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  • The Ocean at the End of the Lane

  • By: Neil Gaiman
  • Narrated by: Neil Gaiman
  • Length: 5 hrs and 43 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (2,952 ratings)
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The Ocean at the End of the Lane cover art

The Ocean at the End of the Lane

By: Neil Gaiman
Narrated by: Neil Gaiman
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Summary

The celebrated modern classic from the number one best-selling writer.

THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD 'BOOK OF THE YEAR'

AN ACCLAIMED WEST END THEATRE PRODUCTION

This is what he remembers, as he sits by the ocean at the end of the lane:

A dead man on the back seat of the car and warm milk at the farmhouse.

An ancient little girl and an old woman who saw the moon being made.

A beautiful housekeeper with a monstrous smile.

And dark forces woken that were best left undisturbed.

They are memories hard to believe, waiting at the edges of things. The recollections of a man who thought he was lost but is now, perhaps, remembering a time when he was saved.... 

NEIL GAIMAN.

WITH STORIES COME POSSIBILITIES.

©2013 Neil Gaiman (P)2013 Headline Digital

Critic reviews

"Neil Gaiman's entire body of work is a feat of elegant sorcery. He writes with such assurance and originality that the reader has no choice but to surrender to a waking dream," (Armistead Maupin) 

"Some books just swallow you up, heart and soul." (Joanne Harris) 

"Summons both the powerlessness and wonder of childhood, and the complicated landscape of memory and forgetting." (Guardian

What listeners say about The Ocean at the End of the Lane

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Cunning Darkness

This is a clever story, told through the eyes of a child and leaning on the premise of a child's imagination it draws into a dark, dreamlike tale. I think the publisher's blurb perhaps goes a little bit too far and for me the brevity of the story didn't allow it to develop the depth it otherwise might have done. For this reason I didn't enjoy it as much as others seem to have done. It is definitely a quality piece of writing, well narrated and something just a bit different to the norm so it's worth a go. It just didn't quite rock my world.

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21 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Can't beat a good Gaiman

Where does The Ocean at the End of the Lane rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I do love a competent author who is also a competent narrator! Neil Gaimans books are great fun, if slightly warped at times. By reading it himself you can be sure to get the story as he intended. This is one of his books that is suitable for a wide range of audiences, so highly recommended for any long family road trips this summer.

The story takes us back in time to when the protagonist was a boy. A trip back home has reminded his adult self of some very odd happenings in his youth. What follows is a good mystery with some strange and/or supernatural characters vividly imagined to keep you guessing at every step of the way. The places and people are beautifully described so that you can close your eyes and almost see what happens. A great read, and probably one of the few I shall listen to over again.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Lette Hempstock - the sheer mystery of who she and her family are...

Which character – as performed by Neil Gaiman – was your favourite?

His speaks so beautifully, it's hard to choose a best character, so I shall plump for the main character for wordage alone

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Things are not what they seem, even if you can see more than others

Any additional comments?

I wish it didn't have to end, but also need to know what has happened and how, even if not why!

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21 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Deceptively deep

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I went into this having enjoyed Stardust and Neverwhere, so hardly a huge Neil Gaiman reader. At first it read like a quaint fairy story, certainly pleasant and engaging but not something I could see myself raving about. By the end I came to seriously rate this as one of the best novels I have listened to in years. The depiction of childhood, specifically isolation, fear and wonder as experienced by a child was totally captivating. The final sequence and epilogue played out like a C S Lewis allegory, but like the best Lewis books, never over plays it or comes to obvious conclusions. My only criticism is Neil Gaiman's delivery. Now, I do like his reading but having listened to him read 3 of his books in the space of 12 months I am a little too used to his phrasing and delivery. He has a very distinctive speech pattern and tends to use the same accent for every character. I am not someone who believes that the author is the best person to read their work and would rather Gaiman handed the reigns to a professional reader for future stories. As it is whilst I intend to explore the rest of his work on audible, having discovered that I have a tolerance threshold for his reading style has put me off going on a Gaiman audio book binge. But none the less this is a brilliant story and well worth a listen.

What other book might you compare The Ocean at the End of the Lane to, and why?

Out of the Silent Planet. The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe.

Did Neil Gaiman do a good job differentiating each of the characters? How?

No. His regional accents are quite lacking and many characters sound the same.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Very much. I felt anxious for the main character and experienced a surprised delight during the final sequence.

Any additional comments?

An excellent novel. An underwhelming reading but none the less an essential purchase for any fantasy reader or fan of Gaiman's other work.

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16 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Wistful and charming but ultimately unsatisfying

What did you like best about The Ocean at the End of the Lane? What did you like least?

The book starts wonderfully with its wistful portayal of childhood, conveying nostalgia without getting overly sentimental, and the story is very vividly and exuberantly told with moments of great inventiveness, particularly in the first half.

But I was considerably less keen on the second half of the story, which degenerates into a maelstrom of magical mumbo-jumbo. There was no logical thread of cause-and-effect, which kills any suspense and leaves the story feeling ultimately unsatisfying.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Unfortunately from a certain point about 3/4 of the way through the story, I began to lose interest in where it was heading - a case of "too much magic" perhaps. So although the ending should have been poignant, I found myself feeling slightly nonplussed by the finale, and indifferent about the fates of the characters.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Neil Gaiman?

Yes - I do enjoy Neil Gaiman's narration. He's very engaging, although his warm and upbeat tone of voice does mean that sometimes he doesn't convey pathos very well.

If this book were a film would you go see it?

Yes, although it would be more for the spectacle than for the story.

Any additional comments?

I enjoy a good fantasy tale, and particularly like those where our world and other worlds collide, but these seem to work better as longer stories which introduce the magical/fantastical elements more gradually and allow more time to establish at least some rudimentary "rules" by which they operate. Here it all seems too sudden and too over-the-top - the gentle magic of the childhood imagination and the subtle otherworldliness of the English countryside are completely overpowered by the sensational (and pretty much incomprehensible) magical story elements.

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14 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Slim but powerful!

I dithered whether to get this one as it's such a slim novel. Oh how glad I am that I did! What a powerful story in such few words, and so beautifully narrated as only Neil Gaiman can. I hardly know where to start, this just evoked so many emotions. Essentially this is a story about loss, the loss of childhood and innocence and also about the loss of the magic in life. This slim little novel lingered with me long after finishing. Though I think the older and riper you are, the more this story will resonate with you. I discussed this book with my daughter, who is in her early 20's so she can still pretty much remember her childhood! Although she enjoyed it, it was not a 5 star read for her and did not evoke any of those lingering feelings. I will ask her to read it again when she hits 50!

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

A great short story, an OK novel.

Would you listen to The Ocean at the End of the Lane again? Why?

Yes. I think it would bear a second read, in fact I may get more out of it if I read it again.

Would you be willing to try another book from Neil Gaiman? Why or why not?

Yes, although I may stick to the non adult fiction variety. as he does childhood terror so well but can indulge his talent for fantasy much more. This became a bit...well..."really...?"

What does Neil Gaiman bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

I think his reading made the childhood experience very real, it felt personal.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me feel very sorry for the bright little boy and very angry with the rather dull and dimwitted parents.

Any additional comments?

The evocative tale of childhood fear and impotence was wonderful, the pure joy of that child finding a really cool, strong and powerful friend was glorious but sadly, all that inexplicable, limitless magic spoilt the tension in the end. You just felt the magic people will put it all right in the end, but you never knew quite why.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

another interesting adults fairy tale

Would you listen to The Ocean at the End of the Lane again? Why?

Yes, it's written from such an interesting view point and I love listening to Neil Gaiman narrate. I love the way you see it from his point of view as a child and an adult remembering through more experienced eyes.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Ocean at the End of the Lane?

I love the way he fits the cat characters into his stories and they are particularly poignant in this fairy tale.

Any additional comments?

Another one of those books that made me look forward to doing the housework so I could listen to a bit more. Neil Gaiman has written another interesting adults fairy tale and I am looking forward to listening to it again.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Adult or kids book? Who cares its great.

Not quite the epic of my favourite book of all time, American Gods, but this is a great short fantastic fantasy that captivates and entertains throughout
Neil's story telling is second to none and his reading is a pleasure. I guess he know how it should fill your head

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Gripping tale in a tiny shell

Fantasy is not my favourite genre so I started on this book with some reluctance. I was interested in all the hype surrounding the book so I took the plunge (forgive the pun).

At first I was hesitant, the story was laboured and it was very artificial, but because it was such a short book I thought I’d carry on, and I am very happy I did.

The story grows on you and the characters are appealing and intriguing. It is a simple story of a boy who meets a girl who lives on a farm at the end of the lane. A tragic event throws their fates together and what happens over the following two days will change their lives forever.

By the end of the book I was enthralled and I am happy I read it. It is a story well told.
Reluctant as I am to listen to authors reading their own works I think Gaiman did a good job of it.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant Book, Excellently Nararted

Would you consider the audio edition of The Ocean at the End of the Lane to be better than the print version?

Yes, definitely. The way Neil Gaiman narrates this is worth the credits. You get so much more from it and really understand why he uses the words he does. Beautifully written and wonderfully read.

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