The narrator has to return to his childhood home on the occasion of his father's funeral. Prior to attending the service, he revisits all his old haunts and recalls his adventures. These become increasingly bizarre, puzzling and disturbing.

The book reads rather like a child's story, but some of the themes are very dark. It could be a memoir because it's set in the 1970s and the author has drawn on his own childhood experiences to inform the story. But ultimately this is a fantasy, for which Neil Gaiman is known.

A slim book, which is a deceptively light read, and with the nostalgia for the 70s being particularly vivid and appealing: I think this is a great introduction to Gaiman's work for someone, like me, who doesn't like fantasy tomes. I loved this book, and it does make me want to try other titles by this author.