The Graveyard Book

The most common description of Neil Gaiman's "The Graveyard Book" goes something like this: "An adaptation of Kipling's "The Jungle Book" set in a graveyard." And rightfully so. The fact is, that's what the book is. But this book is so much more than that, so I'm glad we got that out of the way and can move on without much more fuss.

Here's a quick plot summary, mainly because I feel guilty analyzing the book without some type of background: The book follows the life of a young boy named Bod (short for Nobody) who, through strange circumstances which would spoil the book, ends up being raised in a graveyard. Of course, if the setting is a graveyard, then his adoptive parents must be ghosts and his guardian Silas is - well, we're not quite sure what Silas is, but it's heavily inferred that he's a vampire. Bod manages to grow up as part of both the world of the living and the world of the dead. Eventually, though, Bod's two world's collide.

Reading this book, I was amazed by the simplicity of the text itself at the surface level. It's simply enjoyable to read. The first page hooked me every subsequent page kept me engaged on multiple levels. I haven't read a "can't put it down" book like this in quite a while. I grew to love the characters and was needed to find out what happened to them next. Emotionally, there are a few touching moments - which is surprising given the novel's grim material.

Gaiman allows the reader (though Bod) to explore the world of the dead, creating his own mythology by synthesizing and adapting older paradigms. For example, it's clearly suggested that Silas is a vampire (doesn't go out during the day, technically undead, etc), but I'm not sure that the word "vampire" is ever actually used. This, then, allows Gaiman the freedom to give his characters his own twist while also grounding the story in a basic mythology. I was especially interested in the different types of graveyard haunts there are in the book, from the typical ghosts, to the undefined undead characters such as Silas and Miss Lupescu (a werewolf), to the ghouls beyond the Ghoul Gate, to the unblessed dead who - for various reasons - were buried without blessings or headstones. Each group could and could not do certain things, based on their status. Essentially, Gaiman created a class structure for the afterlife. How those classes interact, then, provides much of the entertainment of the book

In a perhaps a-typical structure, most of the novel is not driven by a single plot. Rather, it's a series of adventures connected by the protagonist and his unusual background. This model, though, allows Bod to grow as a character on his own and in his own interesting way. It's not until about halfway into the novel that the plot - how Bod came to live in the graveyard and it's implications - begins to take shape. After that, though, the novel becomes much more action driven and less character driven. Both halves, for being so different in form, manage to compliment each other masterfully.

The critical reception for the book has been (as far as I can tell) unanimously positive. And I have to agree. A few overly sensitive folks have pointed to the opening as being ultra-violent - which it is. The only defense, though, is that the violence happens off the page - we find out about the results of the violence, but there are no gruesome descriptions of harm being done. (It's similar to the famous ear-cutting sequence in "Reservoir Dogs" - everyone seems to remember an ear being removed, but a close viewing of that scene reveals that the audience never actually sees an ear being cut off.)

One critical response from a friend pointed to the ending - and whether or not Bod should have had any choice in what happens (he doesn't) - as a point of contention. I have to politely disagree, though, that Bod should have had any choice. The book is about growing-up (and I'm trying to avoid the pesky coming-of-age cliche here), and, as far as I can remember, no one had any choice in whether or not they grew up. One of the striking features of Gaiman's book is that, despite most of his characters being inhuman in form, they are incredibly human in their nature. As we grow up, we must come to terms with who we are and leave the fantasies behind. This process can be painful, and the outcome uncertain. And when we've grown attached to someone - as the reader has grown attached to Bod and his surrogate family - it can be especially challenging. But we don't have a choice, it has to be done, and we can only look to the future. That's why Bod has no choice at the end - it's not personal, it's life.

I highly, highly recommend this book. Go get it. Right now. It'll be completely worth it.