Author: Neil Gaiman
Genre: Fantasy; Horror; Children
Rating: 6.5/10
A few days after her family moves into their new flat, Coraline discovers a door in the drawing room. Her parents shrug it off, saying that it opened into a brick wall. But one day, when Coraline gives in to her curiosity, she discovers a passage to another flat, just like her own.
Before I start, I’d like to mention that this review is solely based on my personal reading experience and opinion of the book, and is not a critique of the writer’s craft. I know many people shelve this book among their favourite childhood reads, and many more were fans of the movie. It was a shame that I didn’t like the book as much as I hoped to.
Going into Coraline, I braced myself for a middle grade read. I expected a quick-paced, light-hearted story, probably involving fun fantasy elements. A few pages in though, I realised that this book was quite different from other children’s books I’ve read. It had the basic elements of a children’s book; oblivious grown-ups, a child left to wander alone, a talking animal. But that was where the similarities ended.
Firstly, the lead character, Coraline, is a very unique child. I have never read a middle grade that has a character with her personality before . She’s neither timid nor bubbly, and I appreciated the equally refreshing and disconcerting way in which she saw the world. She also kept making observations or having small self-reflection moments that made her seem more mature than her age. She’s brave, independent and surprisingly shrewd, and that’s why I liked her character very much.
I don't want whatever I want. Nobody does. Not really. What kind of fun would it be if I just got everything I ever wanted just like that, and it didn't mean anything? What then?
Apart from Coraline, I thought the other characters were also developed in very interesting and odd ways. Think Roald Dahl books, where the characters seem too quirky to be true. I felt that each character was equal parts weird and fascinating. Throughout the book, Coraline faces almost all the different characters in a one-on-one sort of setting, and I liked how each interaction was written distinctly.
Speaking of the writing, it was very atmospheric. The details of setting, events and characters were described quite simplistically, in a child’s voice, yet every scene created a mood that contributed to the eeriness of the story. The use of imagery was effective and powerful.
The main flaw of the book, in my opinion, would be the overall plot of the story. I did not really enjoy it because I did not really understand where it was going. I felt that the plot jumped from scene to scene without warning, especially when Coraline was “on the other side”, and I wished that the details could’ve been fleshed out a bit more thoroughly. Although, this could be because the story is written in the style of a children’s book, which does have a relatively faster pace.
Nevertheless, I found myself constantly questioning why certain things happened the way they did, and why the plot progression didn’t always exactly make sense. Unlike a light and breezy children’s book, this story had slightly more depth and a relatively mature tone. The story had elements of fantasy that were very crucial to the plot. Yet, these weren’t very well explained. These elements seemed underdeveloped, and things happened just because they could.
Did I like the story? Perhaps, this is a book I would have enjoyed more if it had been one of my childhood reads. This book is meant to be experienced–it is atmospheric and engaging. However, the very evident lack of logic in many parts of the story hindered me from enjoying the book more than I did. So I guess, no, I didn’t really love it, but I can see why many people do. Overall, I would recommend Coraline to younger readers, and those who are reading to experience and not analyse.
“We COULD be rare specimens of an exotic breed of dancing African elephants, but we're not. At least, I'M not.”
Reviewed by: S.R. Scribbles (1st reading)
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