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Speculative Fiction (Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Dystopian) · 2009

The Graveyard Book

Neil Gaiman

The Graveyard Book Cover
Rating
8.5/10
Difficulty
Light
Read time
7 hours
Best in
  • Audible
  • Kindle

304 pagesRead May 13, 2016Staying power: Lasting influence

by Juvoni Beckford·@juvoni

Before readingWhy I picked it up

This book was strongly recommended by Tim Ferriss and I was on the lookout for well narrated fiction books. Neil Gaiman is also a prolific writer, but I haven't read any of his books before, so hopefully this will be a good first impression. I'm drawn to stories that are targeted towards both children and adults, because they keep it simple while being filled with substance.

After readingPosted September 11, 2016

A plot similar to The Jungle Book and Tarzan, with the essence of a Tim Burton Movie and extravagant spooky characters like those Halloween movie specials the Disney Channel used to feature. And yet, The Graveyard book stood all on its own, with amazing writing and creativity from Gaiman. Not only did this book bring me into the world of Bod, short for Nobody, who was raised by the inhabitants of the graveyard, it made me feel like an adventurous kid again. Which makes sense, since the book was made for children, but can be enjoyed by all ages.

Three reasons to read it

  1. 01If you enjoyed the Jungle Book or Tarzan, you'll probably enjoy this as well.
  2. 02The story of a boy named Bod who was raised in and by the Graveyard.
  3. 03A rich and vibrant world, that will keep you engaged all the way through.

Notable quotesNeil GaimanMore in Quotes

  1. 01

    “Face your life, its pain, its pleasure, leave no path untaken.”

  2. 02

    “You're always you, and that don't change, and you're always changing, and there's nothing you can do about it.”

  3. 03

    “You're alive, Bod. That means you have infinite potential. You can do anything, make anything, dream anything. If you can change the world, the world will change. Potential. Once you're dead, it's gone. Over. You've made what you've made, dreamed your dream, written your name. You may be buried here, you may even walk. But that potential is finished.”

  4. 04

    “People want to forget the impossible. It makes their world safer.”

Notes for this book are still being transcribed.

←PreviousThe War of ArtSteven PressfieldNext→On the Shortness of LifeSeneca
Buy on AmazonAffiliate ↗

No affiliate link·Goodreads

Awards

  • Best of 2016

    One of my favorite reads of 2016.

  • Couldn't Put It Down

    I kept reading when I meant to stop.

  • Laughed Out Loud

    I laughed out loud reading it, more than once.

Major themes

  1. Graveyard
  2. Death
  3. Mystery
  4. Ghosts
  5. Adventure
  6. Family
  7. Friendship
  8. Magic
  9. Owl
  10. Secrets
  11. Immortality
  12. Monsters
  13. Protection
  14. Supernatural
  15. Vampires
  16. Witches

Related Books

Buy on AmazonAffiliate ↗

No affiliate link·Goodreads

Awards

  • Best of 2016

    One of my favorite reads of 2016.

  • Couldn't Put It Down

    I kept reading when I meant to stop.

  • Laughed Out Loud

    I laughed out loud reading it, more than once.

Major themes

  1. Graveyard
  2. Death
  3. Mystery
  4. Ghosts
  5. Adventure
  6. Family
  7. Friendship
  8. Magic
  9. Owl
  10. Secrets
  11. Immortality
  12. Monsters
  13. Protection
  14. Supernatural
  15. Vampires
  16. Witches

Related Books

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The Graveyard Book cover, this bookXenocideReady Player OneThe GiverThis bookAlso in Speculative Fiction (Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Dystopian)

Xenocide, Ready Player One and The Giver.

5 books in Speculative Fiction (Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Dystopian) →

Related books

The Graveyard Book cover, this bookXenocideReady Player OneThe GiverThis bookAlso in Speculative Fiction (Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Dystopian)

Xenocide, Ready Player One and The Giver.

5 books in Speculative Fiction (Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Dystopian) →