Review: Coraline
February 26, 2009
After seeing and enjoying the movie version of Coraline, I decided to read the book. I’ve been wanting to try some of Neil Gaiman‘s work and this gave me a good excuse. I will definitely be reading more of his books in the future. I think the book was great and they did a fantastic job adapting it to a movie. Since I just reviewed the movie, and it follows the book closely, I’ve decided to forgo a traditional review and point out some of the major differences in the book and the movie.
- Wybie, a major character in the movie, is not in the book at all.
- The doll in the movie is the spy for the other mother. There is no doll in the book – in it, rats spy for the other mother.
- In the movie, the other mother looks just like the real mother at first, except for her eyes. The resemblance isn’t as close in the book. Also, the other mother’s intentions come out sooner in the book.
- The “marbles” that Coraline searches for are in different places in the movie and book.
- Coraline uses different methods to lure the hand into the well.
I’m not sure which I enjoyed more – the book or the movie – but I recommend both of them.
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Bermudaonion's Weblog 
I agree – both book and movie are great!
I need to add the book to my TBR list. I’ll probably see the movie when it comes out on Blu-Ray!
Nice! I have to go see the movie! I love the book, which I both read and listened to.
I want to see the movie but sometimes 3D things mess with my little mind. Maybe I’d be better off with the book.
I have not seen the movie nor read the book…but I think this might be a case when the movie is actually better.
And I love 3-D! 😉
I saw the movie, but haven’t read the book yet. I’d expect some variations in the film from the original, but the fact that they invented an entirely new character changes it a lot, doesn’t it?
My son is reading this book right now but he stalled on it.. for lack of a better term. I thought he would be more interested in it with the movie tie-in and all but I guess not.
Glad you enjoyed it! I want to read it soon.
I’m not a big fan of that kind of animation, so I was passing on the movie. I may try the book though.
I haven’t seen the movie yet but did enjoy the book. I’m glad you liked both.
I read the book so long ago, I probably won’t even notice the differences when I see the movie.
Definitely want to read the book and watch the movie!
I’ve only read the graphic novel but the pressure to see the movie is starting to get to me! It was even made here in Portland!
I need to read this book…it’s calling me!
Now I need to see the movie! I loved the book, but it was creepy.
It’s a wonderful thing when a movie and the book it’s based on are different but both great!
I haven’t read Coraline yet (probably won’t see the movie until it comes out on DVD) – definitely adding this one to my list.
I reserved this book two weeks ago at the library and I am still number 8 on the waiting list. Your review of book and movie has now made me extremely anxious!!
The movie was cool! I don’t know if I even want to read the book now.
Great job! Thanks for your comparison. I’m (finally) reading the book now and enjoying it. I haven’t seen the movie yet but it does look good. I always find it interesting how they make so many changes for the movies. They are telling the story a different way so I suppose they have to. Nice review!
Glad to see another good review of this book, I plan to get this one soon and read it myself.
I like this type of post outlining the differences between the book and movie. I haven’t seen the movie yet but I think this “preview” will help. Thanks.
I haven’t seen the movie, but I thought the rats were so creepy in the book. I suppose a doll can be pretty creepy, too, though.
I have yet to see the movie, but I’m not big on the animated films–I watched about 1/2 an hour of Wall-E before giving up and turning it off. Maybe I’ll have to pick up the book, read it, and then pretend to have watched to movie…I mean, it worked in high school for reading assignments, right?
I just wanted to stop by and invite you over to Literary Menagerie. A friend of mine just gave her first stab at a book review, so if you could charm her into sticking around, I’d owe you a huge favor!
Happy reading!
okay I kind of skimmed thru the post as I haven’t read or seen Coraline yet, I have his ‘Fragile things’ in my TBR though. I think it’s high time I should read one of Gayman’s book 🙂
Oh! You should read The Graveyard Book next. It was SO good!!! I plan on reading Coraline really, really soon.
I’m not sure that I enjoyed the book – but I am probably going to give the movie a shot anyway. I don’t know what it was about it (might have been my frame of mind when I read it and not the book itself!)
The previews for Coraline gave my daughter nightmares, so I don’t think I’m going to get to see it. I definitely want to read the book at some time, though.
Haven’t seen the movie, but I enjoyed the book. Don’t think I’d let a child read it, though. I thought those weird eyes were extremely creepy!
The movie really intrigued me to read further into Gaiman’s works. Now I have THE GRAVEYARD BOOK and CORALINE on my to read list.
I think I’d like to read the book before seeing the movie, but the trailer looked very good. The differences you pointed out between the movie and the book are very interesting.
I always like to read the book first. Thanks for the chance to win it!
mittens0831 AT aol.com
I saw the movie and thought it was pretty good. My daughter has been reading other things for school, so we’re still stuck at the half-way point in the book. 😦