Journal Entry 1 by crimson-tide from Balingup, Western Australia Australia on Wednesday, February 02, 2011

Somewhere in contemporary Britain, "the man Jack" uses his razor-sharp knife to murder a family, but the youngest, a toddler, slips away. The boy ends up in a graveyard, where the ghostly inhabitants adopt him to keep him safe. Nobody Owens, so named because he "looks like nobody but himself," grows up among a multigenerational cast of characters from different historical periods that includes matronly Mistress Owens; ancient Roman Caius Pompeius; an opinionated young witch; a melodramatic hack poet; and Bod's beloved mentor and guardian, Silas, who is neither living nor dead and has secrets of his own.

As he grows up, Bod has a series of adventures, both in and out of the graveyard, and the threat of the man Jack who continues to hunt for him is ever present. Bod's love for his graveyard family and vice versa provide the emotional center, amid suspense, spot-on humor, and delightful scene-setting. The child Bod's behavior is occasionally too precocious to be believed, and a series of puns on the name Jack render the villain a bit less frightening than he should be, though only momentarily. Aside from these small flaws, however, Gaiman has created a rich, surprising, and sometimes disturbing tale of dreams, ghouls, murderers, trickery, and family.
— Megan Honig, New York Public Library

 

Journal Entry 2 by crimson-tide at Balingup, Western Australia Australia on Thursday, March 03, 2011

I read this over two days while on holidays and thoroughly enjoyed it . . . and I pretty much agree with the review above.

A great ya story from the master Gaiman. It's a lovely tale of acceptance, love and ways of being responsible for others. The premise, and characterisation of the graveyard characters was wonderful, though I felt that the baddies and the action scenes where they got their come-uppance (?sp) didn't quite match up to the rest. Only a minor quibble...

I placed this onto the Sci-Fi and Fantasy VBB and it was chosed by Xeyra. To be sent off once I have an address.
 

Journal Entry 3 by crimson-tide at Balingup, Western Australia Australia on Wednesday, March 09, 2011

Released 1 yr ago (3/10/2011 UTC) at Balingup, Western Australia Australia

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Posting off to Xeyra as part of the Science Fiction and Fantasy VBB. 

Journal Entry 4 by Xeyra at Palmela, Setúbal Portugal on Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Arrived today. Thank you! :)