Somewhere in Britain, a man known only as “Jack” kills an unsuspecting family…
all but one of the family dies. The youngest, a toddler, slips away into the night and into a nearby graveyard where he is adopted by the ghostly inhabitants. The toddler is named Nobody Owens, raised up by Mr. and Mrs. Owens, and a mentor named Silas.
As the weeks turn to years, Nobody, “Bod”, learns the way of the graveyard. By visiting the local inhabitants, he learns to make himself fade, how to call ghouls, and even meets a real live girl! But as Bod gets older, he longs for the chance to be among the living – to experience school, and friendships. What Bod doesn’t understand is that the graveyard is where he is safe. Reluctantly, Silas helps Bod made his dreams come true, all the while knowing that “Jack” is still out there…
looking for the boy that crawled away….
all those years ago.
I started listening to this audio while in a van in La Esperanza, Honduras. When I put my ear buds in and the start-up music (above) began…. I swear my whole body tingled! The music is entitled Danse Macabre and this music actually inspires a chapter in the book where the characters both living and dead dance the Macabre. This was my first experience with Neil Gaiman and it was going to be on audio… read by none other than… Neil Gaiman.
Danse Macabre:
According to legend, “Death” appears at midnight every year on Halloween. Death calls forth the dead from their graves to dance their dance of death for him while he plays his fiddle (here represented by a solo violin). His skeletons dance for him until the rooster crows at dawn, when they must return to their graves until the next year.
The piece opens with a harp playing a single note, D, twelve times (the twelve strokes of midnight) which is accompanied by soft chords from the string section. The solo violin enters playing the tritone (or “Devil’s chord”) consisting of an A and an E-flat—in an example of scordatura tuning, the violinist’s E string has actually been tuned down to an E-flat to make this chord more biting. The main theme is heard on a solo flute, followed by a descending scale on the solo violin which is accompanied by soft chords from the string section, particularly the lower instruments of the string section, followed by the full orchestra who then joins in on the descending scale. The main theme and the scale is then heard throughout the various sections of the orchestra until it breaks to the solo violin and the harp playing the scale. The piece becomes more energetic and climaxes with the full orchestra playing very strong dynamics. Towards the end of the piece, there is another violin solo, now in modulation, which is then joined by the rest of the orchestra. The final section represents the dawn breaking (a cockerel’s crow, represented by the oboe) and the skeletons returning to their graves.
The Graveyard book is one of mystery and fantasy, dreams, and nightmares. Neil reads it in a fantastic tone that fits everything I just said in the previous sentence. Listening to this book was like living it. While it is a story about a murder, and then subsequently, a graveyard… it is a middle grade book. While that may surprise (or concern) you… don’t let it. The book is never graphic or gory… handled well as just an old-fashioned spooky story with a great paranormal twist.
My thoughts in the end… it was actually a fun experience. I will definitely look for more from Neil Gaiman.
Amazon Rating
Goodreads Review
The 2011 WHERE Are You Reading Map has been updated to include The Graveyard Book
I purchased this audio from audible.com
Book Journey 
This was my First Neil Gaiman book as well and on audio too. I then went and quickly devoured almost of of his other books both audio and book versions. He has since become one of my favorite authors.
OOH – you have inspired me to go to more audio with him 😀
He is an amazing writer and narrator. You won’t be disappointed if you do,
Thanks Zia… I will look for something else from him in the next few weeks… 😀
One of my favorite reads …. I always feel a bit sad at the end of this story…
Yeah… its not all clean cut….
I love the Danse Macabre. Such a chilling, evocative piece!
I have this one on my shelf to read, and plan to get to it over the next few weeks. I’ve only read a little bit of Gaiman before–some short stories and American Gods–but have listened to plenty of his interviews and talks. He’s definitely a showman!
I hope you enjoy this one Stephanie!
I’ve never read Neil Gaiman…although I’ve read many great reviews of his work. Glad you enjoyed this somewhat spooky “listen.”
It was a different type of cool 🙂
I started reading this review and released I knew the story. I read it as a short story as part of the book ‘Coraline and Other Stories’ (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Coraline-Other-Stories-Bloomsbury-Phantastics/dp/1408803453). I wonder if this is a more extended version then as that one was very short.
I have not read Coraline but I would guess this is a longer version of the story 😀
I got an autographed copy of this at my first BEA and mean to read it every fall and haven’t gotten to it yet. Shame on me!
OOH! Yes, take some time to read this one Kathy. I should have read it closer to Halloween 😀
I have a copy of this one at the school where I work. I enjoyed Coraline but I just haven’t made time for this one yet.
I think I may need to take a look into Coraline….
I listened to this one last month withmy children and we didn’t pay attention to who was reading it until my husband saw a Simpson’s the other night with Gaiman as a guest star and made the connection. I guess with driving and listening we were just focused on getting the right cd in, I never looked to see who was reading. It was well done. I’m pretty sure the librarian who recommended it told me it won an award.
Yes it has won a couple awards. 😀 I still need to find that SImpson episode.
I have had this in My Next Listen list at Audible for sometime. Maybe I’ll actually get it soon. Thanks for the review.
Enjoy it Martha.
So glad that you enjoyed your first Neil Gaiman book! He’s one of my favorite authors, so hope you’ll continue to read him. Plus, he’s totally crush-worthy! 😉
I have to try another for sure Terri!
I loved this one on audio, reviewed it back in 2009. I’ve since gone on to listen to more of his work and you totally should too lol. Coraline was pretty good 🙂
http://teddyree-theeclecticreader.blogspot.com/2009/05/graveyard-book-by-neil-gaiman.html
I have heard that about Coraline… that is going to be my next by him.
I love this book. I never listened to the audio version, but I am sure it is fantastic. Neil is one of my faves. I have been a fan since Sandman and Stardust (yes I am a comic geek girl). Thanks for sharing.
Sure Kelly 🙂
I’ve had this one my wishlist for a long time now. I really need to get to it.
I think you will like it Ryan.
I read this earlier in the year and loved it 🙂
what a brilliant book 🙂
It was fun to listen to it. I love it when the books are read by the authors… who better to give it the whole feel? 😀
I read this aloud to my kids last year and we all loved it! I love his reading voice. I also enjoyed Anansi Boys on audio. It’s not read by him, but the actor who reads it is perfect.
Thanks for the tip Carrie – I was just at the library looking for some more audio 🙂
I read The Graveyard book on paper, but I listened to Neil Gaiman read another of his books, Odd and the Frost Giant, and loved his voice. http://greatbooksforkidsandteens.blogspot.com/2010/01/middle-grade-review-odd-and-frost.html
Glad you liked it!
Sue
Thanks Sue 🙂