Coraline - Neil Gaiman

Okay, so I was looking on my bookshelf and decided it was time to review a MG novel, so here is Neil Gaiman's 'Coraline'

When Coraline explores her new home, she steps through a door and into another house just like her own... except that it's different. It's a marvelous adventure until Coraline discovers that there's also another mother and another father in the house. They want Coraline to stay with them and be their little girl. They want to keep fer for ever!

Coraline must use all of her wits and every ounce of courage in order to save herself and return home.

I must confess, I read Coraline after the film, which by the way, I loved.

Coraline is an action packed fast paced thriller-ish kind of book. I love the whole concept about Coraline having 'other' parents. The thing I liked about this book is that everything seems perfect as the beginning, however towards the end, everything is pulling apart at the seams and you realize just how much of a sticky situation Coraline has gotten herself into.

Coraline's reality life, is in a kids eyes, is boring. Her parents are always working and they pay no attention to poor old Coraline. So one day when being shooed off by her father - who told her to explore the house - she discovers a door leading to a parallel life. Neil Gaiman leads you to believe that this other world is perfect, yet all is not what it seems. Coraline's other mother want to keep her, forever!

This book is so creepy! It is quite dark too. I felt scared for Coraline when she was told she would have to sew buttons in her eyes in order to stay in the perfect world! The mother is dark, scary and very crafty, which makes Coraline's escape a whole lot harder.

I was a little disappointed with the lack of detail in this book. I mean, some sentences were just so short! However, I guess this is supposed to be a MG novel.

The illustrations in this book were so original, and I thought they were fantastic, and really gave the novel a scary atmosphere. Some spooked me out too, like the one of the other mother below!

I highly recommend this one, especially if you love the scary types of books, those who don't, perhaps while find it a little too frightening.

4/5

Covers: I was just wondering which one you preferred. I personally love the movie cover as it is really nice and bright! Yet the original incorporates the element of darkness in this novel and looks a lot more creepy!