I'm not after 'all the things I want'! No one is. I devoured Coraline, but I could swear I've tasted other Neil Gaiman books before.

I recently got into Neil Gaiman's works, but my first book, A History with the Graveyard, didn't quite live up to my expectations. So, I decided to read one of his cult classics to see if I'd keep reading his works or move on. Between American Gods and Coraline, I chose Coraline, especially since I love scary fairy tales.

Coraline is a children's novella written by English fantasy author Neil Gaiman in 2002. It was first published in Russian in 2005. The book has won several prestigious awards, including the Nebula Award for Best Novella, the Hugo Award for Best Novella, the Bram Stoker Award for Young Readers, and the Locus Award for Best Young Adult Novel.

Coraline has received numerous literary awards, was adapted into an animated film, and has a plethora of positive reviews from readers.

I found it in a free online library. The price varies, but I got it for 219 rubles and up, depending on the publisher and platform. The cheapest version I found was on Wildberries from AST publisher.

The novella was written in 2002, and it appeared on the Russian market in 2005. That's why many kids from the 90s know Coraline since childhood. Considering the animated film Coraline in the Land of Nightmares. The New Home released in 2009, even those who haven't read the novella are familiar with Coraline.

What do you do when you've just moved into a new home, it's raining and foggy outside, and your parents are always busy? You go exploring, just like young Coraline does when she meets some very strange neighbors and an independent black cat, and then discovers a locked door that leads to... nowhere? Or does it? Behind this door lies a whole world! A world where everything is exactly the same, yet completely different. A world where you'll find delicious food and beautiful clothes, but most importantly, a mom and dad who are just as attentive and caring as yours, but with skin as white as paper, fingers that are too long and nervous, and eyes that are just round buttons. But the thought of staying with them forever is just too terrifying...

I'll be honest; the summary perfectly matches the content of the book, but just like with A History with the Graveyard, I'd call it more 'tasty' than the actual story.

It's weird, but whenever I read Gaiman, I always feel like something's missing, whether it's the atmosphere or the logic of the plot. Speaking of which...

The plot of Coraline may not be new, but it's quite interesting. It's a scary story about a lonely girl who, having moved into a new home, is neglected by her parents and, after discovering an old door, enters an 'alternative' reality where she meets variations of her parents and neighbors, only to find herself in a world filled with ugly monsters.

I have to admit, the 'parallel' world didn't quite make sense to me. I never figured out what kind of creature created it or what its purpose was, and how it lured the main character in.

Unlike 'The Graveyard Story', there was some semblance of logic, which is why I liked 'Coraline' more.

The main character is a girl named Coraline, who's recently moved to a new house with her parents. Feeling bored, she explores her new surroundings, meets the neighbors, and tries to get her parents' attention.

Many readers said they felt sorry for Coraline because she seemed so lonely. I didn't feel that way. For a kid who's been moved to a new place, she adapted pretty well. And her relationships with her parents are actually pretty good, as seen in the warm story about her dad and his osak memories.

That's why I found her behavior when meeting the 'other mom' a bit illogical.

I couldn't imagine a kid aged 7-10 (I got the impression Coraline was around that age) with a healthy psyche, calmly sitting down for dinner and chatting with a pale, clawed creature with buttons for eyes, even if it looked like her mom.The army of rats in her bedroom, with their big teeth and scary appearance, would likely scare any kid off.

I'd believe that the kid would freak out and run away, screaming, and then need therapy to overcome their fear, rather than calmly chatting and playing with them.

Coraline's parents (her dad and mom). Honestly, I think readers demonize them too much. They're just ordinary people trying to settle into their new home. Yes, they're busy with work and can't spend too much time with their kid, but Coraline doesn't look abandoned. They do interact with her!

The neighbors. There's this weird old man and two sweet old actresses.

Honestly, the characters are quite strange. Firstly, considering their statements and gifts, it seems they know about the world outside. But I'm not sure how or why.

Secondly, I was surprised by their reaction when the kid told them they'd been alone for several days.

They seem to be helping the main character, but also brushing her off, just like the parents. If we consider this interaction between kids and adults as a literary device to show the hypocrisy of the adult world and its reflection in the strange world outside, it's an interesting technique. However, I think it's not suitable for kids and young adults, and the book is marketed as children's literature.

Monsters from an alternate world. A different dad, a different mom, and all that comes with it.

I still can't figure out what kind of monster was living behind the door in the other world. Where did they come from? What's the main antagonist's goal?Overall, they're all different kinds of scary, pitiful, and annoying, but completely inexplicable...

The cat.

The most logical, wise, and well-rounded character. Gaiman really nailed the cat's charm and liveliness. His appearances are always justified, and the thoughts he expresses are smart and on point.

In the end, there's definitely something we can learn from cats.Gaiman's writing is easy to follow. It took me just a couple of hours to read the novella, and I couldn't say it was a waste of time. Despite being a children's book, some of the ideas expressed in it are quite mature.

The dialogue above (I've only included a snippet to avoid spoilers) is, in my opinion, the strongest part of the book.So, it's Gaiman's way of presenting the material that really impresses me. Just the important stuff!

On one hand, 'Coraline' seemed more thought-out and deep than 'The Graveyard Book', which I read earlier. The plot is way more engaging, the pacing is better, there are fewer logical holes, and the characters are more well-rounded...

But, just like with 'The Graveyard Book', I have a feeling of déjà vu. I mean, I've seen these mirror-image twins before in books like 'The Looking Glass Wars' and 'The Invisible Library' by the master of horror, Robert Silverberg. The former was published in 1993, the latter in 1999, while 'Coraline' came out in 2002. Although Gaiman claims to have written it 10 years prior.

However, there's something in 'Coraline' (specifically, the idea of the curved, mirror-like, or door-like world) that reminds me of 'The Kingdom of the Fractured Mirror' by Vitaly Gubarev, published way back in 1951. And, of course, there's the influence of Lewis Carroll's 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' and 'Through the Looking-Glass'. The cat's character, in particular, is a clear nod to those classics.

Given all this, when I'm reading Gaiman, I get this feeling of 'I've seen this before'. It's like his characters and world are secondary. I mean, I can still believe he didn't read Gubarev, but I highly doubt he's not familiar with Carroll and Silverberg's works!

Considering everything I've said, I'd give 'Coraline' 3.5 stars (I round up to 4 in favor of the author) and recommend it for those interested in Gaiman's work. For myself, I've made the conclusion that I won't be returning to his books anytime soon.

Plus:

- easy language;

- allegories;

- wise quotes.

Minus:

- a secondary plot;

- I was really thrown off by the main character's weird behavior.