Dark imitation (Coraline - Neil Gaiman)

Member Name: mcader

Product:	Coraline - Neil Gaiman
Date:	26/02/09 (22 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: An exciting little read, v. worthy kids story

Disadvantages: slightly detached

I'm not nine years old etc, but I found this slightly chilling... An exciting little read, v. worthy children's story, but also slightly detached (like an action comic).


So it's not a major classic or anything, - the idea of an imitated world is not obviously original - but it's well-handled, darkly fresh and is not predictable. It's matter-of-fact style shows its thinking for its audience, and I do wonder what it would be like to read it as a kid. At the same time, I hope he will use more of the advantages of the book form in future. The illustrations by Dave Mckean are of course, creepy and masterful in style, and I enjoyed them (with the story) even more in the Varjak Paw books. I've never managed to read too much of Gaiman, because I've found him a bit Clive Barkerish (patchy, good ideas, movie-style endings), and not as insightful as the comic brilliance of Frank Miller or Alan Moore, but perhaps i should try his comics again.


I'll certainly keep an eye out for his future work on the strength of this, and i've yet to enjoy 'Mirrormask' movie. However, I hope that he refrains from writing too much, and uses his talent to produce a mature classic of imagination and originality, for kids and adults. (true, not easy, so he can write more books like this one if he wants to, also!)

Summary: darkly fresh and is unpredictable