Neil Gaiman's latest release was everything I love about Gaiman. It was charming, but a little creepy- quaintly British, yet flesh and blood modern- and the illustrations (by Dave McKean) were magical. How could a black and white drawing of a cup of tea send chills down my spine? Yet McKean's steaming cup did just that, and did it for a reason.
Gaiman's storytelling was no less artful than McKean's drawing. Gaiman built a magical world with very specific rules, and those rules stayed firm throughout the tale, whether to help the protagonist, or to send him toward an almost certain death. Gaiman's skill and attention to detail make for a very satisfying read.
A note for art conisseurs- if you intend to read The Graveyard Book on the Kindle, download the free sample chapter to be sure you are satisfied with the rendition of the drawings. I found that the grey, slightly ethereal drawings as viewed on the Kindle added to the atmosphere of mystery, but some may prefer a paper copy for clearer, darker illustrations.
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