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  • The Ocean at the End of the Lane

  • By: Neil Gaiman
  • Narrated by: Neil Gaiman
  • Length: 5 hrs and 43 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (689 ratings)

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The Ocean at the End of the Lane

By: Neil Gaiman
Narrated by: Neil Gaiman
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Publisher's Summary

The celebrated modern classic from the number one best-selling writer.

THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD 'BOOK OF THE YEAR'

AN ACCLAIMED WEST END THEATRE PRODUCTION

This is what he remembers, as he sits by the ocean at the end of the lane:

A dead man on the back seat of the car and warm milk at the farmhouse.

An ancient little girl and an old woman who saw the moon being made.

A beautiful housekeeper with a monstrous smile.

And dark forces woken that were best left undisturbed.

They are memories hard to believe, waiting at the edges of things. The recollections of a man who thought he was lost but is now, perhaps, remembering a time when he was saved.... 

NEIL GAIMAN.

WITH STORIES COME POSSIBILITIES.

©2013 Neil Gaiman (P)2013 Headline Digital

Critic Reviews

"Neil Gaiman's entire body of work is a feat of elegant sorcery. He writes with such assurance and originality that the reader has no choice but to surrender to a waking dream," (Armistead Maupin) 

"Some books just swallow you up, heart and soul." (Joanne Harris) 

"Summons both the powerlessness and wonder of childhood, and the complicated landscape of memory and forgetting." (Guardian

What listeners say about The Ocean at the End of the Lane

Average Customer Ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Into the Ocean!

This is a great read and I highly recommend it to you. It is compellingly authentic because the writer has put bits of himself into it and it is easy to tell which bits; they resonate so strongly. His style of narration is engaging and unpretentious, like a funny friend telling you a story. There is lots of magic and plenty of scary bits but for me what Gaiman does best is illuminate human relationships and help you to see why people do the things they do. What I liked most about this story is that it made me feel that it was ok, after all, to prefer reading a book to going to a party. If you read the novel you will see what I mean.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Magical and imaginative!

I love stories that aren't linear or seem offbeat! Neil Gaiman plunged me in to a truly captivating world of weird and wonderful. The creatures I found imaginative and terrorfying and Letty was such a beautiful enigma to our little protagonist's seven year old mind. I loved the wonder and discovery of the journey! And having Neil Gaiman narrate his own work was a treat to the ears!

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Disturbing, fascinating, and brilliant.

An excellent book read very well by its author. Very disturbing in some parts, charming in others, with an easily relatable protagonist. Loved it.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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Love it!

What made the experience of listening to The Ocean at the End of the Lane the most enjoyable?

Everything, it was like being a child again recounting a tale. I loved it

What does Neil Gaiman bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Neil is such a grant narrator, its like he is recounting something that just happened to him. FANTASTIC

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes I pretty much did listen to it in one sitting.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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Short and sweet

I really enjoyed this book.. as I do all of Neil Gaiman’s books (all that I have read/listened to so far at least) but when you listen to audiobooks as much as I do and you only get 1 credit a month. It is a little disappointing that after 3 days I had finished this 5 hour short audiobook and I now have to wait 28 days till I can get another book.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Couldn’t stop listening

Loved this. I felt like a child again, listening to an amazing fairytale that was both magical, yet gave me anxiety as I worried about the fate of the characters.

Kept me engaged for the entire book.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Beautiful Beautiful Beautiful.

Beautiful Beautiful Beautiful Beautiful Beautiful Beautiful Beautiful Beautiful Beautiful Beautiful Beautiful Beautiful Beautiful Beautiful Beautiful !
Sigh.
There is nothing else to say about this beautiful book.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Beautiful constructed story, great narration

Neil Gaiman narrates this wonderful fantasy book. His performance is fantastic. He could read a shopping list and it would sound amazing. I loved the story and it stuck with for several months after I listened to the book. Highly recommend.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Beautiful story about life, trust & friendship

If you could sum up The Ocean at the End of the Lane in three words, what would they be?

Metaphor for life

Who was your favorite character and why?

Lettie because of her desire to help and the friendship she offered

Which character – as performed by Neil Gaiman – was your favourite?

Old Mrs Hemstock

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Yes, made me consider what I would be willing to sacrifice for those who are important to me

Any additional comments?

Enjoyable and well written.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

A nice story, but certainly not his best

I enjoyed that Gaiman narrated this himself, and I see the sentiment in the story. Though I struggled to stay captivated, I wonder if I had more opportunity to digest it if I was reading. I’m looking to listen to Neverwhere instead

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