Real cats take no interest in the piddly life or death affairs of humans. I really liked the Cat, although, as much as I love cats, and the character of the Cat, I thought it was again unrealistic. I really enjoyed Coraline's intelligence and wit and perseverance and poise in the face of danger. I did really enjoy the 'Other' world and the darkness of the story. Although, that's probably what Neil was going for and I'm just too dense to see it. I thought of even going with a median age of 7. This aspect kinda took me out of the story at inopportune times, and I would find myself wishing I could be sure. Would a 5 year old have interacted with the Beldam the same way? I don't know, but that seems like the actions of an older child. Is it realistic for a 9 year old to not be able to reach the top of a fridge even standing on a chair? I guess it's possible, if she's very short, but much more realistic for a younger child.

I think knowing one way or the other would have been better, because I kept wondering whether the ease or struggle of each situation was realistic or not. The story might've said what her age was, but I don't think so. Is she meant to be a very smart 5 year old, or an average smart 9 year old? I could go both ways depending on the situation. There were times when I seriously wondered how old Coraline was meant to be. But there was just something about it that was kinda. And as usual, Neil's reading of it was great, full of wonderful characters and fantastic storytelling. I know what you're thinking, 'THREE AND A HALF STARS?! For Coraline?!!' But yes. I wish there was more of it, in a sense, since I pretty much swallowed it down in one gulp, but on the other hand, it's just right as it is. That's just tempting fate (as proved by me being a mere 5'3', after all my parents' hopes of me being very tall!).Ĭoraline's pretty short and easy to read, and wasn't even too bad to read on the screen like that.

I'm still right with Coraline in thinking it's ridiculous to buy something huge in the hopes the kid'll grow into it someday. I loved all the little comments about parents being dumb - when you're little, parents are, aren't they? It's not often a child knows better, but sometimes they do. That doesn't stop it being slightly creepy, slightly weird, and full of trademark Neil Gaiman observations about things. It is/was here, though.Ĭoraline is, I think, aimed at the youngest audience of all Gaiman's books that I've read. It's up right now as I write this, but I don't know how long for. I bought this for my sister a while ago, and always meant to read it, but in the end I ended up reading it on the HarperCollins site, when they put it up as a free browse inside thing.

Coraline chris riddell