Coraline by Neil Gaiman with illustrations by Dave McKean
GENRE - GOTHIC FANTASY. CHILDREN/YOUNG ADULTSFIRST PUBLISHED - 2002
PLOT -
Child protagonist, Corlaine has moved to a new home where she discovers a doorway to another world. At first, this other world seems wonderful; much better than her world back home, but Coraline soon finds herself fighting for herself, the souls of trapped children and her parents. She must outwit the 'other mother' to avoid buttons for eyes, and becoming stuck in a gruesome unreality.
MY REFLECTIONS -
I have to mention the film first, because this book is very cinematic and because I watched the film when it was first released - I really enjoyed it. I always prefer to read a book before a film version, so that I can avoid what happened here - my own imagination fought for dominance over the movie imagery. There are differences, where I could more easily use my own mind's eye and focus on the feel of the book. The tone and imagery are gloomy, even melancholy at times, darkly magical and wonderfully macabre. The film conveys this but modulates the depth of eeriness, perhaps making it more palatable for small children; still, I suspect my own sensitive 6 year old would not appreciate the other mother, in either version - I would have at his age ... and do now. I think it could make a good adult horror film too, with the right director. It's fantastically creepy. I loved the chapter in which Coraline is searching for souls - not only a beautiful, imaginative concept, but a scene full of brilliantly conjured up beings. Definitely my favourite pages.
The characters are worth a mention. They stand out to me as one of the story's greatest strengths. I love Miss Spink and Miss Forcible and their comedic reality. I really like Mr. Bobo's warm eccentricity. One of my favourite lines, from page 155 is If she'd known his name was Mr. Bobo she would have said it every chance she got. How often do you get to say a name like "Mr. Bobo" aloud? I want a Mr. Bobo in my life!
Whilst I'm quoting - here's another favourite extract - It is astonishing just how much of what we are can be tied to the beds we wake up in in the morning, and it is astonishing how fragile that can be. I like how these deep and meaningful reflections occur in sometimes unexpected parts of the narration, adding depth and giving the book its 'coming of age' vibe.
I have to say what I know others have said - you can't help thinking of Alice in Wonderland as you're reading - not a bad thing - it's one of my favourite books. In both stories we have a bored and seemingly quite lonely child entering another dimension, who finds herself on a difficult and unusual journey of self discovery, aided by a talking cat - in a nutshell.
A quirky and visually strong, gothic Bildungsroman, especially fitting for a youngster with a love of the dark side. Definitely worth a read .
The illustrations encapsulate the story superbly. They're marvellously sinister.
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