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The Ocean at the End of the Lane (Illustrated Edition) Hardcover – November 5, 2019

4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 49,580 ratings

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“A novel about the truths―some wonderful, some terrible―that children know and adults do not.” ―Time magazine

A beautiful, immersive, fully illustrated edition of Neil Gaiman’s beloved #1 bestselling novel, featuring illustrations by Elise Hurst.

“They say you cannot go home again, and that is as true as a knife . . .”

A man returns to the site of his childhood home where, years before, he knew a girl named Lettie Hempstock who showed him the most marvelous, dangerous, and outrageous things, but when he gets there he learns that nothing is as he remembered.

Wondrous, imaginative, impossible, and at times deeply scary, The Ocean at the End of the Lane is classic Neil Gaiman and has captured the hearts of readers everywhere. This beautiful illustrated edition features haunting, emotive artwork by renowned fine artist Elise Hurst, whose illustrations seamlessly interweave the childhood wonder and harrowing danger that infuse Gaiman’s beloved tale.

“Fantasy of the very best.”―Wall Street Journal

"Layla" by Colleen Hoover for $7.19
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover comes a novel that explores life after tragedy and the enduring spirit of love. | Learn more

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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Neil Gaiman is the New York Times bestselling and multi-award winning author and creator of many beloved books, graphic novels, short stories, film, television and theatre for all ages. He is the recipient of the Newbery and Carnegie Medals, and many Hugo, Nebula, World Fantasy, and Will Eisner Awards. Neil has adapted many of his works to television series, including Good Omens (co-written with Terry Pratchett) and The Sandman. He is a Goodwill Ambassador for the UN Refugee Agency UNHCR and Professor in the Arts at Bard College. For a lot more about his work, please visit: https://www.neilgaiman.com/

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ William Morrow (November 5, 2019)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0062995316
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0062995315
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.85 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1.06 x 9.19 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 49,580 ratings

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4.4 out of 5 stars
49,580 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book compelling and engrossing. They describe the storyteller as relatable and masterful at weaving disturbing tales. The book is thought-provoking and keeps readers enthralled. Readers praise the writing quality as imaginative, tight, and evocative. They appreciate the well-developed characters with strong personalities. Overall, customers feel the book captures the innocence of childhood through an adult's eyes.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

2,758 customers mention "Readability"2,571 positive187 negative

Customers find the book engaging. They describe the story as compelling, enthralling, and surprisingly revealed. The premise is great, but some feel the execution leaves a bit to be desired. However, most readers consider the book imaginative, fabulous, and a great read.

"...And what did I think? I loved "Ocean". It was a fast and fun read and the story was never so convoluted that it felt like work..." Read more

"...Yes this is a children's book, but hidden under the whimsical, fairy tale elements, is a theme that is very adult: The Ocean at the End of the Lane..." Read more

"...It delivers a highly imaginative, fabulous and fascinating fable that envelops, and attempts to explain, everything in the space-time continuum...." Read more

"...It's expensive, but spend the money. It's worth every penny...." Read more

1,807 customers mention "Storyteller"1,505 positive302 negative

Customers enjoy the storyteller's storytelling style. They find the tale engaging and relatable, with a dark fairytale twist. The author weaves disturbing tales that keep readers hooked until the end. Readers appreciate the author's ability to tell the story and engage with them at the same time. The main story and tropes stem from classic myths and fairytales, and the prose is described as evocative and visually stunning.

"...Ocean" struck me as a beautiful bit of magical realism. I know that magical realism is not a genre, but in some ways I feel like it should be...." Read more

"...Yes this is a children's book, but hidden under the whimsical, fairy tale elements, is a theme that is very adult: The Ocean at the End of the Lane..." Read more

"...this book swept me away into such a delightful and fascinating series of incredible adventures--or should I say misadventures--that I could not pull..." Read more

"...Because of this (rather engaging choice in plot formats) he is able to tell the story AND converse with the reader at the same time...." Read more

1,227 customers mention "Thought provoking"1,155 positive72 negative

Customers find the book thought-provoking. They describe it as simple yet intriguing, magical, and enthralling. The story leaves them with a sense of wonder and mystery. Readers appreciate the author's unique perspective and revelations on life.

"...Surprise, right? The foreshadowing and references are subtle enough that though the "reveal" doesn't come as a total surprise, you haven't been beat..." Read more

"...He has this unique way of seeing the world, and expressing his observations about life. His style is quirky and his thoughts profound...." Read more

"...imaginative, fabulous and fascinating fable that envelops, and attempts to explain, everything in the space-time continuum. Yes, it's that ambitious!..." Read more

"...he is able to tell the story AND converse with the reader at the same time. For example: "..." Read more

918 customers mention "Writing quality"806 positive112 negative

Customers enjoy the writing quality of the book. They find the prose tight and evocative, with beautiful words that are neatly crafted and wrapped. The author's voice is lyrical and the style deceptively clever, with quotable passages. Many readers find the book an easy read with haunting and eerie descriptions that linger on their tongues.

"...He has this unique way of seeing the world, and expressing his observations about life. His style is quirky and his thoughts profound...." Read more

"...It's a short book; it's enchanting; it's very well written...definitely top-quality fantasy literature...." Read more

"...nt give the book more than threes star even though I thought the writing was good. The story however was short and had gaps in the storytelling...." Read more

"...glorious economy of his writing style and the ability to resist telling the reader too much, thereby leaving us tantalized and struck with a sense..." Read more

387 customers mention "Character development"328 positive59 negative

Customers find the characters well-developed and sympathetic. They appreciate the protagonist's self-awareness and strong, descriptive character with roots. The Hempstocks are also likable and interesting. Overall, readers describe the book as an engaging fairy tale reminiscent of Stephen King.

"...is an excellent portrayal, shown through a child's eyes...." Read more

"...It had a strong descriptive character with roots...." Read more

"...While the main character is 7, and while the main themes of the book are childhood and those lines between child- and adulthood, the book does..." Read more

"...noticeable amount of the first person singular, and the protagonist has some self-awareness, letting the narrative voice say that he saw himself as..." Read more

359 customers mention "Storyline"300 positive59 negative

Customers enjoy the storyline. They find it an exploration of childhood magic and innocence through the eyes of an adult. The book draws them into the boy's story and reminds them of their childhood memories. It is a fairy tale for adults, part horror story, poignant, and suspenseful.

"...It is suitable for any age, though you may want to read or discuss this with elementary-aged children as there are a couple scenes that could be..." Read more

"...Yes this is a children's book, but hidden under the whimsical, fairy tale elements, is a theme that is very adult: The Ocean at the End of the Lane..." Read more

"...I loved the dark fairy tale feel to it, the way childhood wonder and nostalgia are portrayed, and the absolutely terrifying monsters that the..." Read more

"...he creates the atmosphere provides an air that feels almost perfect for a child’s tale...." Read more

358 customers mention "Scariness level"287 positive71 negative

Customers find the book frightening and engaging. They describe it as a good supernatural fiction tale with mythological themes and monsters. Readers appreciate the well-crafted terror and helplessness that the story creates.

"...of view of a young child and features fantastical things both good and evil, it's fairy-tale like elements are in the old-school style of ACTUAL..." Read more

"...The book will charm you, fill you with awe, make you feel on edge, surprise you, and make you want to keep on reading no mater what important..." Read more

"...Mythological themes are likewise evoked, in grand Gaiman tradition, but one of his finest strengths has always been the glorious economy of his..." Read more

"...wonder and nostalgia are portrayed, and the absolutely terrifying monsters that the narrator encounters...." Read more

298 customers mention "Shortness"136 positive162 negative

Customers have mixed views on the book's length. Some find it relatively short with less than 200 pages, and perfect for exploring the world. Others feel it's too short and not as grand an adventure as they wanted. However, most consider it small in scope but huge in imagination.

"...The book is indeed short, and in just a few places the dialogue gets a small, very tiny bit trite when it comes to certain characters seeking to..." Read more

"...It's a short book; it's enchanting; it's very well written...definitely top-quality fantasy literature...." Read more

"This is a relatively short book, but each page and paragraph is crammed with revelations and things to think about...." Read more

"...Hey, it's a good book, and not very long!..." Read more

An intriguing and unusual story
5 out of 5 stars
An intriguing and unusual story
This was my first Neil Gaiman novel, so I went into it having no idea what to expect. Such a surprising and unexpected story! Somehow heartbreaking and comforting at the same time… extremely well written (why is the market inundated with such terribly written novels??) and difficult to put down… I kept telling myself “just one more chapter before bed” and before I knew it the story was over! I’ll definitely read more of Gaiman’s work after this.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on June 30, 2013
    Title: The Ocean at the End of the Lane
    Author: Neil Gaiman
    Rating: 5 Stars
    My Review

    My first thought as I dove into this story was that I was excited to finally acquaint myself with Gaiman's work. It was wonderful getting to know someone so beloved directly through his words. I had no preconceived notions (beyond one broken-up viewing of Coraline, the movie).

    And what did I think?

    I loved "Ocean".

    It was a fast and fun read and the story was never so convoluted that it felt like work following its thread. Gaiman said he wrote it intending to craft a short story and ending up with a novel instead. That seems accurate given that the arc of the story is rapid and fairly clean. It feels a lot like a great short story.

    My second impression as the story unfolded was that of a familiar ripple...a sense of dark déjà vous. I was transported back to my days as a young woman swimming about in Latino literature, desperate to understand its unique magnetic pull on my heart. Today, someone would explain that tug to me as "magical realism", a dull term for a provocative style. Provocative to me at least. The aplomb with which post-colonial Latino authors wove fantasy into reality was as beautiful and foreign to me as the aurora. Adrift in the stream of their tales I often tried to grip the vision and force it to take form, only to have it slip away, dancing more at the edges of my mind (like a hunger bird) than at its center. It was some of the most challenging storytelling I'd ever encountered.

    "Ocean" struck me as a beautiful bit of magical realism. I know that magical realism is not a genre, but in some ways I feel like it should be. To call Ocean simply "fantasy" overlooks all of the other elements that make it great...and for those seeking dragons and warlocks, it will be a miss. To call it "ya" overlooks the fact that it is, in fact, the story of an adult. I feel that magical realism is the most accurate description that I can give.

    And in the tradition of the greats in this style (Allende, Marquez, Llosa, Oki), this story is dark. Though it is told mostly from the point of view of a young child and features fantastical things both good and evil, it's fairy-tale like elements are in the old-school style of ACTUAL danger and strife. Consider the difference between the original LITTLE MERMAID and the Disney version, for example. I love both, but when you get into magical realism, there's is always an opacity or complexity to the hybrid world. It makes me squint as if the entire thing were filmed in darkness, a la Pan's Labyrinth. There is no rescuing glitter or sparkle. Though there are "good" guys in whom you, like the narrator, place all your faith, you still sense that the evils are darker and stronger because they are INSIDE him

    ********Small Spoiler Alert - Some Details Included*******************

    I love the way that this type of story allows you to feel the "lessons" often inherent in fairy-tales, but as in the style of an adept fairy-tale, the lessons are just part of the overall weave. For me, the critical moment for this character is when the hunger birds send the hallucination of his father and he finally says what he'd wanted to say in real life...that his father is abusive and his vitriol is damaging him. I also appreciated later how Gaiman reconciles this tension some through the lens of adulthood: the child understanding, finally, that he wasn't the son his father had really wanted or understood. Gaiman doesn't try to make it all better and tra-la-la, it's more of a factual assessment than a lead-up to teary reconciliations.

    The primary villain, the "flea" Ursula (Why do Ursula's get such a bad rap?) is an excellent portrayal, shown through a child's eyes. It's important in this type of story that the villain be as she is, with the "monstrous" part of her nature being more human than otherworldly - her encouragement of adultery and child abuse, her focus on self and material or personal gratifications, her drawing joy from rendering others powerless. When you see her "other" nature behind the facade, it's suitably horrifying, but it also serves as the reminder that utterly human villains are the most frightening, in the end. What lies beneath, if you will...

    And the importance of the "Ocean", in the end. It is the brass ring of human consciousness, in my opinion, and yet, as Lettie tells us, we cannot withstand it. Without giving a spoiler that ruins things, the "Ocean" represents that critical dichotomy between what we believe we want and what we actually want...or perhaps, can survive.

    Sundry Additional Thoughts

    I think Gaiman's handling of the seven-year-old protagonist is excellent. His fears, his feelings, his impressions, and his dialogue all ring true. He even captured the very literal nature of this age group.

    The epigraph with Sendak is, of course, absolutely perfect, as Gaiman himself expressed in his acknowledgement. Sendak HAS to come to mind with this story, there's just no getting around it.

    The storytelling is incredibly well done. Surprise, right? The foreshadowing and references are subtle enough that though the "reveal" doesn't come as a total surprise, you haven't been beat to death with it the moment it happens. That's nailing it, IMHO.

    I also love the cover. It's perfect and haunting. I see the entire story through this lens.

    Summary

    I recommend this book very highly to anyone who enjoys a great story. It is suitable for any age, though you may want to read or discuss this with elementary-aged children as there are a couple scenes that could be scary for children the same age as the protagonist. It is fantastical and lovely. I'm very glad I stepped off my usual sci-fi and dystopian superhighway to read this excellent book.
    44 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on June 25, 2013
    I have always loved Neil Gaiman. I first discovered him in my early twenties, when I picked up his Sandman graphic novels (which are still my all-time favorite comics). He has this unique way of seeing the world, and expressing his observations about life. His style is quirky and his thoughts profound. His world view resonates with me.

    The Ocean at the End of the Lane is a children's story, with an adult message. The sense that this was a children's book put me off initially, but after a few pages, I found myself drawn into the world of the sad, lonely boy narrating the story. His first childhood chapter opens with this line: "Nobody came to my seventh birthday party." Right then and there, my heart went out to him. He's a shy child, without many friends, who does well in school, and finds shelter in the books he loves. His family lives in a quiet community where nothing much happens, until a series of odd circumstances change everything. A man commits suicide, while others experience unusual financial luck. Our narrator (I'm not sure if he is ever named) befriends a young girl from down the lane, and together they investigate the cause of the upsets in their world. Their investigation opens a doorway that pulls something darkly magical into their existence, which slowing begins destroying our narrator's family. It's up to him to find the strength to fight back against this force, and save his family.

    Yes this is a children's book, but hidden under the whimsical, fairy tale elements, is a theme that is very adult: The Ocean at the End of the Lane deals with issues of helplessness and abuse in childhood. Our narrator consistently feels powerless when facing the adult forces in his life. He is unable to fight his father's rage, his mother's absence, and the nanny who isolates him and takes away all of his freedoms. There's a particularly terrifying scene where his father holds his head under in the bath, trying to drown him. Through this abuse, this poor child is powerless. He's too weak to fight back; too afraid to tell anyone, there are times when the only out he can see is death. Sadly, since he's just a child, with all the adaptability that comes with youth, part of him accepts what's happening to him as just part of the new norm for his life. He finds escape in books, and aid from the magic of the women at the end of the lane. Whether or not those women were figments of an abused child's mind is up to the reader to determine. I'm not sure what Mr. Gaiman's childhood was like, but this story truthfully portrays the realities of childhood abuse. I think anyone that has suffered something similar in childhood, will find this story resonates with them.

    It is natural when one is reading the story about a sad lonely boy to hope he's rise up, and conquer the forces that hurt him, and find his happily ever. In my mind, the nanny and the dad had to go. I wanted to see the boy take up a mighty sword of justice and smite the nanny, and then reveal his father for the ultimate shmuck he was. I wanted his mother to curb stomp her cheating, abusing husband, and pack up her kids and start a new life. I wanted the boy to grow up and marry Lettie Hempstock and vacation in magical and fantastical lands beyond the Ocean. Sadly only one of my wishes came partly true. Evil does not triumph in this story, but don't expect happy endings. A poor, sad boy grows up to be a sad and somewhat lonely man, with a failing marriage, and a hole in his heart. It was realistic, and beautiful, but it left me feeling sad. I guess I want my fiction to give me the happy endings we don't experience in real life.

    The Ocean at the End of the Lane is the type of story that changes you. It makes you look at the world with different eyes, if only for a little while. Gaiman has a talent for writing this sort of story. The words written on these pages will remind you of what it's like to be seven, and to see the world for all of its beautiful and terrible possibilities. It will remind of a basic truth you may have forgotten over the years - that magic can be found even in the most banal of circumstances, you just have to look hard enough for it.

    "I do not miss childhood, but I miss the way I took pleasure in small things, even as greater things crumbled. I could not control the world I was in, could not walk away from things or people or moments that hurt, but I found joy in the things that made me happy."
    7 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • osvaldo
    5.0 out of 5 stars Hermosa edición y libro impecable.
    Reviewed in Mexico on February 7, 2020
    La edición en sí es hermosa, aunque hubiera deseado que fuese un libro cosido y no pegado, al ser un libro de la editorial Morrow no se podía esperar otra cosa, sin embargo he de reconocerles que el hecho de que esté impreso en papel couché, que la edición tenga un cuidado espectacular y que me recuerde tanto a la edición de A monster calls de Patrick Ness han hecho que se lleve las 5 estrellas, la ilustradora es una genio! Todo el libro tiene ilustraciones prácticamente no hay hoja que quede en blanco pues hasta las guardas del libro vienen con información.

    La historia es muy emotiva, nostálgica y conmovedora, ese realismo mágico que pasa de un sueño a la realidad y viceversa. Si saben inglés y quieren empezar con un libro de Neil Gaiman que no sea tan infantil como puede ser Coraline o Stardust les recomendaría a parte de El libro del cementerio, este sin lugar a dudas. Soy coleccionista y aunque está es una edición que normalmente no taeria en la calle leyendo es una edición que bien vale la pena tener en casa solo de lo hermosa que es.
  • Marco Lorini
    5.0 out of 5 stars Uma breve viagem para um mundo onde as coisas eram mais fáceis e mais bonitas.
    Reviewed in Brazil on April 22, 2019
    Maravilhoso, sem sombra de dúvidas nenhuma um dos melhores livros que já li. Neil Gaiman te prende a história de uma forma única e cativante, sensacional. Recomendo.
  • Juan Manuel
    5.0 out of 5 stars Maravilloso
    Reviewed in Spain on July 4, 2018
    Una gran historia de fantasía repleta de emoción y giros argumentales muy inesperados. Una trama para dejarte llevar. Lectura fácil y ligera para nivel de inglés C1.
  • Btyler00
    5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it
    Reviewed in Japan on March 18, 2021
    Received the book earlier than expected and was very happy to dive into it right away. I read the whole thing in one sitting. I absolutely loved it.
  • By J
    5.0 out of 5 stars Lyrical, surreal, brilliant
    Reviewed in Australia on November 12, 2019
    Simply a literary masterpiece. The story is such a pleasure to follow, and the way it's told ought to be an art form in itself. I keep coming back to this book, again and again - its effect never ceases to encapsulate me. Cheers, Neil Gaiman. You've done it again :D