The Ocean at the End of the Lane

"She's been given to her ocean. One day, in it's own time, the ocean will give her back."

This was the first book that I have ever read by Neil Gaiman, and it reads like a fairy tale. It was fantastic. The book opens with a man reminiscing back to his childhood. He remembers all of the terror and fear he endured when he was just seven years old. The mysterious and magical, Lettie Hempstock, befriends the boy and completely changes his life. she and her family taught him that no one is what they appear on the outside. There is always more to people than we know. 

"Nobody actually looks like what they really are on the inside. You don't. I don't. People are much more complicate than that. It's true of everybody."

Lettie, her mother, and grandmother truly made this book. They are my favorite female characters in any of my recent reads. All three of them were strong, caring, and independent women. There were no men around to help them and they seemed to prefer it that way. The Hempstocks were able to see a different side of life than most. 

"So you used to know everything?"

"Everybody did. I told you. It's nothing special, knowing how things work. And you really do have to give it all up if you want to play." 

I loved the relationship between Lettie and the boy. They became instant friends, it was very endearing. The boy put all of his trust into what Lettie told him and was never frightened or judgmental by what she could do. This book, while dark at times, shows you the beautiful innocence of childhood and that not everything is as it appears.