tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post7762586611440747023..comments2024-03-15T09:26:02.796-05:00Comments on PROJECT MAYHEM: First Page Analysis: The Graveyard Book, by Neil GaimanProject Mayhemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05154342399869089664noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-58700911525512359472012-05-23T00:56:25.216-05:002012-05-23T00:56:25.216-05:00I'm sorry, but once I read, "I would stil...I'm sorry, but once I read, "I would still argue that this is one of the better first pages in modern literature," the hater in me sprung out. My first gut reaction was to compare it to my all-time favorite book, The God of Small Things by Roy Arundhati. For me, the title of "better first pages in modern literature" including the title of "ONE of the best books of modern literature" belongs to that novel.<br /><br />This is very unfortunate because my mind began to nitpick things I didn't like about those first 200 words. I'm sorry for being a party pooper. I'm so emotionally affected by language that it can actually ruin things for me.<br /><br />Of course, it took me 10 minutes after reading the post to realize that you mentioned this was a middle grade book. Obviously, The Graveyard Book is not comparable to something written for adults. I'm not saying MG and YA books will never compare to the more "adult genre," but that they will obviously be written so differently that comparisons are impossible. <br /><br />In that case, then yes that opening is fantastic! After reading your reply to Samantha Jean, it becomes funny - in that funny way you recall a distantly embarrassing memory - when your own self-contemplation reveals to you how subjective your reactions are. <br /><br />By the way, I would love for you to analyze/review the MG novel, Green Angel by Alice Hoffman. I read it in 5th grade but haven't since. It's a beautiful, post-apocalyptic novel, though you won't know it for quite some time.Leilahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04490635107983302531noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-56231073993110431582012-05-21T05:04:37.306-05:002012-05-21T05:04:37.306-05:00Well that certainly seems odd to me, but I think i...Well that certainly seems odd to me, but I think it just proves how subjective it all is. Not everything is for everyone. Thanks for your honesty, Samantha.Matthew MacNishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03264738483763244969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-35526929734623004922012-05-21T04:20:25.559-05:002012-05-21T04:20:25.559-05:00I'm going to be the black sheep here...
My 2n...I'm going to be the black sheep here...<br /><br />My 2nd grade son had heard from his friends that this was a great book and I'd heard of Gaiman before (hadn't read any of his work yet though), so when he saw it at the library, I borrowed it for him. He read the book and said it was okay, but he didn't really like it...said it was too weird for him. I was surprised. I'd heard so many great/amazing things about Gaiman. I decided to read it, too, and talk to my son about what he did/didn't like about it.<br /><br />I must agree, the first few pages are very intriguing. They hooked me (a mostly YA and fantasy lover) and drew me in to the story. In my opinion, it seemed a bit dark at the beginning for its target audience, but I was okay with that...after all, my kids play Halo. But then, somewhere near the middle, I lost interest in the story. This book is actually one of the rare few that I started and have never finished. I just couldn't find it in me to connect and care about Nobody.<br /><br />I've read/watched/listened to other things created by Gaiman since my attempt at The Graveyard Book and have enjoyed them, so maybe one day I'll go back and try again.Samantha Jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02193467123499224688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-45367221070831087822012-05-18T22:40:53.884-05:002012-05-18T22:40:53.884-05:00Thanks, Mina!Thanks, Mina!Matthew MacNishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03264738483763244969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-52695408633848679252012-05-18T13:57:59.180-05:002012-05-18T13:57:59.180-05:00That opening does rock. And so does Neil. I read...That opening does rock. And so does Neil. I read the Graveyard Book recently and enjoyed it. I remember in the beginning feeling the eeriness, the peril and the concern for the babe. Great post.Mina Burrowshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14483363743530076604noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-52049775264376776512012-05-18T13:31:21.133-05:002012-05-18T13:31:21.133-05:00It does hint at a lot of gruesome darkness in the ...It does hint at a lot of gruesome darkness in the beginning, but the book is actually fun, light-hearted, and quite funny at times. It's a bit like a MG Beetlejuice.Matthew MacNishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03264738483763244969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-86801528067645066142012-05-18T13:27:05.848-05:002012-05-18T13:27:05.848-05:00I think the writing coupled with the illustration ...I think the writing coupled with the illustration is pretty brilliant. I'm not sure if it would be as dramatic to have the knife leading the way without the black and white image. <br /><br />The neurotic mom in me thinks the gruesome factor is too high for my taste, but it has a Roald Dahl-ishness that's appealing.Marissa Burthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13079821721448782710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-13219247219556728542012-05-18T13:17:51.119-05:002012-05-18T13:17:51.119-05:00Well... that's what they want you to think. :P...Well... that's what they want you to think. :P<br /><br />You did see MirrorMask, right?Andrew Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-55152078420287336732012-05-18T13:17:06.012-05:002012-05-18T13:17:06.012-05:00The Sleer has taken care of the man Jack.The Sleer has taken care of the man Jack.Matthew MacNishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03264738483763244969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-71468029408159787012012-05-18T13:16:35.590-05:002012-05-18T13:16:35.590-05:00I don't think it's a spoiler to say that t...I don't think it's a spoiler to say that the baby is the protagonist, who clearly escapes alive. It's not a spoiler, because it happens in the first 10 pages, maybe less.Matthew MacNishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03264738483763244969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-44171584850315298832012-05-18T13:14:54.968-05:002012-05-18T13:14:54.968-05:00I bought this for my teen, read those very same fi...I bought this for my teen, read those very same first paras and, although I was rocked by the writing, couldn't read further. My Squeamish-O-Meter is set at a very high setting. If you can assure me that baby doesn't get carved up too, I'll give it a second chance. (And if this constitutes a spoiler, e-mail me rather than do a blog comment reveal.)Michael G-Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07947421844294471304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-7276014116852888622012-05-18T13:09:39.043-05:002012-05-18T13:09:39.043-05:00Oh, oops! I forgot! No one was supposed to tell yo...Oh, oops! I forgot! No one was supposed to tell you! Darn! Now I have to send Jack for you, because you know!<br /><br />Yeah, the BBC turned Neverwhere into a series. I think you can stream it on Netflix. Or, at least, rent it.Andrew Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-56344122970442101232012-05-18T13:05:37.660-05:002012-05-18T13:05:37.660-05:00WHAT!? How have I not heard of this?WHAT!? How have I not heard of this?Matthew MacNishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03264738483763244969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-12926435170602033092012-05-18T13:04:24.922-05:002012-05-18T13:04:24.922-05:00I think Neverwhere is the only one I haven't r...I think Neverwhere is the only one I haven't read, but I did see the BBC show.Andrew Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-40887607671356303712012-05-18T13:01:57.254-05:002012-05-18T13:01:57.254-05:00My VERY Favorite is probably Neverwhere, but this ...My VERY Favorite is probably Neverwhere, but this one is very close.Matthew MacNishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03264738483763244969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-17213832059857358892012-05-18T12:58:08.412-05:002012-05-18T12:58:08.412-05:00That's my favorite Gaiman book. Well, except, ...That's my favorite Gaiman book. Well, except, maybe, for Good Omens, but he didn't write that one all by himself. At any rate, I love The Graveyard Book. Just... all of it. Gaiman has been the biggest influence on my Tib stuff that I'm working on, right now.Andrew Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-49604976391886445692012-05-18T12:06:11.522-05:002012-05-18T12:06:11.522-05:00It is, in this case!It is, in this case!Matthew MacNishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03264738483763244969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-37562410083827376572012-05-18T12:01:25.336-05:002012-05-18T12:01:25.336-05:00Haven't read it, but will now! that gave me th...Haven't read it, but will now! that gave me the heebie jeebies right up front. (The good kind) First sentences, first pages, and first chapters are definitely the crucial set up points. Then you pray the rest of the book is as good as the lead in :)Cassie Maehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17706774393186819619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-63645557031461435362012-05-18T11:43:04.917-05:002012-05-18T11:43:04.917-05:00That is cool news, isn't it?That is cool news, isn't it?Matthew MacNishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03264738483763244969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-84501824555346890162012-05-18T11:39:50.064-05:002012-05-18T11:39:50.064-05:00Another Graveyard Book and Neil Gaiman fan here! H...Another Graveyard Book and Neil Gaiman fan here! He is such an incredibly creative and gifted writer. I can't wait to check out the audio version. Thanks, Eden!Suzie F.https://www.blogger.com/profile/09560250678212373878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-6035330998281277402012-05-18T11:33:36.568-05:002012-05-18T11:33:36.568-05:00I NEVER read books in a single day, because my lif...I NEVER read books in a single day, because my life is too busy, but I did read this one in like 3.Matthew MacNishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03264738483763244969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-60111774131144894132012-05-18T11:31:31.579-05:002012-05-18T11:31:31.579-05:00I LOVED this book. I sat down, started reading it ...I LOVED this book. I sat down, started reading it and finished it in a day. The whole Jungle Book in a graveyard thing was so, so cool! And I agree, amazing opening.Johanna Garthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15515478890074610814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-88727488645389259322012-05-18T11:30:10.744-05:002012-05-18T11:30:10.744-05:00I did not know all of that, but I do oh so love th...I did not know all of that, but I do oh so love this book. I will definitely have to check out the audio, because Neil has a wonderful voice!Matthew MacNishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03264738483763244969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-24026392737186515592012-05-18T11:28:25.396-05:002012-05-18T11:28:25.396-05:00thanks so much for bringing attention to this less...thanks so much for bringing attention to this lesser known NG book, Matthew. This is a fantastic book. Totally unique. I read an introduction by NG in which he talked about what it means to be a good parent, raising strong independent children. It means eventually your children won't need you anymore.This is part of the story, in its strange ghostly way. He shows it in such a poetically moving moment it still brings tears to my eyes. He said it took 25 years to write it. The book is great. AND, if anyone likes listening, there is an audio version that Neil Gaiman reads himself. AMAZINGEden Unger Bowditchhttp://www.younginventorsguild.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-85871966298539449132012-05-18T10:54:37.651-05:002012-05-18T10:54:37.651-05:00Agreed! The unexpectedness is one of the biggest s...Agreed! The unexpectedness is one of the biggest strengths.Matthew MacNishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03264738483763244969noreply@blogger.com