I recall watching this in the theater with my kids and the opening scenes/title reel itself totally blew my mind. Read the book if you have not already! The Movie: It built itself and told itself, a word at a time.” I have to add that each word belongs, and each word is magical indeed. Neil Gaiman says of the book – “Where it all came from-……- I have no real idea. “It wasn’t the kind of rain you could go out in, it was the other kind, the kind that threw itself down from the sky and splashed where it landed. And as for favorite quotes, I started bookmarking phrases from the book for that purpose, but found myself inundated with quotes and stopped (almost like the rain described in the book) Picking a favorite character (excluding Coraline) is a toughie – each one is fleshed out so well (even those that are just memories with no names). What then?”Įvery character, every word in this book is meant to be. What kind of fun would it be if I just got everything I ever wanted? Just like that, and it didn’t mean anything. And Coraline realizes that getting what you wish for is not always all that great. But you know the saying that you should be careful what you wish for because you might just get it. Yet in that intense creepiness, there is also humour, and wisdom, and warmth.Ĭoraline is spunky, intelligent, bored she wishes for parents who were not so busy working always, and for regular food instead of ‘recipes’. One where a snotty cat appears and disappears, a mouse circus is getting ready for its act somewhere, buttons have replaced eyes, and there is danger lurking right around there. The book’s creepiness crawls up on you as you turn the pages, and slowly, you look around and realize you are in that world. Neil Gaiman never fails, and while it was the movie I saw first, I knew why I loved the movie when I read the book (and loved it even more!).Īnd I somehow never ended up reviewing this book on my blog earlier so it follows. Below is what I wrote about the book in a Top Ten Halloween Reads post on my blog a while ago – Age level 8 – 12 years (and more – I read it as an adult).

Coraline book barnes and noble