A point that I came across was that many coming of age stories are ultimately about the new relationships that the young person makes, and how these reflect and develop their character. So the orphan has to react to everyone from new without lots of history. Doesn't explain why so many are boys.
Okay. I wrote this on GoodReads. I’m not particularly happy with it, but it conveys the essence of how I feel:
I liked this very much, I really did, and it flew past for a long book. I was just expecting much more. It was fun and clever and entertaining. It wasn’t, at least for me, in any way profound, moving or even especially memorable. So I found it good, yet a crushing disappointment all the same.
I finished The Graveyard Book yesterday, I was a little disappointed tbh. I think it's because I've enjoyed his other books so much and know what a clever writer he can be. There were elements of classic Gaiman in there, and I know it was a children's book, but there really wasn't anything surprising about it that I didn't see coming.
I enjoyed the bits with Mrs Lupescu the most I think and the journey that they took - but then characters just got killed off because they 'died for the good of Bod' so to speak when more could have been done with them. I did like Silas too. The whole bit about Scarlett and Silas at the end was disappointing. Bit too jumpy about to tie up different bits at different times. Not sure, bit of a meh from me really.
Interesting about the discussion around the use of orphans etc in stories - The Great British Menu this year had a poet at the banquet at the end who discussed this as he was fostered and then entered the care system; he had written a poem about it too. I can't remember his name though. I'll see if google can help..... It was Lemn Sissay, although I can't find the poem.
He's done a TED talk about it (I'm part way through listening):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLiM2-izFl4
GregP - I can understand your review! I prefered Anansi Boys.....
I finished TGB this evening. I liked it, but no more than that, and I don’t really have much more to add. It was quite episodic and light, something that will fade quickly and easily into the shadows. I have revised my vote from 1 to 7.
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His Dark Materials
Nov 2023
