'The Graveyard Book', reviewed by Michaela Hine

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The Graveyard Book

Reviewed by Michaela Hine

The Graveyard Book is an imaginative and elaborate novel written by Neil Gaiman. It starts with a man, Jack, entering a house in which sleeps a family of four. It is unknown why he does it, but viciously the man murders the father, mother and eight-year old daughter. Luckily, the infant of the family escapes and finds his way to a graveyard where he is then protected by the ghosts.

The story then progresses, telling of the boy’s upbringing and weird lifestyle. He is named Bod, short for Nobody. This name is very effective in the book because when choosing the name, several ghosts protest the boy resembles people they know, so he should have their name. But Mrs Owens, the ghost who decides to be the boy’s guardian, says this:

‘”He looks like nobody but himself,’ said Mrs Owens, firmly. ‘He looks like nobody.”

“Then Nobody it is,’ said Silas. “Nobody Owens.”’

This is name gives comic effect later in the book when Bod is arrested:

‘"What’s your name?” asked the smaller policeman. He had a ginger moustache.

“Nobody,” said Bod. Then, “Ow,” because the ginger policeman had taken Bod’s ear between finger and thumb, and had given it a hard squeeze. “Don’t give me that,” said the policeman. “Just answer the questions politely. Right?”

I didn’t really like this novel because it didn’t have much of an interesting plot. The concept of a family being murdered but the child escaping was a good start, but after that Gaiman failed to lead it into a good story. I found it very dull throughout and only at times was I gripped into reading on.

For this, I give it 6/10.