Coraline

I'm very surprised...I didn't like this book as much as I thought I would. I know it's all subjective and some people adore this book, and I can understand why. I guess this book just wasn't for me. I feel like maybe if I had first read this book when I was younger, I would have been in love with it.

I was certainly very interested in the book and was excited to read it. I've dabbled in some of Neil Gaiman's other works, and I enjoy them a lot. Coraline definitely has this really intriguing “comfy gothic” premise, if I had to try and describe it. I think the main problem is that I just wasn't a fan of the prose. Everything is very dejected, very dry, very to the point. There was no emotion in the writing. It was like reading someone's grocery list, in a way.

I'm very affected by how the prose presents the story. I can't get into the story if the prose is dry and emotionless. I didn't feel any sense of urgency, any real danger from Coraline's journey. I wonder if it's because the book is a bit more universal and not strictly for adults, but some of my favorite books are like that. Matilda by Roald Dahl is my favorite book of all time, and it's considered a children's book. But there's so much emotion and feeling in how the story is narrated, it still delights me as an adult. I didn't really feel that from this one.

There were definitely parts that were quite spooky and descriptions that I thought were legitimately creepy, which were my favorite parts. At times, the book did have good atmosphere that I was thought was engaging to read. And I will say that there was never a part in the book where I got bored and didn't want to go on. The story was compelling enough to make me want to read on and see what would happen...it was just a dry, humorless experience.

I know these are all subjective thoughts, but I thought I would write them down to be as honest as possible. Someone I know in real life has this as their favorite book of all time, and it's not like I don't understand why. I guess in the end, there were just too many things in this book that made it not tailored for a reader like me. Which is just a bit disappointing, since I was quite hyped to read this book and also really respect Neil Gaiman's craft.

It's so weird, though. This book is beloved and has won many awards. Maybe it really is just a case of me waiting too long to read it? I guess I'm the odd one out here.