Author: Neil Gaiman
Pages: 192
Published: July 29th 2014 by HarperCollins
Source: Library
Links: goodreads
The first volume of a glorious two-volume, four-color graphic novel adaptation of Neil Gaiman's #1 New York Times bestselling and Newbery Medal-winning novel The Graveyard Book, adapted by P. Craig Russell and illustrated by an extraordinary team of renowned artists. Inventive, chilling, and filled with wonder, Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book reaches new heights in this stunning adaptation. Artists Kevin Nowlan, P. Craig Russell, Tony Harris, Scott Hampton, Galen Showman, Jill Thompson, and Stephen B. Scott lend their own signature styles to create an imaginatively diverse and yet cohesive interpretation of Neil Gaiman's luminous novel. Volume One contains Chapter One through the Interlude, while Volume Two will include Chapter Six to the end.I really enjoyed reading Neil Gaiman's novel The Graveyard Book. I was blown away with how good it was and am so glad I picked it up and read it. I found out a while back that there was going to be a graphic novel series I was pretty excited about it. I never picked it up though until recently when I starting reading great reviews about it. The artwork is pretty amazing. There are several illustrators throughout the graphic novel one for each chapter. The story is about a child whose family is murdered in the middle of the night when luckily the child wanders into the graveyard. While there the ghost of his mother appears to the ghosts in the graveyard and begs them to take care of her son. The rest of the story is about the many adventures Nobody (the name the ghosts give the child) has in the graveyard and the friends he makes there. Really it is heart warming mixed with spookiness.
It's been a while since I read the book so the story was kind of new and fresh to me. I am so glad that I am reading this book basically when both graphic novels are being released. I have volume 2 on hold at the library already. What I hope that readers of the graphic novels will do is read this and then go on to read the actual novel. This graphic novel was just perfect enough for adults to love the story even though it is marketed as a young adult book.
To take The Graveyard Book and make it visually stunning is quite a feet. I really enjoyed it and look forward to the next book. The graphic novel really does follow pretty close to the novel so there is a treat for readers too! If you love the supernatural this one is for you!!
The Crystal Ball says:
Sun is shinning!!! Great day to go outside and read this book.
Oh my - this looks absolutely beautiful. Can't wait to pick it up! I've never read the book, but when P. Craig Russell (not to mention Jill Thompson and everyone else) and Neil Gaiman get together, magical things happen.
ReplyDeleteI remember the announcement that these were coming. I'm glad it lived up to your expectations! I haven't read the original novel yet, but that's going to change this year. We gave our daughter 'Robin' the audiobook version for Christmas - it is full-cast, and the voices include Neil Gaiman and Derek Jacobi, both of whom she and I love, so of course we had to get it! Anyway, when she's done, I'll listen to it. :-)
ReplyDeleteI just read a graphic novel and Neil Gaiman is on my list of authors I'm really hoping to get to this year. This sound like a great mix of the story and the format. I'll have to look for this one!
ReplyDeleteOh I didn't know this was being made into a graphic novel! I read the book years ago and loved it <3
ReplyDeleteI loved The Graveyard Book, and I've wondering how the graphic novel is, so I'm really glad to read your review. I'm so happy that you liked it! Thanks for the great info, as well as for making me realize that I should put in a library request. :)
ReplyDeleteI've never read the book. I think I've read a short story in a Wizard collection, but that's about it. I may have to check the graphic novel out, especially since the cover is absolutely gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteThis is so cool!!! I read the book and really liked it. I'm going to have to check my library to see if they have it. Loved your review and thank you so much for finding this.
ReplyDeleteIt looks absolutely great, I need to read this - and ask my library to buy it !
ReplyDeleteI haven't read this book yet, but I do want too! I'd like to read it first and then check out the graphic novel.
ReplyDelete-lauren
www.shootingstarsmag.blogspot.com
I need to read this. I loved The Graveyard Book - it must be so stunning in graphic novel format!
ReplyDeleteThis is so going to be the year I read this and the novel!
ReplyDeleteI still have not read anything by Neil Gaiman! This sounds really good to me!
ReplyDeleteI didn't know there was a second one! I loved the first one.
ReplyDeleteThey did an amazing job on adapting the book into a graphic novel. I loved the scene and character designs! I wish they would have made it one big book instead of two.
ReplyDeleteI liked the novel and I think it would be fun to see the characters in picture. Very fun!
ReplyDeleteI am pretty sure I have The Graveyard book on my shelves.... I really need to read it, and this! What a great review!
ReplyDeleteOwn this one but I haven't had a chance to read it! SO need to!
ReplyDeleteOhh, there is a The Graveyard Book graphic novel (series?)!! I loved the book and wow this really looks stunning. *wants*
ReplyDeleteMAGIC. I don't think you need to read the novel to enjoy the graphic novel. Both are great. I find that I love Neil Gaiman sometimes and other times I am like Eh... so this was really fun to read since I love Gaiman.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to get my hands on Volume 2 of these. I almost wish that there was a whole graphic novel series... stories about what Nobody does in the graveyard. That would be so interesting to me. I haven't heard of Robin... I am going to check it out now.
ReplyDeleteIf you like graphic novels then this is for you!!! I don't really care for graphic novels that are based off books but this is a really good one. I thought it was just wonderful. Can't wait to see what you think about it.
ReplyDeleteSorry - Robin is the online name I use for our daughter. I realize now that the way I wrote the sentence, it looks like an audiobook. Oops! What I meant was we gave her The Graveyard Book in audiobook format. :-)
ReplyDeleteI am surprised it took me so long to read it! At least now that I've read the first one the second one is already out and has been published. So no waiting.. that is always a good thing when it comes to books.
ReplyDeleteI was so glad that my library had already purchased it. I didn't even have to request it. So happy!
ReplyDeleteYeah!! The Graveyard Book novel was just so amazing. A story I am so glad that I read. So when this became a graphic novel I was a little skeptical. But it turned out to be just as good as the novel. Really I recommend you read it.
ReplyDeleteOhhhhh!!
ReplyDeleteI found out about it becoming a graphic novel from other bloggers. I am glad I found out because I ended up really enjoying it.
ReplyDeleteI just love the art work in this book. Especially the artist who does the cover. The way he draws the vampire is just magical.
ReplyDeleteI know you would like it... it seems like it would be your style of book.
ReplyDeleteYou know... I like Gaiman sometimes and then other times I don't. It's like I am seriously in the middle of his books. I think maybe I've read 6.. LOVED 3 of them... Disliked the other 3. I just don't know what to think of him.
ReplyDeleteYou will like it.. it is worth moving it up your TBR pile.
ReplyDeleteI do think you would like it ... it is totally your style.
ReplyDeleteThere are two books in the series and seriously took me no time at all to read. So you would only need one afternoon and boom! You'd be done.
ReplyDeleteIt was pretty stunning. I did want the illustrator I liked the best to have illustrated the whole book.. but it was quite enjoyable to see all kinds of different artists.
ReplyDeleteIt might've been your blog that I first saw this on! I agree about just making it one big book, I am sure this was a money maker to split it in two.
ReplyDeleteI would prefer to go in that order too... it's like books and movies. I like to read the book first and THEN watch the movie.
ReplyDeleteSo fun!! To see the characters come to life, especially the ghosts.
ReplyDeleteYes... the second one finishes the story. If you remember this ones ends with the stranger who is trying to find Nobody getting a trail to find him.
ReplyDeleteI have this graphic novel, I'm just waiting for the right time to read it! *-*
ReplyDeletePs. I have a blog as well, if you want to stop by I'd appreciate it so much! It's both in Italian and in English :3 -> http://frannieinthepages.blogspot.com/
Oooh, didn't know about this graphic novel! I loved the book so it's going on my TBR.
ReplyDeleteI wish I knew two languages!
ReplyDeleteI am so glad that I could let more people know about this book. It's super good.
ReplyDeleteI guess I’m pretty surprised that I like The Graveyard Book so much, because I don’t like paranormal/supernatural and there is a spooky element, and I usually don’t deal with that too well, but I just love the story. If it was written as a YA or Adult novel I mayn’t have liked it, but the original being MC I guess is toned down enough to not totally send me into jitters! I did enjoy the GN, though not all of the artists portrayed things at all how I had imagined them- I think it’s so original and neat that they got so many artists in, though, that really gave it another level of enjoyment for me.
ReplyDeleteI’m glad you liked this so much, Angela! Have you read the second yet? I’m trying to find a copy somewhere- hopefully my library has it, too!
Gaiman gives distinct
ReplyDeleteaccents/speech patterns to ghosts (based on time period when living) and
to other creatures. The routine insertion of headstone dates and
epitaphs when thinking about people was an absolute delight to hear.
Nadia
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