A few years ago I stumbled across the book “Neverwhere” by Neil Gaiman, and have been a fan since. Alice in Wonderland seems the sweeter version of children’s fantasy literature written with drug references to mind altering trips through the looking glass, while Neverwhere is its LSD-laden cousin who shows up at family reunions only to chow down on potato salad and chocolate chip cookies.
One of my favorite books is “The Graveyard Book” by Neil. It begins with a vicious murder of Bod’s family. There are numerous supernatural beings, among them are Bod’s surrogate father Silas – someone who is neither dead nor living. The book didn’t come out and say it but I’m sure he was a vampire since he’s not out in the day and he doesn’t eat in the book. Miss Lupescu is a werewolf and a teacher for Bod. There are numerous ghosts including the Owens, a witch, children, a Roman and a poet. Among these supernatural characters, I think Gaiman presents the Witch, Liza Hempstock with a twist. She had been presented as someone Bod should stay away from, that as a witch she was dangerous and resided in the unconsecrated portion of the cemetery. The conventional representation of witches is generally that they’re ugly (wart on the nose) or enchantingly beautiful (seductress), evil, and mean-spirited. Liza can be dangerous, she shows this in her ability to help Bod escape from the pawn shop but she is never evil or mean-spirited towards him.
I feel that Gaiman presents life and death in unique ways. The graveyard is not a scary place; it’s just full of ghosts who continue their existence. For example, Mrs. Owen’s cleans their grave as was part of her duties of cleaning their home while alive. Gaiman presents each of the ghosts that Bod interacts with as someone who has something to share. This gives a living person the ability to learn from the past and if possible, not to make the same mistakes. The ghosts express that life and living it are valuable, and that once life is gone than potential has ended.
So, live life and give thanks. Enjoy the holiday!
Gaiman, Neil. “The Graveyard Book”, 2008.
One of my favorite books is “The Graveyard Book” by Neil. It begins with a vicious murder of Bod’s family. There are numerous supernatural beings, among them are Bod’s surrogate father Silas – someone who is neither dead nor living. The book didn’t come out and say it but I’m sure he was a vampire since he’s not out in the day and he doesn’t eat in the book. Miss Lupescu is a werewolf and a teacher for Bod. There are numerous ghosts including the Owens, a witch, children, a Roman and a poet. Among these supernatural characters, I think Gaiman presents the Witch, Liza Hempstock with a twist. She had been presented as someone Bod should stay away from, that as a witch she was dangerous and resided in the unconsecrated portion of the cemetery. The conventional representation of witches is generally that they’re ugly (wart on the nose) or enchantingly beautiful (seductress), evil, and mean-spirited. Liza can be dangerous, she shows this in her ability to help Bod escape from the pawn shop but she is never evil or mean-spirited towards him.
I feel that Gaiman presents life and death in unique ways. The graveyard is not a scary place; it’s just full of ghosts who continue their existence. For example, Mrs. Owen’s cleans their grave as was part of her duties of cleaning their home while alive. Gaiman presents each of the ghosts that Bod interacts with as someone who has something to share. This gives a living person the ability to learn from the past and if possible, not to make the same mistakes. The ghosts express that life and living it are valuable, and that once life is gone than potential has ended.
So, live life and give thanks. Enjoy the holiday!
Gaiman, Neil. “The Graveyard Book”, 2008.
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