The Ocean at the End of the Lane

The Ocean at the End of the Lane is a very short novel that tells of a young boy, through his memory as an adult. It feels to me like a book about childhood targeted to an adult audience. Though the protagonist is very young through most of the novel, he faces situations that are far darker and more frightening than one would expect a boy his age to handle. The story is an unusual fantasy, and the supernatural elements are all connected to the three Hempstock women. To me, it seemed like a modern fairy tale, though the tale's grief and terror is balanced with some measure of safety and comfort. I enjoyed reading it, and I would recommend it to other fans of Gaiman's work.