I think I have re-read Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book more times than just about any other book. I read it myself. I read it to my three boys as a read-aloud (at appropriate ages), and then I read it myself again. There is something about the story and the writing, and the mystery of Nobody Owens’ story, that keeps pulling me in, and I am not much a book re-reader.
I knew there were graphic novel versions of The Graveyard Book out there, but I had forgotten about them until I stumbled into the two books the other day in the library, and quickly scooped them up for summer reading. I was not disappointed, as the graphic novel versions not only remain quite faithful to Gaiman’s story but also move the story in a very visual direction with the power of illustration and graphic novel format.
There are a few different illustrators in the two-book series, so I had a slight jarring feeling going from one section to the next at times, but it did not take away from my enjoyment as a reader. There is always that sense of someone else’s artwork taking over what you had imagined, and I found some elements of that as I read the graphic stories — that’s now how I imagined the witch, or the Sleer, or even Silas.
Still, I was deep in The Graveyard Book again and for that, I am always grateful.
Peace (in places unknown),
Kevin
PS — check out this video by Gaiman’s wife, Amanda Palmer, about Gaiman in dream mode:
We have the novel in our house, which has been devoured by both my (older) teen sons. I haven’t read it, but given this review, need to dig it out! I love Gaiman, but have not read all his works. Coraline is another one I need to get to.