I came across this reading list from The Guardian a couple of months ago that prompted me to start a new project where I work my way down from #100 and pick out a few recommendations along the way. I expect this project to produce between eight and twelve reading ideas over the next year, the first of these being this Neil Gaiman novel accessible for both adults and children.
The basic premise of the story is that a girl named Coraline discovers a parallel world where she is tempted by certain material incentives to exchange the essence of her soul in order to fit someone else’s outside standards. It’s one of the classic story setups and Gaiman doesn't stray too far from the sequence of events a seasoned reader will expect from the premise. The delight in the story is in the writing, a fact that helped me understand a little better why Neil Gaiman’s fans always seem more committed to their favorite author than someone who likes, say, Stephen King. To put it another way, a Neil Gaiman fan leaves no doubt about his or her loyalties, and I think I understand that a little better after reading Coraline.
The note I liked best from Coraline said that names are very important for people with no sense of self or individuality. It reminded me of a book I hadn’t thought about in decades, a sports novel of the kind I read voraciously in my
I didn’t take much else down in terms of notes from Coraline – just a few lines – but they are here if you need them.
