane', Neil Gaiman weaves a haunting tale of memory and magic through the eyes of an unnamed narrator who returns to his childhood home. There, he uncovers a dark, fantastical world intertwined with the past, where mythical beings and sinister forces lurk beneath the surface. At the heart of the story lies a friendship with a mysterious girl named Lettie Hempstock, whose enigmatic presence leads him on a journey into the depths of his own fears and imagination. As the boundaries between reality and fantasy blur, the narrator grapples with the weight of forgotten memories and the scars of his youth. This enchanting yet unsettling narrative invites readers to ponder the nature of childhood, the fragility of memory, and the lasting impact of friendship.
By Neil Gaiman
Published: 2014
"I wore my sadness like a badge of honor; and I didn't know whether to be proud of it or ashamed."
A middle-aged man returns to his childhood home to attend a funeral. Although the house he lived in is long gone, he is drawn to the farm at the end of the road, where, when he was seven, he encountered a most remarkable girl, Lettie Hempstock, and her mother and grandmother. He hasn't thought of Lettie in decades, and yet as he sits by the pond (a pond that she'd claimed was an ocean) behind the ramshackle old farmhouse where she once lived, the unremembered past comes flooding back. And it is a past too strange, too frightening, too dangerous to have happened to anyone, let alone a small boy. A groundbreaking work as delicate as a butterfly's wing and as menacing as a knife in the dark, The Ocean at the End of the Lane is told with a rare understanding of all that makes us human, and shows the power of stories to reveal and shelter us from the darkness inside and out.
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“I wore my sadness like a badge of honor; and I didn't know whether to be proud of it or ashamed.”
The Ocean at the End of the Lane
By Neil Gaiman
Discover a world of knowledge through our extensive collection of book summaries.
Neil Gaiman is a renowned British author known for his versatile storytelling across various genres, including fantasy, horror, and mythology. He gained fame with his graphic novel series "The Sandman," which captivated readers with its imaginative worlds and complex characters. Gaiman's notable works include bestselling novels such as "American Gods," "Coraline," and "The Graveyard Book," each blending elements of the fantastical with profound themes. Throughout his career, he has received numerous awards, including the Hugo, Nebula, and Bram Stoker Awards, solidifying his status as a master of modern literature. In addition to writing, Gaiman is a passionate advocate for literature and the importance of storytelling, inspiring readers and writers worldwide.
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