Review of National Bestseller: Coraline by Neil Gaiman

Name of book: Coraline
Author: Neil Gaiman
Publication: June 24th 2008 - HarperCollins
Genre: Children Fantasy
Source: E-book owned

In Neil Gaiman's bestselling adult fantasies, telling the difference between reality and illusion can sometimes mean your soul. WithCoraline, the author of American Gods develops this favorite theme for a younger audience, taking us through a deliciously frightening door to an "other," harrowing world.

Coraline's often wondered what's behind the locked door in the drawing room. It reveals only a brick wall when she finally opens it, but when she tries again later, a passageway mysteriously appears. Coraline is surprised to find a flat decorated exactly like her own, but strangely different. And when she finds her "other" parents in this alternate world, they are much more interesting despite their creepy black button eyes. When they make it clear, however, that they want to make her theirs forever, Coraline begins a nightmarish game to rescue her real parents and three children imprisoned in a mirror. With only a bored-through stone and an aloof cat to help, Coraline confronts this harrowing task of escaping these monstrous creatures.

Gaiman has delivered a wonderfully chilling novel, subtle yet intense on many levels. The line between pleasant and horrible is often blurred until what's what becomes suddenly clear, and like Coraline, we resist leaving this strange world until we're hooked. Unnerving drawings also cast a dark shadow over the book's eerie atmosphere, which is only heightened by simple, hair-raising text. Already compared to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and suited for readers of all ages, Coraline is otherworldly storytelling at its best.

-- My Rating --

-- My Thoughts --

     When I first saw this book while browsing my collection of e-books, I was like: "A National Bestseller, it's gotta be good!" It is a very quick read -less than 200 pages- I finished it in an hour or so, and it was wonderful!

     Coraline moves into huge old house with her parents, but they are not the only people there. Each couple of rooms ( a flat) are/is rented to other people. There are the two old talkative women, who were previous-actresses. There is the old man upstairs, who claims that he is teaching mice how to play instruments! 

     And there is another empty flat right behind Coraline's. As Caroline explores every inch of the garden, and then the house, she discovers a door in the drawing room that should have led to the empty flat. The door only leads to a huge brick wall, nothing else. But at night, Coraline hears noises, and she can't help but take another look at what's behind the old door. 

     This time, there is no brick wall, just a long hallway, and Coraline's adventure begins right when she steps foot into the hallway. She has to save  her  parents and three lost souls in order to get out of the horrible magic world...

     What will Coraline find on the other side? Will she be able to save her parents and the three lost souls? Find out in this cute, and imaginative bestseller Coraline...

     I liked this book very much, I didn't know that it was Children's Fantasy, but I still enjoyed it! You know? Sometimes you just need a break from all these love stories, and paranormal fantasies like vampires, werewolves, and zombies. You just need to leap back into childhood and enjoy a short adventure.

     This book is definitely suitable for kids of all ages, it's a tale about family, love, and adventure. Want an enjoyable read? Then CORALINE is the one...