| Genre: Fantasy Main characters: Nobody “Bod” Owens Summary: An ancient prophecy threatens a group of people who call themselves Jacks of all Trades: when that particular boy will grow up, their organization will cease to be. Fearing the boy, the Jacks send the best killer of them all to destroy him when he was nothing but a toddler. The man Jack does what he’s told, killing the boy’s parents and his sister, but he doesn’t realize at first that the boy has chosen that particular night to escape his cradle and toddle to the graveyard nearby. When he sees that the boy is missing, the killer doesn’t hesitate to follow his scent — but to his surprise he cannot find him. The ghosts living in the graveyard have adopted the little toddler and hid him from sight. Years go by and the little Nobody Owens (named Nobody because he looked like nobody anyone ever knew — or so Silas said –, and Owens for the ghost family that took the roles of his mother and father) grew up, sheltered in the graveyard that was his home and protected by all its inhabitants. They all know that the killer of the boy’s family was still at large and still looking for him, so Nobody was not only forbidden to leave the graveyard but taught all sorts of “ghostly” tricks (like fading from sight and frightening people). Until one day when the boy realized that attack is the best defense. |
Bod is a fairly normal child, despite the out of ordinary circumstances of his upbringing. He did strike me as a bit too precocious at times (like the very night he ran away from home and into the graveyard, to name but one), but hey, what do I know about kids. He is pretty likable and I found that it was very easy for me, as I reader, to put myself in his shoes and share his adventures. He is not perfect and doesn’t always listen to his guardian, which does land him into trouble at times, but in such a way that keeps the reader rooting for him :)
The book was more like a collection of sketches than anything else. Each chapter is an episode from Bod’s life, written in such a way that they could probably be enjoyed on their own too. My absolute favorite chapter was Danse Macabre, the one about the tradition the people in that city had, that once about every 80 years there would be a night when the dead would leave their graveyard and come and dance a special dance (called the Macabray) with the living. The way Gaiman described it it had moments when it seemed like a very special time, like pure magic, and I enjoyed it a lot.
I find the whole “living in a graveyard idea” amazingly wonderful, history-wise. Getting to meet so many people belonging to different times is an experience that is bound to be interesting to say the least (of course, one cannot help but wonder how they would all get along, given the variations of the customs and of language itself over the years but that’s part of the charm :) ).
Another thing I have found interesting besides the whole ghosts thing was the fact that Death is described as a lady dressed in “a long grey dress that hung and gleamed beneath the December moon like cobwebs in the dew“, riding a huge horse. Quite friendly towards Bod, too. A pretty novel image :) Oh, and another thing I have found quite quite was how Miss Lupescu (Romanian name) calls Bod Nimini — which I’m guessing wants to be the Romanian word for “nobody” (only the correct form is “nimeni” :P).
The ending made me sad in a way (SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER !!!) because it meant the loss of magic (the loss of childhood too). There is, of course, a world of possibilities opening up in from of Bod, a world of things waiting to be discovered, and I was happy for him — but a part of me was sad because of little Bod’s loss nevertheless.
What I liked most: The idea, by far. Very original (at least for me, I have never read anything where the world of living people and the one of the dead one intermingle like that). I know the author says he took the basic idea from the Jungle Book (and recognized it myself after he mentioned it), but still, I like very much what he did with it. :)
What I liked least: The fact that we weren’t explained a bit more about what the Freedom of the Graveyard was and how it worked. I would have also liked to know more about Silas and how did he end up between living and dead (did he used to be a human once or was he a supernatural being all along?)
Recommend it? Definitely :)
Written by the same author:
American Gods
Good Omens (with Terry Pratchett)
Coraline
Snow, Glass, Apples
Stardust
Neverwhere
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I am looking forward to reading this one. You make it sounds so good! Thank you for your great review.
I agree with almost everything you’ve said! I’ve just finished reading it and I really, thoroughly enjoyed it!
I, like you, however did feel Neil could have gone into more detail about Silas and Miss Lupescu. I found myself left wanting to know what went on between them and the Jacks and how they met and what exactly it is they do; being a members of the Honour Guard. I feel these two characters could have a book all to themselves, and I for one, would definitely buy it!
Sweet review!
I totally agree about wanting to know more about Miss Lupescu too! It seems like I did not mention it in the review, but she did seem an interesting/promising character (and I too have thought there could be a book only about the Honor Guard and the Jacks). Who knows, perhaps if enough people will be curious about it (and mention it enough to reach Neil’s ears) :)
I got this as part of my Xmas haul and am very much looking forward to it!
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