The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

Neil Gaiman is famous for movies and books like Beowulf, Coraline and Stardust. I've never read any of his books before, but have loved his movies. The ocean at the end of the lane (what a long title) was "interesting" and swayed between being a children's book and an adult's. It turned out to be one of those books on magic and mysticism in which the author doesn't bother explaining the elements of magic. I have to clarify that I would never have voted this as Book of the Year at the British National Awards 2013; It's good, but not that good.

So, let's get started on some booktions:

1. Who's funeral does the protagonist attend in the beginning? I'm guessing its one of his parents.
2. OK, so if the Lempstocks aren't witches what supernatural beings are they?  Are they somehow involved in the creation of the universe?
3. "Lempstock women are the pure thing", says Ginnie Lempstock. Where do they come from? Why the discrepancies between the level of knowledge and experience between all three.
4. Why can't the other Lempstock women leave the farm? Although Ginnie does end up dropping the protoganist at his house towards the end.
5. Ursula Monkter is giving everybody what makes them happy. Why is that a crime?
6. The opal miner's suicide sparks this series of events because he somehow pleaded the flapping rags monster for love and help. I wish this part of the story had been more elaborated, like how did he find her? what does it have to do with his suicide? how did it enable her to enter people's dreams?
7. I didn't notice this until I started writing this post, but what on earth was the name of the narrator!

Have the answers or more questions? Let me know in the comments below.
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