Unique children's story... Loved it!

I've never read anything by Neil Gaiman before and saw this book when Audible was running a children's book sale. I thought about it until the sale was almost over. I'm not big on children's books and can't justify buying them for my kids because my "kids" are 30 year old twin daughters! So I had to admit I wanted it for me...
Saying that, I would not recommend this book for very young children. This story begins with the murder of the protagonist's family (mother, father and older sister). The infant/toddler climbs from his crib, down the stairs and out the open front door. He wanders to a graveyard where the dead adopt and raise his. This is a coming of age story with a unique slant.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the full cast narration.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
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347 people found this helpful

Splendid and Splendider!

Since Neil Gaiman's own excellent reading of this was already in my library, I hesitated before adding the dramatized version of "The Graveyard Book." How glad I am that I went ahead and used a credit!

This man has written lots of memorable books, but "The Graveyard Book" stands out. There's a lot of love in here, and it is wonderful to hear the author explain a little about that at the end of the recording. No one will be surprised to hear that the work is quite important personally to Mr. Gaiman - it shows in every chapter.

There's a lot that is very special in this book regardless of how it's experienced - I have read the hard copy and enjoyed both audios. The characters - living, dead or somewhere in between - are absolutely real and absolutely unforgettable. The episodic nature of the narrative not only reflects its admitted source, Rudyard Kipling's "The Jungle Book," but it makes for excellent reading aloud in segments - sharing with children or adults. (I imagine even the cats and dogs listening in during an evening reading will love it.)

The fine actors involved in this production all obviously enjoyed performing this for us. If you've already read it, consider getting this edition as well. "The Graveyard Book" simply cannot read or heard too many times!

One personal note - my young grandchildren live in a house across from an historical cemetery. They play there and ride their bikes and look for angel headstones. Before very long, I hope to introduce them to the world of "The Graveyard Book." I think they will feel quite at home in its pages.

200 people found this helpful

IF YOU CHANGE THE WORLD, THE WORLD WILL CHANGE

IF HE DIDN'T CARE ABOUT YOU, YOU COULDN'T UPSET HIM
This is so good on multiple levels. I guess in some cases it takes a dead village to raise a child. This is entertaining, warm and different. This is the best Gaiman book I have read and that includes American Gods. Production and multiple narrators are great. Good for all ages, if you are at all interested, get it, you will not be sorry.

WHERE EVER YOU GO, YOU TAKE YOURSELF WITH YOU.

58 people found this helpful

Pure Magic !

I loved this book so much! It's pure magic ! Silas, Nobody Owens, the ghosts, the ghouls, the atmosphere in the Graveyard, the Man Jack, Miss Lupescu! Oh for the Death's pants! You have to read it, if you haven't! I will love Neil Gaiman forever.

“Step and turn, and walk and stay,
Now we dance the Macabray.” - chapter five. My favourite.

This full cast performance is exceptional, it took me there and it painted my world with caressing shadows and suggestive fantasies. Amazing production !

55 people found this helpful

Simply superb!

I have seen Coraline the movie, but it never crossed my mind nor little did I know it was based on a short story by Neil. When I was looking for something good to read I happened to read the review of The Graveyard Book and it was love from the first read leta say.

I would love to thank the author for writing such beautiful, shocking, enchanting and amazing books and he is without doubt one of my favourites authors out there.

Last but not least a huge Thank you to all of the cast that beautifully performed the whole reading of this great piece of work. I loved every single bit of it!

Thank you!

54 people found this helpful

Leave No Path Untaken

Writing a review of Neil Gaiman's "The Graveyard Book" (2008) at this point would be like saying to someone, "Say, have you seen that painting at the Museum of Modern Art in New York? You know, the one with the swirly night sky that's kind of blue, with the moon and the town below, with the church with a tall steeple on the left? It's by some artist guy from Europe named Van Gogh. It's called Gold Crescent Moon or Small Dark Town or Starry Night or something like that. It's a little dark but it's still pretty good. Yeah, he's got some other paintings I might look at, too."

This full cast production (2014) is my third time through "The Graveyard Book". The first time, I'd heard Euan Kerr's 2008 laudatory review on NPR's "All Things Considered" but I wanted to make sure it was okay for my then 11-year-old son to read. The book starts with the murder of almost an entire family, and I was concerned that it would be too disturbing. It wasn't. Nobody Owens' story was so compelling I immediately read "The Graveyard Book" aloud to my son and my then 8-year-old daughter. At a chapter a night, it took just over a week, and it was a Mom success. What a great message to give your kids: "If you dare nothing, then when the day is over, nothing is all you will have gained."

"The Graveyard Book," like Starry Night, is a little dark, but it's a masterpiece. And Gaiman's other books? Like Van Gogh, he's prolific and he's crafted some other jewels - like "The Ocean at the End of the Lane" (2013). Gaiman's "The Graveyard Book" and "The Ocean at the End of the Lane" have something in common: the Hempstock women. Liza Hempstock, a witch buried in unconsecrated ground, is Bod's first love. Lettie Hempstock - a sister? cousin? daughter? named a duck pond the ocean and, like Liza, saved a small boy.

My favorite part of this full cast production was the Danse Macabre/Dance of the Macabray. It's a special magic that brings the living and the dead together at the edge of winter and spring once in a century, when white flowers bloom in the snow. The music and the narration in this performance sounded so much better to me than what I heard in my head as I read it.

There's an Easter egg at the end - an essay "The Story Behind the Graveyard Book" (2014), narrated by neilhimself.

The title of the review is a quote from the book. The production is simply a wonderful listen.

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31 people found this helpful

Amazing

I thought I'd miss Neil's voice for the whole book but I adored the full cast performance so much! And the music for the dance macabre was perfection.

29 people found this helpful

Amazing Listening Experience

To be completely honest, if it weren’t for the amazing cast and music I would’ve lost interest in this book at first. It has a really slow start and each chapter felt like a separate story in Bod’s life at the graveyard, not all of which I found of interest. Nevertheless, about halfway through the book, things start to pick up and my interest was caught. As it turned out, everything leading to Bod’s age 14 was a set up to what was to come, and trust me when I say stick with this book, it’s worth it.

The ending was amazing. It’s bittersweet and left me with my heart full. I think I even shed a tear or two. It is a beautiful growing up tale about finding love (any kind of love) in the most unexpected places and of letting go in order to move forward.

I thought the paranormal elements fit perfectly with the story, with the exception maybe of the true nature of Silas and Miss Lupescu. I think ghosts and some magic where perfectly good with the story but some of the others creatures didn’t strike me as realistic as the majority. I loved however, the subtlety in which Mr Gaiman revealed these characters true colours.

Holy Cow! The narration was awesome! I had never listened to a full cast audio before and know I will most definitely be on the search for another of this marvellous piece of work. I loved everything about it. The different characters, the music at the beginning and end of each chapter and some sound effect like when the sleer spoke. It certainly gave me the creeps. My favourites though were the narrator and Silas. I loved their voices! They were perfect! Brilliantly capturing the essence of the story and mood of the characters. The narrator’s voice was whimsical and held my attention all the way, while Silas’ voice was sort of dark and serious, perfect for his character. If you are still not convinced about this, just try out the sample.

Overall, this story is worth your time, although I would definitely recommend the audiobook over the written book. I think maybe it does a better work in holding your interest at the beginning of the story.

28 people found this helpful

The best audio book performance ever

What made the experience of listening to The Graveyard Book: Full-Cast Production the most enjoyable?

All the cast members did excellent jobs in portraying their characters. Sir Derek Jacobi was a perfect narrator. I especially enjoyed the voice of Julian Rhind-Tutt as Silias. The ghouls were very funny without being over the top.

What other book might you compare The Graveyard Book: Full-Cast Production to and why?

I cannot compare The Graveyard Book: Full-Cast Production to any other book because it is truly in a class by itself.

What about the narrators’s performance did you like?

I enjoyed how skillfully the voice actors brought the book to life with their voices.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The moment when Silias tells Bod the story of his coming to the graveyard and warns him of the danger outside in the world was very well done. It really is key is showing how Bod has become a child of the village (graveyard). He is brave and wise and caring. The many ghosts who have had a hand in his upbringing did a good job.

Any additional comments?

If you can only get one audio book this year, get "The Graveyard Book: Full-Cast Production". It is not a children's book or a ya book or an adult book. It is a book for everyone and this production takes a great book and makes it much better.

25 people found this helpful

A perfect blend of characters

Loved the fresh approach and blending of genres. All things dead need not be deadly. Fun read! Inspired!

20 people found this helpful