(07/06/2022)
Even as a child I've always loved fairy tales that were a bit scary or had something strange in them - be that creatures or atmosphere. Those were the ones I remembered and the ones that I still love and appreciate as an adult. To name a few, The Last Unicorn with its heavy melancholy, sinister harpies and laughing skeleton, that made me feel very uneasy as a kid. As well as the atmosphere of sadness and tragedy (I can feel this body dying all around me) that I didn't fully understand back then, but could feel it already. Or Princess Mononoke, that is more a movie than a fairy tale, but back then I saw something cartoonish (no, I didn't really know the difference between anime and cartoon as a kid and neither did our televisions it seems) and thought that's for me. And thank god for that mistake, because even though those demons and strange gods terrified me, and the conflict between nature and human race I didn't fully comprehend, I could still feel its weight and when I was older, it made me search for that “strange fairy tale”.
Ones like these were the ones stuck in my mind. They not only caught my attention as a child, but still had much to give when I grew up. Still, for some reason, I never got to watch Coraline, even though I heard about it a lot of times and it seemed like something right up my alley. But years later, when I discovered Gaiman and wanted to read something from him, not only I found out there is also a book version of Coraline, but that he wrote it. And it took some time still, but finally, I got to it. Fully grown-up, fully adult. And I still loved it and wished I'd read it and watched it sooner, because the child version of me would be ecstatic.
It was shortly before midnight and there was thunder on the horizon when I picked up this book. I got this insane urge to just sit on the balcony, be part of that night-and-nature show, wrap myself in a blanket and read a book full of adventure, bravery and monsters. To be that excited child again, that I often miss both in life and in myself.
And even though I managed on that first night only the introduction and the first few pages, because then the thunder came and was huge and I got completely absorbed in watching lightning strikes all around me and in shivering pleasantly when it sounded like the sky itself was being torn apart, it was enough. It was a nice start. And it made me go for a walk alone at two in the morning during heavy rain, to explore the quiet city, which was beautiful and scary and it all stuck with me. The beginning of the book, the magnificent thunder, the quiet city and heavy rain. And I know that's one of those memories that I will carry.
I finished the book during the next two nights. I was actually immersed in the story more than I thought I would be - considering that in the end, it's still a children's book and I'm, you know, all adult and stuff. But whatever age you are, child, adult, elderly or ancient god, what is not to love about this? You have one very brave girl that is also an explorer, old house full of secrets and mysterious creatures hiding behind brick walls, one very sarcastic black cat (i'm obsessed with cats in books… and in general), interesting villain, subtle and truthful messages about fear and love and family and pleasantly dark and disturbing atmosphere.
As a bonus, I also had one curious child that once again came to life inside of me. That first night my exploration started with one rainy two-in-the-morning walk and who knows what will follow. Exploring was that thing that always brought me the most joy in life and for some reason, it felt like I forgot about it a little. Or maybe I just forgot that you don't always have to travel long distances to do it, sometimes you can not only explore just a few streets from your home, but it can be just as exciting. So thanks, brave little explorer, for reminding me. I will try to be more like you again.
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