The Ocean at the End of the Lane

The Ocean at the End of the Lane is cute and quirky, like most recent Gaiman stories. At first, I thought it was going to be similar to John Crowley's Little, Big because it had that "eccentric people who are probably fairies" vibe, but it took on its own personality and introduced me to a new Gaiman mythology that includes rotted fabric monsters and magical water. It was a good, enjoyable story, although I would hardly call it a novel. It's quite short.

Also, like most of Gaiman's recent work, it had a very childlike feel. With the exception of a slightly racy scene and adult point-of-view, it might have been a children's novel. I was disappointed that it was another departure from his earlier, darker works like The Sandman series and American Gods. In fact, cute and childlike are becoming the norm for him. I would certainly like another gritty, peculiar novel like Anansi Boys or Neverwhere to sink my teeth into. He blends dark and innocent so well, it's no wonder his children's books are successful-- but I don't want to read kids books.

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