The Ocean At The End Of The Lane

The Ocean At The End Of The Lane by Neil Gaiman

She says there is an ocean at the end of the lane behind the old farmhouse.  He thinks this notion is just plain silly; looks to him  like a small pond where ducks gather to swim.  After reading 178 pages of this mysterious,  thought-provoking novel, you decide.....

A middle-aged man returns to his childhood surroundings to attend a funeral. After the service, he finds himself driving the country roads of Sussex, England inexplicably searching for the past. He eventually finds himself at the dilapidated  Lempstock farmhouse, and memories flood his mind.

He is only seven, a quirky child, lover of books, cats, and rainy days. Financial woes force the family to move again and accept boarders to rent a room upstairs. One such gentleman steals the family car and takes his own life "at the end of the lane." This one incident introduces the boy  to a most remarkable young girl named Lettie, her mother and grandmother. But they are not of this world. They valiantly protect him from a series of dark, scary events which begin to enfold. The reader is taken into a magical world of ghosts, mythical creatures, and sheer fantasy. Yet it is also a story of survival. If we truly believe in good versus evil, can one girl's friendship and love for a small, frightened boy be enough to save his life? What magical qualities lie beneath the waters of the "ocean"?

Grim, terrifying, peculiar. Certainly this short novel is not for everyone, but if you want to read a book out of your comfort zone, try this one.

Sweet dreams.  

The Kings and Queens of Roam

The Kings and Queens of Roam by Daniel Wallace

Whimsical folklore. Fantasy. A fairy tale. Some readers may stop reading here, but let's continue!  Always reaching for new authors and a new literary experience, I chose this book because I  heard of Wallace's previous works, namely Big Fish, which is being made into a movie by Tim Burton. Certainly not the genre I usually read, yet I found myself drawn to the story of two sisters consumed by grief and loneliness.

Helen and Rachel McCallister live in a town called Roam. They are the granddaughters of patriarch, Elijah, who founded this strange and unusual spot. Once a thriving hub of silk production, it has become a dying village where its residents long to escape.  Helen is bitter, older, conniving, and from all accounts, a truly ugly woman. Her sister, Rachel is kind, soft-spoken, a vision of loveliness-and blind. When their parents die in a tragic, unexpected accident, Helen realizes that Rachel is now dependent on her for everything. Unfortunately, Helen seizes the opportunity to convince Rachel that the world is a dark, dangerous place.  Rachel truly believes she cannot survive without Helen. And so the cruel lies begin until that one monumental moment when Rachel learns the truth, and Helen realizes that her tender, helpless sister is perhaps not so helpless after all.

Where is Roam? No one really knows. In this town live ghosts, vicious dogs, lumberjacks, magical waters, and bears! So many side characters too numerous to mention, but they all play a part in the fantasy. As a reader, you may very well be drawn to the 288 pages of sibling rivalry, jealousy, well-developed characters, and often, a touch of humor. I believe you will want to keep reading simply to find out how it ends.

Remember, "What tangled webs we weave...."