The Ocean at the End of the Lane

Four? How dare I rate Gaiman fewer than five (or eleven) stars! Have I lost my mind or—gasp—my heart?First, though: [b:Ocean 15783514 The Ocean at the End of the Lane Neil Gaiman http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1351914778s/15783514.jpg 21500681] was great. Moving, poetic, sublime. Gaiman's writing just keeps on improving. Sentences that merit savoring. Ambiance that can fill a room. There is no doubt that I'll be reading it again some day, perhaps listening. It's masterful.It's just the substance that's lacking. Too-perfect and -wise characters; an improbably precocious seven-year-old; third-person narrative awkwardly expressed as first-person (for the intimacy, which I'll admit does work); several convenient Dei ex Machina. I never felt any real tension, perhaps because I never understood the rules. Much like the child protagonist I was just swept along for the ride, trusting that all would be taken care of... only I'm not seven any more. And as for the titular Ocean: I feel like Gaiman started with a great title but then just sort of veered off, occasionally remembering to mention it in passing. There's a story there, a rich one, but this isn't it.I don't feel disappointed. I feel warm, even hours after having finished it. (And that's not just June in New Mexico). I am overwhelmingly grateful to Gaiman for sharing his words and worlds. I just think he can do better.