Thank you for keeping up with us, it means a lot that people are reading this. Both Sophie and I feel like we're getting the hang of this, and even if we aren't it's pushing us both to read more so we've achieved something.
There is something strange about Coraline's new home. It's not the mist, or the cat that always seems to be watching her, nor the signs of danger that Miss Spink and Miss Forcible, her new neighbours, read in the tea leaves. It's the other house - the one behind the old door in the drawing room. Another mother and father with black-button eyes and papery skin are waiting for Coraline to join them there. And they want her to stay with them. For ever. She knows that if she ventures through that door, she may never come back (from Amazon).
Who chose this book and why?
Sophie: I really loved this film and the style, and while I knew it was a book I never had much interest in reading it cause I'd enjoyed the movie so much and my flatmate had told me the book was very creepy, creepier than th efilm, and I don't handle those genres well. But my curiosity won and I book the book, where it has sat in my room for about two years. I'd recently gone on a LAIKA film marathan and it was in my head, calling to me. When Rachel asked for a book recommendation for our book club, I knew it was Coraline's time.
Rachel: I had heard similar things, and the movie had really freaked me out. I don't do well with things in houses, but as Sophie sold it so well, we went with it.
What did you like best?
S: I think the story was good; it was imaginative and plays a lot on the curiosity and mindset of children.
R: I liked the writing style too. It felt almost lyrical, everything flowed, every sentence described something.
What did you like least?
R: all I could imagine when I was reading it was the film. Not the book's fault obviously, but it was hard to imagine the world separately
S: I'm exactly the same. The book was good, but I personally enjoyed the film more because when I read I see it as a movie in my head. The film did such a good job adapting it, and adding little bits that, to me, elevated the story to another level of creepy but that's just a personal preference.
What books does this remind you of?
R: as stupid as it sounds, I stay away from books like this, even if they are written for children. I have a terribly overactive imagination and, worst of all, I can't read or watch scary things set in houses. So I've grown as a person by reading this.
S: I don't read horror or creepy things either. I'm not like Rachel, I can handle things like this, but I don't have a lot to base it off.
Which character/characters did you like best?
S: Coraline was very brave, still trying to free herself and save others even when she was scared and I think that's a great message. And the cat too, for obvious reasons.
R: the cat was my favourite character too. He was sassy.
Which ones did you not like?
S: out of the characterisation of them all I think they were all done well in their own ways. Obviously the other mother is unlikable because she's creepy and the antagonist but even then she works really well.
If it were made into a movie, who would you cast?
R: not sure. Can't think of a suitable actress for Coraline, but for mother/other mother I could imagine Natalie Dormer. She's got that psychopathic smile down.
S: for Coraline maybe someone like Elle Fanning circa 2010 but with dark hair? It's hard to imagine a live action through because I think the LAIKA animation did it so well.
Have you read any of the author's other books? How do they compare?
R: my boyfriend owns pretty much every book Neil Gaiman has ever written, and I want to read them all. Just haven't gotten round to them. I like the sound of Neil Gaiman's worlds.
S: I haven't, I spend a long time not reading despite enjoying it because it takes a lot of effort so if any book sounded like it involved more than casual reading over like a year I put it off, but now I'm a bit more into it again, maybe I'll pick one up? I've heard very good things.
What did you think of the book's length? If it's too long, what would you cut? If it's too short, what would you add?
R: it's a short story, so it wasn't really that long. A good amount happened in an appropriate amount of time.
S: it was shorter than I thought it would be. I had a little bit of an issue with the pacing but once again I think that's just because the film was set over a few more days in the more story centred parts so I was a little shocked when some scenes came so quickly in the book, but I guess that's what watching the film first does.
What do you think of the cover? Does it work? If the book has been published with different covers, which one do you like best?
R: my favourite cover is the verison illustrated by Chris Riddell. The movie tie-in is too colourful, and I don't like the style of art in the Dave McKean illustrations.
S: the one I own is the Chris Riddell one, I think it's nice without revealing too much.
Would you want to live in this world?
R: no way, I am fine being able to sleep, thank you.
S: no, I'd definitely not be very good there. In either world.
Next up in November, we will be having The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke (another of Sophie's choices). So we will see you guys then.
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