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Exploring the rich pulp of childhood is an ongoing love of mine, particularly through literature and theatre. Gaiman takes on the nostalgia of growing up in much the same vein as Bradbury does. He plays with our emotions while attempting to keep the story light on the surface. This book looked like a children's story at the outset but turned out to be quite dark in some parts. I was surprised at its reliability and beauty. It's a book that you can read in one sitting and walk away smiling.
I remember taking long walks on our family farm land with my sister and creating stories inspired from the geography, the landscape and the animals. Gaiman appears to be doing much the same thing here in this short little exploratory narrative, which is a cross between Tuck Everlasting and Dandelion Wine, with a dash of The Langoliers. It's fun and sent me a message at a time in my life when I kind of needed one. That's the marvel of books: they often fall into your lap and call to you when they have something to say to you. This was a great way to end 2014, a year that saw me reading a lot less than I would have hoped.
Recommended for those of you who want to revisit your childhood and just play in the mystery of imagination for a few hours.