CORALINE could be described as 'the adventure to end all other adventures'. I don't disagree, as the plot is original and the plot twists ensure the reader is kept engaged. CORALINE is a very fast-pace book, and children love that since it moves from one part to another quickly. As I began this book, I was left wondering how Gaiman could make it extremely fast-paced, without losing long descriptive paragraphs - which is needed just as much as dialogue and action. As I got deeper and deeper into the book, I realised how. Gaiman cleverly uses short effective descriptions of events/things, usually using smiles or metaphors, and this is all the reader needs. The reader has grasped the situation, exactly according to Gaiman's plan. I find it quite amazing how he manages to pull this off. Keeping it fast-paced means its the best book ever for kids, but with a lack of description the reader will have questions in his mind about plot holes, and afterwards it falls apart. Gaiman avoids this with excellence.

I honestly do not think that the characters could be any more original. Other than Coraline, who is the typical 'bored' girl whose parents are too busy for her. Everyone has seen this character before, its very common. But the rest of the characters are as unique as can be: An old eccentric (possibly insane) man who trains Rats to perform, Two old theatre-has-been ladies and a group of phantom 'other' family members. There is a lot of character development, with Coraline learning to be happy with what she has; which is the main moral of the story.

Its interesting to note that both the old man who trains rats and the two theatre ladies are both very involved with theatre. Gaiman also directed theatre, and wrote two plays: 'Mr. Punch' and 'The Wolves In The Walls'. Coraline's 'Other Mother' in the story bears complete resemblance to a spider - making Coraline the fly, in this case. I saw the 3-D Movie first, quite a long time ago, and I am shocked to find out that I am only hearing that it was originally a book until now. Watching the movie first does not ruin it at all for you, despite what you may think, it is still as gripping and as thrilling as Gaiman intended, I am pleased to announce.

Despite the stars I have rated it, I give CORALINE 3 and a half stars, for one reason. CORALINE is a very good read, and exactly what I needed to wake me up after taking a long break for horror stories. It is not wrong to say I missed a good thrill of a horror book! I am reluctant to give CORALINE 4 stars though, because I feel other books I have rated with 4 stars I would rate higher than this book. So for that reason, CORALINE gets a 3 and a half stars. And it is as legendary fantasy author Terry Pratchet (author of the Discworld Series) said and I quote: "You will never think about buttons in quite the same way again.'