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I've stated it before, I solely got this audiobook to fall asleep to Neil Gaiman's voice. It might take me awhile to actually finish it though. lol

I'm in 60% and I have mixed feelings about this book so far...

I loved this book. The fairy tale world he created just captivated me and I couldn't put the book down. I don't usually finish a book in a single day but I did this one. It is less than 200 pages though. This was the first Neil Gaiman book that I have read but I have already ordered 3 more of his to read just because I was so moved by this book and his ability to tell such a fantastic story. I really felt like I was in that world from his great descriptions and magnificent story telling. Can't wait for my kids to get a little older to read it or maybe I will just have to read it to them.

I have heard from others that this is his weakest work, you'll have to let know if you agree.

I agree with Michelle. I was drawn in by the first page!! I look forward to reading some of his other work!

I absolutely loved it. I was present on publication day at BAM in Brooklyn and witnessed Neil gaiman speaking from the book and i was immediately entranced. I finished the novel that very night, on my train ride home. I feel that this will be a timeless novel that i will be able to revisit often.

Any final thoughts on the novel? Does anyone feel better with discussion questions? Perhaps I can add them if people enjoy them more.

I still haven't gotten it from the library! I'm hoping before the end if the month I can at least start it.

I don't have a real preference regarding questions. Sometimes without them the thread dissolves into - I liked it / I didn't like it - with no discussion. However, sometimes even with them you still get answers and no real discussion. It would be great if people just naturally had questions or comments to get the flow going. With all that said, I think it's nice to have maybe a few that get discussion going when the conversation doesn't naturally begin, but you don't need a whole bunch. That's my thought anyway. :)

My copy finally came in!! I will be able to join the conversation after all. :)

I'm about 60% in or so. I can't believe all that this poor little boy has been through. I hope it has a happy ending.

Kristie, I was pondering over the ending a lot, let me know what you think about it, it left me with a lot of food for thoughts. I'm interested in your opinion.

Has anyone else got some thoughts about the ending?

I finished yesterday. :) I really enjoyed it. I thought the end was a bit strange. It's a bit creepy to me that (view spoiler)[the Hempstock's can change people's memories. That would be so scary! Plus that Letti calls him back to the "ocean" so she can check on him. I feel like they have a tremendous amount of power.

I also found it interesting that 40 years later they said that his heart is starting to grow back. What does that mean? Can he not love? Is he not really "living" until it grows back? Is it only going to grow back just before he dies? (hide spoiler)]

As you can see, it left me with a few questions too. lol I really enjoyed it though. It really kept my attention and I wanted to know would happen next. I feel like the fantasy genre is like looking directly into someone's imagination.

Maybe we all have to face our nightmares and then move on to live out our lives in the real world.

@Kristie, I had similar observation about fantasy genre, and I think that Gaiman is a real master in creating good, gripping story, vivid images and strong emotional delivery. I also got confused (view spoiler)[ by the heart comment. I have the feeling that all the experiences described in the book left him with a huge missing part, especially the feeling of guilt and the experience of death of his best and only real friend. It seems to haunt him still and thus he return there from time to time trying to cope with this feeling. Perhaps it is also an allegory of first love lost and troubles with dealing with it throughout the course of life. (hide spoiler)]

@thewanderingjew, I strongly believe that only after facing our nightmares we can live and carry on happily, but I also think that this experience is extremely difficult to undergo and many are too scared to do it. I have the connotation with Divergent and this dauntless' final trial, where one had to face their worst fears to pass it. Not all of them were able to do it, some needed a lot of time and determination and others became changed for ever not always in a good way.