- Why doesn't the main character have a name? Was this a purposeful strategy employed by the author? And to what purpose? Bueller?
- Neil Gaiman is well known for being raised in the Church of Scientology, but has distanced himself from the church since childhood. People are asserting that the Church's influence can be seen in a lot of ways in The Ocean at the End of the Lane. Does this change how you read the book? How and why?
- One of the underlying tenets of the book is the difference between childhood and adulthood. If we were to remove the prologue and epilogue (and therefore silence the adult voice), how would the story change?
- The Ocean at the End of the Lane is officially classified as an adult novel—but what arguments could be made for it being young adult literature? Is it even important to distinguish between the two?
- Gaiman is also famous for writing some pretty radical comics and graphic novels. Do you think this story would've been better or worse if it was illustrated?