Book Title: The Ocean At The End Of The Lane by Neil Gaiman 1

Book Title: The Ocean At The End Of The Lane by  Neil Gaiman                    March 14,2014

Part 1:

Julian Barnes once said, “Memories of childhood were the dreams that stayed with you after you woke.” I strongly agree since most of us deem that what we are today is the totality of our involvements and learnings in our past. In this case, The Ocean At The End Of The Lane was a mirror of one’s memory. It was indeed an ocean, there’s more to it than meets the eye. Since the author chose not to name the main character of the novel, let me label him, The Imaginative. I acknowledge The Imaginative the way he spent his childhood.  Though he is intrapersonally intelligent in one way or another, what I mostly like in him is his appetite in reading considering his very young age. He manifested that reading gives an access to determine the clandestined and out of the box imaginations. His creative mind was his ticket to do things by his own ingeniously and effectively. His childhood was unique taking into consideration his experiences. Experiences that by some means discovered the fictous side of his childhood directing him to encounter magic, mystery, friendship and wonder.

The Imaginative is a simple boy with complex mind. I barely see little boys like him in various movies in which they were physically  free yet locked, restricted to be who they are. They are ones who knows the truth yet no ears are ready to listen with their vindications. He found the sense of being cared and protected with the Hempstock Ladies, especially with Lettie. Her oddness always comes with a reason. Knowing the fact that she presented her life to someone she isn’t responsible. Maybe, it was fate which dictated it. Momentarily, Tessie sacrificed and The Imaginative grew without remembering any detail about the Hempstock’s but I strongly agree that it’s better that The Imaginative had his childhod memories lost so he could free all the sorrows he might feel.

Conversely, The Ocean At The End Of The Lane is a story comprising one’s memory that teaches the importance of remembering (in some case) and that loss is always filled through unconditional devotion and amity. I do only have two questions. First, why on earth the kid has no name? The story could have been more significant if the narrator himself has a name. Is it to make me, the readers effectively relate? It could be the author’s style, who knows? And the other, why did the story ended so sad? It feels heart warming that Tessie sacrificed and The Imaginative’s heart is all growing back therefore, the story could progressed to a more consequential occurences to end up the story.

I predict that one time, Lettie Hempstock will stir from the ocean and live her life to a more happy and purposeful one. The same with The Imaginative to fully grow back his heart and remember all things about Tessie and the Hempstock Ladies, his childhood memories and how he once felt adventure and fondness.

Remember, each one of us has our own ocean at the end of the lane and guess what, our own Lettie’s plunging her body, just waiting for that golden moment to breathe again. Let us always put into consider that today is just little moments but tomorrow, they are memories!