'Coraline & Other Stories' by Neil Gaiman | Book Review

Coraline, an 11-year-old girl, and her family have just moved to a new house, much to Coraline’s annoyance. As she adjusts to her new home, she gets to know her strange neighbours and uncovers strange goings-on in her new home.

What did I like?

Having been a fan of the movie long before I read the book, I thought I’d be at a disadvantage with knowledge of what was to come during Coraline’s adventures, I was indeed wrong. Neil Gaiman weaves two narratives together seamlessly; the first being Coraline’s annoyance around her families move to a new house, the other being a mysterious and sinister creature lurking within the walls of the house. Even knowing how the plot unfolds I couldn’t help but feel creeped out by the monsters that this young girl faced, while also enjoying a new take on the characters that I came to love in the movie.

I feel another reason I came to love the book was Neil Gaiman’s ability to create a book that on the surface could be a children’s story, but uses aspects from some of the most popular classic horror books. By mixing these genres together the story takes on a new form that makes the book accessible for both younger and older readers.

Will it be your cup of tea?

The book has the advantage of appealing to fans of Neil Gaiman’s other books. For those who are yet to explore this interesting author’s work, this would be the perfect book to start with. It is an easy story to read when you have the time yet with the light-hearted wit from both the young protagonist and her feline companion you’ll find yourself laughing in between the moments of fear.

The Author

Neil Gaiman is a British author and screenwriter, having been a well-respected and well-known writer for many years; he definitely doesn’t need any introduction from me. With a vast collection of novels, scripts & graphic novels under his belt, there aren’t a lot of people who haven’t been made aware of any of his works.

It is easy to notice when Neil Gaiman has been involved in any writing process by finding his signature gothic style. Whether it is the fantasy story Stardust or the Doctor Who episode "The Doctor’s Wife" there is always a gothic twist to the stories he creates, that brings a more interesting yet darker twist on interesting stories.

On the Big Screen

I personally believe that Coraline was wonderfully translated onto the big screen. It is one instance where a change from book to movie allowed other aspects of the story to shine. The gothic vibe is transformed into a colourful yet sinister environment that you can see clearly on the screen. As the movie begins we are introduced to the hilarious and interesting characters that made the book so enjoyable to read, this is then mixed with vibrant colour and surreal sets.

There are some larger differences between the book and the film, one of which is the character Wybie. He appears only in the movie and was supposedly introduced to give Coraline someone to say her thoughts out-loud without just talking to herself throughout most of the movie.

Final Thoughts

With Halloween just around the corner, I would definitely recommend reading this book to get you into the spooky mood. Much like others of Neil Gaiman’s work, I found nothing that I didn’t enjoy while I read this book. Whether you’re young or old, the book is perfect for combining the innocence of a children’s book with the creepiness of a classic gothic novel.