The Ocean at the End of the Lane
Written and Narrated By: Neil Gaiman
Length: 5 hrs and 48 mins
A short masterpiece of fantasy and good old-fashioned horror!
Though the narrator is never named, we the listeners, fall for his story truly and deeply, ‘cause that’s the kind of grand fiction Neil Gaiman writes. And might I add that Gaiman is a wonder at narrating all things Gaiman; it sure does help us bond with his wonderful characters.
The story begins with the narrator coming back to the old home front for a funeral and, while there, he goes down to the house where his childhood friend Lettie once lived. He is welcomed by an old woman, he’s not sure which of the relatives it is, he’s got an inkling, not sure, kinda remembers, sorta…
And then the memories start flooding back in, as sure as the pond by the house was once referred to as an ocean by Lettie.
We’re taken back to a time when the suicide of a disreputable and unfortunate miner starts a chain of events which brings the dark character of Ursula into the homelife of the narrator and his family. As a boy, he’s terrified by the ominous Ursula, knows she’s wrong and somehow… evil.
There are events galore, a bit of a worm stuck in his foot which might provide a link into another darker world, the white magic of the three females of the house by that “ocean”, and strife that needs to be dealt with.
Gaiman’s prose is rich and wonderful, and the story is utterly captivating and will have you riveted. My sister and I listened to it, each of us within a day; it’s that engaging and though, murky, riveting and delightful. The man just makes you feel like a kid again, with night terrors and with wonders of magic and other worlds.
Started as a novella intended for his wife, musician Amanda Palmer—who’s not that big a fan of fantasy, The Ocean at the End of the Lane grew to a novel in its own right, richly plotted, grandly developed, with characters who show up in a couple of his other works. I strongly suggest you give it a try, especially as an audiobook, especially since Neil Gaiman has a soothing yet emotional voice, one that brings compassion and daring, depravity and suspense to life!
Come on; it’s not even 6 hours: Give it a go!!!
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